agility and heel?

[MafiaPrincess]

I have a problem that heel is a must, and that they didn't bother to reply to your emails, and no ones credentials are there. There's other options depends how far you want to drive weekly. All my classes are 30-60 minutes away, btu I probably would have balked at an hour away when we just started...

Sharon Aizer
Email: sharonaizer@earthlink.net
850-968-1250 or 850-384-2485
She's just outside Pensacola..

http://www.petsbehave.net/
Debbie Revell Dip CABT (COAPE), R.N.
Email: Petsbehave@earthlink.net
Alternate Email: sciencedoctor@cox.net
297 County Line Road
Niceville, FL 32578
(850) 897-8666
Affiliations: AKC,UKC,NADAC,USDAA,AAC
An hour away, but she actually lists qualifications and competes.

[Ashelee]

thanks Mafiaprincess for the info, and the two people for agility! I will contact them and see how it goes. I really appriciate (SP?) all the info and help with this. I dont want to go to the wrong person or anything.

I heard that Five Flags had a problem with people who took their dogs to PetSmart for obedience training (this is where I take Beemer for obedience, I work there so its free and I really like our trainer), but I wanted to give it a shot just to see for myself, but I guess I should have just listened in the first place. I will try these two places though.

[MafiaPrincess]

We had petsmart Ob as our only 'formal' training before agility. Our trainer rocked though. We tried to take puppy class there first the lady was awful, the class was full, and I got bitten by a large breed puppy twice as it was cramped. What we took away from Ob there later though was a pretty solid foundation.. I'd likely not go back for anything now, but some trainers there are actually good.

The place you contacted first probably isn't the 'wrong' place to go, but if they are unwilling to answer your Qs, how do they treat their students.. you know?

We all have to start somewhere. I picked my first agility class at random, as I didn't know anything and didn't know anyone to ask. We ended up with a good foundation, but others like Lynn (adojrts) have related stories where they had a bad foundation due to the wrong trainer..

You are asking Qs and looking for help. Hard to help when I'm like 24 hours drive away, but I'm trying Nothing wrong with calling or emailing and asking some Qs. They should be happy to answer them.

[Ashelee]

Thanks again, and I will be calling the second one you listed tomorrow to find out about their class that starts in June. And I might drive there one day (after talking to them about it) to see how it is and such, and then do their 4 week class to start with.

[MafiaPrincess]

Awesome. Good luck. Tell us how it goes

[cinnamon]

I drive about 45-60 minutes for agility lessons depending on weather and traffic. It's mostly highway and I hardly notice the distance. I could spend 1/2 hour just driving across town.

[Dekka]

I drive up to an hour and a half depending on who I am taking a lesson from.

[adojrts]

Oh boy isn't that true, at least in the case of my very high drive dog. The poor start we got had ramifications that lasted a long time. All those years ago, it wasn't as easy as it is now to find trainers via the net.
Given what I know now, I would drive to find a good trainer and certainly not go to the first one around.
Training less often with a good trainer that costs more still saves money over training with a poor trainer that is closer and/or cheaper. And you save time by not having to re-train! Imo.

[Ashelee]

Thank you all for the wonderful information! I called them and they were SO nice, they told me that I could stop by anytime to watch, and I could bring Beemer with me (they suggested coming once by myself first because talking and having to deal with him could be a little difficult - haha which I TOTALLY agree with, but to bring him the second time and they will evaluate him just to see what level his obedience is at and if there is anything else I need to work on a little more with him before classes start). So I was really happy with them and they just seemed genuinely nice and ready to help with any questions I had.

[MafiaPrincess]

I am glad to hear that Tell us how your trip to go watch goes. It's awesome you found people helpful, it's how it is supposed to be.