Is my dog a good candidate for agility?

Group agility classes are a great way to learn from others as well as exposing your dog to working around other dogs in a safe environment. At HMBDS, we strive to make group classes a safe and positive learning experience for all dogs and handlers.  Please ask yourself the following questions to determine if your dog is ready to be successful in a group setting:

• Does my dog bark, lunge or growl on leash when they see another dog or human?
• Does my dog lose focus on me  while on leash when they are in proximity (20 feet or less) to other dogs or humans?
• Is my dog fearful around other dogs, humans and/or new environments?  Dogs express fear in several ways. They may shake, pace, whine, bark, cower, hide, sudden disinterest in food, urinating/defecating.
• Has your dog had a previous interaction, ON OR OFF LEASH, which has resulted in an injury to a dog/human?

If you answered "YES" to any of these questions, we would recommend you work with a behaviorist to improve these behaviors before starting a group agility class.  We are happy to recommend local trainers.  

If you feel you and your pup are good candidates to start agility training, please fill out the "contact us" form. Both adult dogs and puppies are welcome. They must also be in good health, up to date on vaccinations, and be able to work around people and other dogs with no aggression issues.  Enrollment in class is not guaranteed and will be filled as availability permits.