Clean Run - July 2017 - 65

When you know you'll have students
of all types in your foundation classes, you should think carefully about
how you'd like the class to be set up.
First, think about how much student
retention matters to you. If you are
very passionate about everyone getting a thorough foundation education,
you may require months of flatwork
before you allow your students on
the obstacles. You may produce excellent competitive students this way,
but you are likely (but not guaranteed) to lose a significant percentage
of casual competitors, new competitors, and non-competitor students.
If you do not wish to see this kind of
loss, you may need to structure your
classes differently.
It's a fine line to walk between flatwork and obstacle work to keep a
mixed group happy but also safe
and learning appropriate things. L.
Joy Mercier, who teaches at Austin
K9 Xpress in Texas, says, "Incoming people who have never had
an agility dog, they want to get on
the equipment right away. I try to
teach them concepts in context of
the equipment, like how to shape/
clicker train, lure, and so on. For
some groups, that works well, and
for others, they get so focused on
the obstacles that they miss the
July 17 | Clean Run

concepts. I'm still trying to see how
much flatwork I can get in. It's definitely something that I'm still playing
around with."
Foundation classes that don't include
much official equipment can still be
exciting for up-and-comers. Haggerty
says "We do a five-week foundation
class that just includes body awareness exercises, reading acceleration
and deceleration, building confidence
in driving forward (as in "not all rewards come when you are two inches away from Momma"), desensitizing to new surfaces including travel
boards, wobble boards, exercise
balls, Dynadiscs, and so on, reading
crosses on the flat and we start 2x2s.
Dogs aren't on any real agility equipment. At first people just want to
throw the dog right on the equipment
and don't understand the value of all
the foundation work, but they do start
to get excited seeing their dogs do
so many new things. I think it stays
interesting for the newbies because
they have never seen their dogs do
anything like the skills we work on so
they seem to enjoy it. I love watching
people's faces when they see their
dog up on an exercise ball for the
first time, or figuring out 2x2s."
Misa Martin, an instructor at the Port
Chester Obedience Training Club in
New York, also holds classes that
excite those who are anxious to use
the obstacles. She says, "I think
that my classes are satisfying for
people who really want to get their
dogs on agility equipment; we do
lots of shaping on elevated planks,
go table-to-table with a teeter, and
play with FitPAWS equipment at the
different stations I set up, so there's
always something for them to do."

© DoghouSe artS

What's in a Foundation?

© morgaana menzel

© SanDy houSe

Lynn Reece Broderick of Pet Works
in New York addresses the issue
in another way. She says, "I'm getting a lot of buy-in from my starters
on building a strong foundation, but
I also use myself as an example.
There are things I skimped on with
my current dog and now I'm paying
the price. I'm not too proud to admit
I make mistakes."

Fun is the key in keeping many
competitors involved in foundation
classes, putting in the time and effort needed to learn basic skills.
Sigeti says, "I introduce equipment
slowly-cavalettis, 2x2s, wobble
boards, and contact trainers. I do a
lot of work with big orange cones,
teaching crosses, etc. I work running recalls. I teach targeting. If you
make foundation work fun, they
[those who don't plan to compete]
don't care about equipment right
away. If you treat them the same
way you treat your competitive
people (who are in the same class),
they blend in. I always assume they
may compete at some point."
Clever trainers can work in some
safer pieces of equipment, like tunnels, while teaching obstacle focus,
targeting, and other skills. This helps
satisfy obstacle driven students
without sacrificing safety or appropriate acquisition of skills.

Class Structure
How can you best structure a foundation class that mixes handler experience levels and goals? One way
is to divide the class in half based
on interests and use two instructors
(or an instructor and an assistant).
Mercier splits her second level
classes this way. This allows her to
use the more experienced students
as examples when necessary but
focus on the needs of the students
in a particular group as well.
Another option is a progressive
class structure. Terry Dyck, owner
and operator of CM STREEK, Agility
Training Center, Inc. in Texas, has
developed an interesting way for
her students, who have very differ65



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - July 2017

Contents
Clean Run - July 2017 - Cover1
Clean Run - July 2017 - Cover2
Clean Run - July 2017 - Contents
Clean Run - July 2017 - 4
Clean Run - July 2017 - 5
Clean Run - July 2017 - 6
Clean Run - July 2017 - 7
Clean Run - July 2017 - 8
Clean Run - July 2017 - 9
Clean Run - July 2017 - 10
Clean Run - July 2017 - 11
Clean Run - July 2017 - 12
Clean Run - July 2017 - 13
Clean Run - July 2017 - 14
Clean Run - July 2017 - 15
Clean Run - July 2017 - 16
Clean Run - July 2017 - 17
Clean Run - July 2017 - 18
Clean Run - July 2017 - 19
Clean Run - July 2017 - 20
Clean Run - July 2017 - 21
Clean Run - July 2017 - 22
Clean Run - July 2017 - 23
Clean Run - July 2017 - 24
Clean Run - July 2017 - 25
Clean Run - July 2017 - 26
Clean Run - July 2017 - 27
Clean Run - July 2017 - 28
Clean Run - July 2017 - 29
Clean Run - July 2017 - 30
Clean Run - July 2017 - 31
Clean Run - July 2017 - 32
Clean Run - July 2017 - 33
Clean Run - July 2017 - 34
Clean Run - July 2017 - 35
Clean Run - July 2017 - 36
Clean Run - July 2017 - 37
Clean Run - July 2017 - 38
Clean Run - July 2017 - 39
Clean Run - July 2017 - 40
Clean Run - July 2017 - 41
Clean Run - July 2017 - 42
Clean Run - July 2017 - 43
Clean Run - July 2017 - 44
Clean Run - July 2017 - 45
Clean Run - July 2017 - 46
Clean Run - July 2017 - 47
Clean Run - July 2017 - 48
Clean Run - July 2017 - 49
Clean Run - July 2017 - 50
Clean Run - July 2017 - 51
Clean Run - July 2017 - 52
Clean Run - July 2017 - 53
Clean Run - July 2017 - 54
Clean Run - July 2017 - 55
Clean Run - July 2017 - 56
Clean Run - July 2017 - 57
Clean Run - July 2017 - 58
Clean Run - July 2017 - 59
Clean Run - July 2017 - 60
Clean Run - July 2017 - 61
Clean Run - July 2017 - 62
Clean Run - July 2017 - 63
Clean Run - July 2017 - 64
Clean Run - July 2017 - 65
Clean Run - July 2017 - 66
Clean Run - July 2017 - Cover3
Clean Run - July 2017 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1220
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1120
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1020
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0920
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0820
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0720
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0620
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0520
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0420
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0320
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0220
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0120
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1219
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1119
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1019
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0919
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0819
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0719
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0619
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0519
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0419
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0319
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0219
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0119
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1218
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1118
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1018
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0918
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0818
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0718
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0618
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0518
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0418
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0318
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0218
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0118
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1217
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1117
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0917
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0817
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0717
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0617
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0517
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0417
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0317
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0217
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0117
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1216
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1116
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0916
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0816
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0716
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0616
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0516
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0416
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0316
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0216
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0116
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1215
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1115
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0915
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0815
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0715
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0615
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0515
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0415
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0315
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0215
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0115
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1214
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1114
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0914
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0814
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0714
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0614
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0514
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0414
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0314
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0214
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0114
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1213
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1113
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0913
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0813
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0713
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0613
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0513
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0413
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0313
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0213
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0113
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/comp-demo
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/1006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/cleanrun/0106
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com