It's time for my twice-a-year backyard training group! We have so much fun training and supporting each other, doing agility in a 40x40 foot (or less) space. If you train agility skills frequently at home, you will find that you make much faster progress toward your agility goals than if you only train once a week at class. - Don't have a lot of space?  - Don't know what to train?  - Don't have the motivation or support you need to get to work? "Backyard Training Matters" with Brenna Fender can help! This weekly training group is a unique opportunity to improve your skills in a supportive, friendly environment—all while training in your backyard! Each lesson takes a variety of challenges from upper-level agility courses and replicates some of these challenges in an approximately 40' x 40' space. Brenna Fender (author of Ready to Run, Vol. 1 - Agility Skills & Drills for Small Spaces) reviews, analyzes, and demonstrates some of the challenges and then offers you suggestions and support while you work on the "mini courses" using your own handling style and focusing on your own goals. Mini courses will be broken down for those who need to or want to work in small sections. Options are available for those working on Novice courses as well as those at Masters level. Everyone can post videos for accountability or for advice (Standard students can also submit limited video!). This training group will not provide specific handling instruction, but it will offer suggestions, coaching, support, and lots of ideas of things to try that fit in a backyard space with limited equipment. If you don't have a 40' x 40' training area, you are still welcome. We will work together to find ways you can train the basics of the challenges in your available space. We can work around some missing equipment too! Special features: - Detailed video analysis - Modifications for space and equipment limitations - Accountability options for those who need some help staying on track 

I know this Skool group has been languishing, but I've been busy putting together this amazing workshop with agility expert Karen Holik called Not Ready for Prime Time! We have worked hard to provide a combination of exercises to fill in foundation holes and elevate on-course skills, and lectures to help you correct possible weaknesses in, or missing pieces of, your training and trial preparation. This workshop may be exactly what you need to go from suboptimal performances to Qs and ribbons! I'm really proud of what we've put together. It has opportunities for everyone to work, even for those who don't purchase a "Premier" spot. You can check it out at the link below. It starts today (Wednesday, September 2), but people can join at any time and still get a lot out of it. It runs for 18 days and then it's done, though, so don't wait TOO long. https://www.cleanrun.com/product/not_ready_for_prime_time_agility_workshop/index.cfm In other news, Parker, my Whippet, finished his Fetch Intermediate title, and it was such a fun experience. What have you been doing with your dogs? Please share! Thanks for being here! Brenna

I just read that there are people doing backyard, fun type of lure coursing with remote control cars. I think this seems like a pretty interesting idea. Have any of you tried this? Any info would be welcome.

Hi everyone! I've been working with my first student in my new private agility lessons (where I make courses tailored to your space and your specific needs), and it's so fun! I have private video channels on ScreenPal for each student so their video explanations and commentary are easily accessible to them and no one else. I'm so glad I found that option -- there are no YouTube ads or anything like that. Just a link, and everything stays together in the same spot. And students can get their videos to me in whatever way works well for them, including using YouTube. I'm sending courses and info via email, so it's all super easy. I decided I'd take a theme that my student and I are working on and make an easy, small-space exercise for those of you who might be interested. Attached is a 40x50-foot course layout using five winged jumps in a figure 8 pattern. As you run it, you can try different crosses at the #3/#6 side change. What works better for you, a rear cross, a blind cross, or a front cross? Would you do it before the center jump or after? What about a rear cross on the flat on the landing side? Try them all and let me know what works best for you. Reverse the course and try it again. If you'd like to share video recordings or just some commentary, please do so below. Hope you find it a fun and worthwhile practice! I've attached some info about my private lessons as well. In other news, how are you all? Tell me about your latest trial and training successes! Hope you are well! Brenna

Many of us are in the US, so Happy Independence Day on July 4th to those who celebrate! For a fun little game, please participate in our COLOR CHALLENGE during the next week! Just post a picture of your dog (you are also welcome to be included!) wearing or holding something red, white, or blue, or any combination thereof. I'll make a compilation picture for a cute social media picture we can share. I will have a thread in the community for you to put your pictures. I don't know about where you are, but in my neck of the woods, there are a lot of fireworks that go off close by on holidays like these. If your dog hates the noises and you need sedatives or something similar, today is your last day to get that stuff ready. My dogs are pretty okay with fireworks, and one of them actually loves the loud bangs, but I have a 9-month-old puppy who has never done a holiday with us, so we'll see how that goes. I predict there will be lots of snacks at my house tomorrow night. Keep your dog secure during the holiday chaos and make sure they are easily identified in case they try to escape from the noise. Such a scary thought! It's also crazy hot in my neck of the woods. Florida has been an absolute oven for most of June. Remember that dogs overheat faster than humans. Watch for signs like - Heavy panting - Excessive drooling or thick saliva - Weakness or lethargy - Vomiting or diarrhea - Bright red gums or tongue - Uncoordinated movements If you see signs of overheating, start cooling the dog first, and then transport them to a veterinarian. Pour cool water over the dog or submerge them in cool water (don't dunk their heads since they will already be struggling to breathe). Speak to your veterinarian about how to safely cool your dog in the event of overheating. Prevent overheating by erring on the side of caution, especially in humid environments where it is easier to overheat. Train and exercise outside for shorter periods of time and during cooler parts of the day. Make sure that water is available at all times, and that there is good ventilation where your dog spends most of their time. And, although it seems obvious, in most places, this is not the time of year to leave your dog in the car, even during short errands with the windows partway down.