The spring session of Backyard Training Matters, A Weekly Training Group, is up for sale on Clean Run! Join now and you can weigh in on what types of things my courses should focus on this session! I made this Backyard Dog Training Matters Skool group originally as a place to continue the conversations and connections formed in my Clean Run training group that meets twice a year. Many of my repeat students are in this Skool now, so I wanted to let them, and everyone else, know that the course is open. I'd love to see anyone who'd like to work on their agility skills consider joining us for 6-weeks of agility training and fun! Thank you in advance for your patience in reading about my course. There's, of course, no pressure on you to register for the course. This Skool group will remain open and free of charge -- it is separate from Backyard Training Matters in the Clean Run Learning Center. I just want to tell you about what I'm doing that's available. If you'd like to share it with your friends, I'd be super happy for you to do that! Here's my spiel for those who don't know me and don't know about this Clean Run course: ***I may not be well known as an agility competitor, but I'm an expert in designing small-space agility training courses (I've written two great-selling books on this topic!), I've got a great eye for handling analysis, and I know how to create a positive and supportive coaching environment.*** 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 ME -- 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.

I had a private lesson with Erin Batchelor Friday the 13th. We did a few things on creating the dog's path and the rest we focused on weaves. Round the clock weaves, running weaves in the direction opposite your dog (Ring was like -'What are you doing?!!). Learned so much stuff! So, we're working in the backyard on some of the things she suggested. I'll try to post a video of what we're doing. Right now I'm still on yard cleanup after the cold fronts and the Oak pollen clogging my pool. Oy.

If you want to watch some agility on the tube, check it out right now! I just saw a fabulous run by a rough collie doing Jumpers with Weaves. I think the prelims are on for a good chunk of today. Some other sports are on as well, I think. Let me know if and what you are watching. Stay warm out there!

Since the spots are limited in this course on Clean Run, I wanted to give you a heads up before it is officially announced. Here's the direct link: https://www.cleanrun.com/product/semi_private_lessons_individualized_help_for_your_agility_needs/index.cfm Do you need feedback on your practice or trial runs so that you can advance your training? Work on agility skills at home with provided small-space sequences or upload runs from trials or training classes to get feedback! This class has no structured weekly lesson that determines what skills you will work on. Instead, each week I will provide four numbered sequences (nested so you can use the same setup for all) for a 40' x 40' space. But you don't have to use them! You can submit videos of you running those sequences or any others—you get to choose what you want help with! The only limitation is the amount of video you can submit each week (details available at the URL above, or visit cleanrun.com and click "New" and "New Courses" to find it) When providing feedback on videos and making suggestions, I will work within your handling system and with your goals in mind. I provide a positive training environment for dogs AND people with lots of encouragement! I have years of experience supporting and evaluating agility runs in various organizations, plus I also have experience in distance training and a love for reinforcement and motivation. So work in these areas, and many more, can also be supported. When you enroll, each week you get 4 small-space "mini-courses" that can be run on the same equipment setup. You may use those sequences or any other sequence or course (including those from previous Clean Run Learning Center classes, trials, or from your own backyard training) for evaluation. There will be no demonstrations or instructional lessons outside of what might come up in the evaluations.

Had a chance to play some ISC (international-style) agility this weekend. We're out of practice and Kyber doesn't have a backside behavior (it doesn't exist in CPE agility) so we had a few bobbles. But he ran really nicely regardless. We got some nice compliments on our Standard run especially.