ABOUT ME
Hi! I’m Kirsty and I’ve been doing dog agility for 7 years now and run pet agility lessons at my enclosed field in Cranfield.
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Agility started as a hobby, for something fun to do with my Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers, Barney (Grade 5) & Orry (Grade 7).
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What started as a hobby soon became my passion and now I love to teach people who were once just like me!
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I'm a passionate trainer who loves to see her pupils (humans and dogs alike) have fun together in a structured and safe environment.
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All the equipment you will be using is KC spec and from top UK or European manufacturers, such as Galican contacts and DoggyJump PVC Jumps. I also have full liability insurance.
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Find us on facebook here:
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MY DOGS & WHY I DO WHAT I DO
I can't deny it... I absolutely LOVE dogs! And while Tollers are my heart breed, I love all breeds and love running ALL types of dogs.
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I have two older Tollers which are retired from competing now, but have two youngsters, my 10 month old puppy Yogi (yes, a Toller!) and also a really cool little spaniel girl Mabel, who belongs to a friend, that I am training! They are both really different, but super cool in their own ways!
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I’ve competed with glitz another friends dog that I trained and also ran in champ classes (the big leagues *gulp*!) a few times handling a good friends dogs.
I even got one of my daughters in on my favourite thing, she competed successfully for 5 years and qualified for discover dogs in the YKC with Barney! Agility is a great hobby for children and we spent lots of memorable weekends competing.
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Agility training has enormously helped one of the children that trains with me who is diagnosed with ADHD. Training with dogs can massively help children if they are struggling in other aspects of their lives, it gives them better self esteem and a feeling of accomplishment.
It can also help adults escape the pressure of their normal lives, I have various people come to train with me, some with high stress jobs. They come for their lesson and it just them and thir dog of course.
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Competing gives me such a thrill, but I am absolutely loving teaching now too!
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A few recent highlights for me have been getting the young dogs Mabel and also a friends dog Wispa into the ring for the first time! But the best has to be one of my students coming into lesson after a weekend of competing with a clear round rosette! How cool is that?!
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Lessons: About and how to book!
Lessons can be 1-2-1 to start with, then you can be sorted into a group foundation if you so wish. Group classes are subject to availability and also having enough people at foundation level to run the class.
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Puppies are welcome from 6 months old learning all foundation skills and toy play. Crate games , bed games and recall games are also taught. Also body awareness exercises and much more . Beginner agility from 10 months old, although contacts and weaves are over 12 months of age!
The field is fully enclosed, but dogs need to have a good recall and have a love for toys or treats.
All I ask is that my members have a good sense of humour and a willingness to learn and have fun.
Whilst classes are 'pet agility', you will start with foundations so in the future if you do catch the agility bug (like I did!), you will be able to go on and train competitively if you would like to in the future!
Prices:
1-2-1's: £15 for 30 mins & £30 for 1 hour (1st lesson 1 hour recommended)
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Lessons can be booked on Tuesday and Wednesday daytimes , Monday and Wednesday nights in the summer evenings and weekends .
To book or enquire further, please call (evenings only please!) 07837232381
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Dog agility consists of jumps tunnels , weaves and contacts which are a seesaw , dog walk and A frame .
The dog must navigate over these 3 contact obstacles by touching the bottom contact on the way up and down.
The jumps go up according to height , skill and age of the dog .
Weaves are normally 6 or 12 weaves which the dog enters on their left shoulder , these can be taught by 2x2 or channel weaves .
Tunnels are anti slip and held by sandbags to avoid movement and injury.
Dogs are taught how to approach these in a safe controlled manner and will learn directional cues which will allow more independent by the dog.
Handlers can be of all capabilities, it is not important for the handlers to be able to run as dogs can be trained on distance work .
A course will normally consist of 18-20 obstacles which are numbered and the handler learns to navigate a course around this .
Agility is suitable for most breeds as long as they have a reasonable recall and are in fit condition!
The Ginger Ninja Crew!
