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Click here for the 2008 WAG Events & Class Schedule (.pdf format)

Class Descriptions    Registration   Weekly Class Schedule   Annual Session Schedule

Class Registration Form (front)       Class Registration Form (back)

Classes are open to both the general public and WAG members.
All breeds and mixed breeds, big to little, beginner to advanced are welcome.
Pre-registration is required for all Classes, Ring Rental, and Private Lessons.

WAG does not accept walk-in registrations or drop-ins.
Please do not show up for a class for which you have not pre-registered!

WAG offers evening agility classes four days per week and daytime classes two days per week, at all levels from puppy through advanced competition.  Limited private lessons are also available. Instruction covers both AKC and UKC equipment. Instructors train a wide variety of breeds and compete in many different organizations. Some of our instructors are judges and many have completed upper level titles and placed at National competitions.

Class Descriptions

Click here to view Instructor Information

Foundation (Basic Skills)   Level 1 (Beginner)   Level 2 (Basic)   Level 3 (Intermediate)  Level 4 (Advanced)  Puppy

  Foundation  - Fundamental Agility Skills
Prerequisites:  Dogs entering this class should have completed the WAG puppy class, or have had prior experience in a group class environment. Because many of the exercises will be performed off leash and this class runs concurrently with the Puppy class, dogs should be well-socialized and well-behaved around other dogs.
Objectives: To teach a solid agility foundation to better prepare dogs for the Level 1 class, or to repair a faulty foundation for experienced dogs. This class emphasizes basic clicker skills, motivation, and introduction of skills needed to perform the basic agility equipment (tunnels, contacts, and weaves). The focus will be on building the solid 'bottom' behavior and confidence on moving equipment necessary for reliable independent contact performance, using channel weaves to lay the foundation for independent weaving skills, and building the confidence and drive necessary for success in future classes. Each skill is broken into steps through which dogs will progress at their own rate. Contact skills will be introduced using a practice board and will transition to low-height contact equipment as the dogs progress.

  Level 1  - Beginner, Obstacle Performance
Prerequisites: Dogs in this class must respond well to the commands sit, down, come and stay. Prior obedience training classes are recommended and/or Puppy 1 & 2 classes. The dogs must be well-socialized and be able to work in a group environment.  Agility is a physically demanding sport, and the performance demands of some obstacles (such as bending in the weave poles, landing from jumps, banging the teeter at full height, and performing a steep aframe) may not be safe for dogs whose growth plates haven't closed. For the safety and long-term health of the dogs, all dogs entering the Level 1 class must be 10 months of age or older by the first night of class. Dogs under 10 months of age are encouraged to attend the Puppy or Foundation classes.
Objectives: Dogs and handlers will be introduced to all the agility equipment used in AKC and UKC agility trials. Emphasis will be placed on obstacle performance as well as on teaching the handlers the necessary training skills. At the end of the sixteen-week session, the dog should be able to complete the obstacles without fear or hesitation.
Note: This is a 16-week class broken into two 8-week sessions. Students may sign up for the first 8-week session and then choose if they wish to continue in the second 8 weeks. Progress is continous over the 16 weeks, so only dogs who have completed the first 8 weeks may sign up for the second 8 weeks. Starting with the December 2007 session, the curriculum of Level 1 has been modified. Changes to the class from our previous curriculum include: 1) Introduction to clicker training methods and teaching a target nose touch; 2) Use of channel weaves; 3) Removal of handling skills and sequencing in order to allow more time to focus on developing solid obstacle skills; 4) More focus on foundation contact training

  Level 2  - Basic Handling and Sequencing Skills
Prerequisites: Successful completion of the WAG Level 1 class or approval of the Training Director. Dogs are expected to have a good working knowledge of the AKC and UKC obstacles and be able to complete each obstacle without fear or hesitation.
Objectives: Emphasis will be placed on improving both the dog’s and handler’s basic agility skills. This includes obstacle discrimination, front crosses, sending to obstacles from a distance, pinwheels and challenging weave pole entries. There will be opportunity to repeat short sequences multiple times and to work on specific problem areas.

