PrairieDawgs Agility

08/02/2025

Variety of Classes starting end of August/beginning of Sept.
NOW OPEN for REGISTRATION!
Outdoors at our acreage (near Osler)
Some classes are 7 weeks, some are 6 weeks.
Full details in pictures....
Ask if you have any questions after reading full post.

08/01/2025

It’s August! Here’s our calendar page for the month featuring Sadie, Tucker, Penny and Meatloaf.

07/31/2025

Training tidbit - In Level 1 the dogs are introduced to the equipment and there is a lot of repetition of the same exercise. Moving on, the challenge increases! The dog needs to learn how to work and focus off leash in more complex situations, and without as much repetition. It is like they are trying to put together a puzzle with a bunch of pieces - your movement, your words, the obstacles. And yet there are so many distactions - other dogs, smells, people, freedom, etc. We hear comments lots about the dogs being stupid or "my dog has done this before, why aren't they doing it?" Most times the answer is simply - that this ISN'T simple! They are learning. They are trying to figure things out. Try to be clear with your communication and timing and be patient with the dog (and give good rewards) - they will eventually figure it out better and better. Yes, sometimes dogs will be dogs and not listen or purposefully ignore for whatever reason, but I think that happens less than we think! And after all - they aren't robots! We are trying to work with them as a team to figure this puzzle of agility out together!

07/30/2025

Just emailed - check your junk (and unblock messages from PrairieDawgs). News, updates, upcoming schedule and exciting info…

(Schedule for fall will be posted and ready for registration on Sat, Aug 2.)

For now enjoy these pictures of some of our students…. Maybe you can guess who they are/Maybe you’ll be surprised- some look alike!)

07/29/2025

If anyone wants to enter the NADAC trial (Aug 30&31) at SONDOG I can forward the email to you. It's quite close by. You would need to sign your dog up with NADAC. If you want help or advice I am happy to help. You can choose if you want to enter in INTRO or NOVICE. My favourite part of NADAC - TUNNELERS! Also, you can enter each course twice and qualify twice. You can learn from your mistakes and try again!

The North […]

07/29/2025

Trying to arrange some more MAKE UP classes.
If you missed from last set (and haven't used your one free make up yet) OR if you have missed from this set of classes, and there's no place for you to make up in another group - then let me know if you can come for either of these dates...

Saturday, August 9th or
Monday, August 11 evening

IF I get at least 3 dogs (MAX 7) that are able to come I will host. I will LET YOU KNOW if it is going ahead.

07/23/2025

Glad we’re not in the cat business!

07/23/2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e49csq98cG4

A new video that I finally finished - for Intermediate class.

I love this move for helping my dog turn if there is a tunnel ahead I don't want her to do, or if I need her to turn tightly (as opposed to running straight ahead, or doing a wide turn and not knowing where she's going.

I have other videos on youtube . Training videos, practice, competition runs, how to, etc. Check it out if you haven't already! I will keep adding more videos occasionally.

(Oh and some of the video clips are from a few years ago when I had long hair.... just FYI)

A dog agility training video- reverse spin tight turns. How and why to use a reverse spin in your agility sequence. ​⁠

07/22/2025

Just say NO to NO! From past experience and from watching others I notice people getting disappointed with their dog and saying "NO" right away the first time their dog doesn't understand something or makes a mistake (or even if it is a well-trained dog). I believe that's doesn't really help aid the dog's understanding of what to do, in fact it often shuts down the dog from trying, and makes them disconnect from you. ESPECIALLY if they didn't understand something and it was YOUR fault.

What would be more helpful is if people would notice a LOT more YES! Don't wait for that one thing that happened that was wrong. Look at the 5 things that are going right. When you are excited with your dog and reward their efforts, they will bond more with you and keep trying. If you MINIMALLY reward, and then ALWAYS notice and let them know their mistakes - they WILL disconnect (sniff more, run off more, go slower!)

Guess what - there is very likely something you did in your body language or set up that influenced the dog, or the task asked was too hard for them. Or they just don't understand it yet. Even telling them NO for something like barking at other dogs - what does that mean to them?? Rather show them what you want them to do RIGHT and then reward that! (Look at me, come over here, sit, etc).

It will help your attitude and if you are happier and more patient with the dog, they will respond better to that as well! Start looking for why they did what they did, and what part you might have had in that or how you could better help them succeed. (Not to beat yourself up, but to become a better trainer).

I find that saying NO is very minimally valuable in agility training - only after SEVERAL wrong attempts, not just the first time. But even then, you need to change what you are asking and make it more understandable.

Yes, sometimes the dogs will be distracted and not acting very well, but often there is more to it than that. Oh, and by the way - make sure you have GOOD enough HIGH VALUE interesting treats or rewards to help them be motivated to overcome their distractions!

07/21/2025

Fun Trial today…. I think we had fun! I saw lots of smiles, heard lots of cheering, heard some laughing, so many helpers willing to pitch in, people being patient and encouraging with their dogs, themselves and others as they were learning. That’s what it’s all about! I hope you can take it as a good learning experience in your dog training journey. I was very proud of ALL my students! Good job giving it a try and great job helping! I loved sharing this time with you. I loved seeing your smiles. Sadly, we did get a bit rained out 3/4 of the way through. For those of you who missed running the last course we are sending refunds.

07/20/2025

Graduating class today (and one dog from a previous class that missed their photo day). Good job learning everyone!!! Next Saturday classes will start Sept 6.

07/15/2025

If you are wanting Private Lessons here’s a new option till September…. Desirae will teach you a private lesson of 40 min for $30!!!! She has lots of availability for time and is looking to save money for her second year of College! Desirae has been training with dogs in agility for the past 7 years! She has trained and competed with various different types/personalities/sizes of dogs and is now training her own young Sheltie who is just starting to compete.

Let us know if you’re interested and we’ll set something up.