  Level 3  - Intermediate/Competition
Prerequisites: Successful completion of WAG Level 2 class and a qualifying leg from any agility organization, or have approval of the Training Director. Dogs should be actively competing in agility events in any venue. Dogs should be able to perform the weave poles with little intervention from the handler.
Objectives: This class will build on the basic skills learned in the Level 2 class. There will be more emphasis on longer obstacle sequences, incorporating a mixture of the basic agility course designs.  Handlers will be encouraged to try a variety of handling skills to determine what works best for their own dogs. A mixture of UKC and AKC equipment will be used.

  Level 4  - Advanced
Prerequisites: Completion of WAG Level 3 class or approval of the Training Director. Dogs must be showing at the equivalent of the AKC Excellent level or higher. Dogs must be able to perform the weave poles unassisted, with the handlers at a distance.
Objectives: This class is designed to improve teamwork.  Multiple obstacle sequences will be presented with challenges that require the dog and hander to function smoothly as a team. The obstacle sequences in this class will be more challenging and of greater length than the sequences in the Level 3 class. This class is fast-paced and requires a high degree of interest and motivation from both the dog and handler. Emphasis will be on AKC-style equipment; but not exclusively.

  Puppy Kindergarten  - Levels 1 & 2
Puppy 1 Prerequisites: 12 weeks – 6 months of age. Vaccinations are highly recommended as follows: under 16 weeks of age should have the second set of puppy shots; over 16 weeks of age must have rabies vaccination in addition to recommended puppy shots.  Come without your puppy the first night of class.
Puppy 1 Objectives:  Come, Sit & Wiggle…puppies, that is!!!  We will emphasize socialization, puppy obedience and have an introduction to agility obstacles. We stress the use of lots of praise, lots of treats and lots of FUN!
Puppy 2 Prerequisites: Graduates of Puppy 1 class.
Puppy 2 Objectives: Transition between Puppy 1 and Level 1 - Beginners. Continued socialization, puppy obedience and additional work on agility obstacles and an introduction to short sequences.

Session & Class Length
Class sessions are 8 weeks in length with the exception of
Level 1 - Beginner 1 & 2, which together make up a 16-week Level 1 class.
Class duration is 1 hour.

Class Cost
Per 8 week Session - Prices effective Session 5 - Sept 8, 2008

Class Registration Form
You MUST contact the registrar BEFORE sending in a class registration form
to first confirm a spot in the class level/day/time you want to enroll in:
ClassRegistration@wagagility.com or (815) 675-9300
Click here to view the Annual Registration schedule.

Class Registration Form (front)       Class Registration Form (back)

WAG does not accept walk-in registrations.
Please do not show up for a class for which you have not pre-registered!

New Students
Payment in full and a completed Class Registration form (see above) is required to reserve a spot in the class for new students according to the registration schedule above. See Refund Policy below.

Continuing Students
Contact the registrar at ClassRegistration@wagagility.com or (815) 675-9300.  See the Session Schedule below for registration dates. Payment in full is due at the first class in each session. At the first class of each new calendar year, every student is required to complete and submit the Class Registration form (see above).

For more information regarding classes, or to sign up, call the club and leave a message at (815) 675-9300, e-mail at ClassRegistration@wagagility.com.  A class is not considered reserved until confirmed by the registrar. Please do not leave notes at the building, we cannot guarantee that these will be received in a timely manner. Member sign up starts the Monday four weeks prior to the start of each session. Non-member sign up starts the Monday two weeks prior to the start of the session. Email and phone registrations will not be accepted prior to 6:00am on the Monday of sign up. Scroll down to see specific dates for member and non-member class registration as well as start and end dates for each session. Beginner 1 students have priority of sign-up for Beginner 2.

Class Size
To allow more time for teaching and a better learning experience for all students in the class,
class sizes will be limited as follows:
Puppy:  6 students
Foundation:  8 students
Level 1:  9 students (3 per instructor)
Level 2:  8 students (4 per instructor except daytime Tuesday class limit is 6)
Level 3:  8 students (4 per instructor except daytime Tuesday class limit is 6)
Level 4:  8 students (one instructor, and have a second instructor when available)

Refund Policy
If a New Student cancels before the first class in a session, the session fee is refunded except for a $30 nonrefundable portion. Once the session starts there are no refunds. Payment is for an entire session; any missed classes during that session will not be refunded and may not be made up. If a bitch comes into season during a class session, the cost of the class session immediately following may be reduced by the number of classes missed in the current session.

By Level           By Day of Week

Click here for Instructor Information

Class Schedule by Level 

 Foundation  - Fundamental Skills

Monday -- 6:00 PM -- Gail Ray, Donna Cordoba (limit 8 students)

 Level 1  - Beginner 1 & 2 - Obstacle Performance

Monday -- 7:00 PM -- Jill Bochte, Lisa Doane, Joan Castell (limit 9 students)

 Level 2  - Basic Sequencing and Handling Skills

Monday   --  8:00 PM  -- Bill Quandt (also Mary Ann Pecen if more than 4 students - limit 8)
Tuesday  --  9:00 AM  -- Donna Cordoba (limit 6 students)
Tuesday  -- 11:00 AM -- Donna Cordoba (limit 6 students)
Thursday --  7:00 PM  -- Patti Jo Yuswak, Diana Antlitz (limit 8 students)

 Level 3  - Intermediate

Tuesday       -- 10:00 AM -- Donna Cordoba (limit 6 students)
Tuesday       --  7:00 PM  -- Laura Kincaid (limit 6 students)
Wednesday --  8:00 PM  -- Mary VanderBloomen, Peggy Timm (limit 8 students)
Thursday      -- 10:30 AM -- Maggie Arseneau (includes Level 4 exercises - limit 8 students)
Thursday      --  8:00 PM  -- Patti Jo Yuswak, Diana Antlitz (limit 8 students)

 Level 4  - Advanced

Tuesday       -- 8:00 PM -- Jill Bochte (limit 8 students)
Wednesday -- 7:00 PM -- Kris Kamholz (limit 8 students)

 Puppy Kindergarten  - Puppy 1 & Puppy 2

Monday   -- 6:00 PM -- Joy Sonsalla (starting Session 2 - March 3, 2008 - limit 6 students)
Thursday -- 6:00 PM -- Joy Sonsalla, Bill Quandt (Session 1 ONLY - moving to Monday)

Class Schedule by Day of Week 

 Monday 
6:00 PM -- Puppy  -- Joy Sonsalla (starting Session 2 - March 3, 2008 - limit 6 students)
6:00 PM -- Foundation -- Gail Ray, Donna Cordoba (limit 8 students)
7:00 PM -- Level 1 -- Jill Bochte, Lisa Doane, Joan Castell (limit 9 students)
8:00 PM -- Level 2 -- Bill Quandt (also Mary Ann Pecen if more than 4 students - limit 8)

 Tuesday 
9:00 AM   -- Level 2  -- Donna Cordoba (limit 6 students)
10:00 AM -- Level 3  -- Donna Cordoba (limit 6 students)
11:00 AM -- Level 2  -- Donna Cordoba (limit 6 students)
7:00 PM   -- Level 3  -- Laura Kincaid (limit 6 students)
8:00 PM   -- Level 4  -- Jill Bochte (limit 8 students)

 Wednesday 
7:00 PM  -- Level 4 -- Kris Kamholz (limit 8 students)
8:00 PM  -- Level 3 -- Mary VanderBloomen, Peggy Timm (limit 8 students)

 Thursday 
10:30 AM  -- Level 3 -- Maggie Arseneau (includes Level 4 exercises - limit 8 students)
6:00 PM    -- Puppy  -- Joy Sonsalla, Bill Quandt (Session 1 ONLY - moving to Monday)
7:00 PM   -- Level 2 -- Patti Jo Yuswak, Diana Antlitz (limit 8 students)
8:00 PM   -- Level 3 -- Patti Jo Yuswak, Diana Antlitz (limit 8 students)

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