Classes
For Beginners or Seasoned Competitors
Future Class Registration will be posted soon. The next session starts January 6th.
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Questions? Contact: registercontactzonies@gmail.com
Class Descriptions
Contact Zonies offers a comprehensive agility training program that takes its students from new beginners thru master handlers and competitors. Our classes are offered weekday evenings at our fully fenced, outdoor training
site located at the Melrose Swim Club, near 32nd Street and Cactus Boulevard, in Phoenix.
Contact Zonies offers three class regular 8-week sessions each training year.
Our class schedule can be found on the club Calendar . Questions? Email registercontactzonies@gmail.com.
FULL Beginner I, Mondays, 8 weeks, $120.00
The Beginner I and II classes are designed for handlers and dogs (12 months or older) with limited or no training in agility. Handlers brand new to dog agility must take Beginner I (8-weeks) and Beginner II (8-weeks) before moving to the next level (Novice).
The Beginner classes are game-based to teach dog and handler skills that provide an excellent agility foundation, but also translate into everyday life to create a fun relationship with your dog. The Beginner classes concentrate on building engagement, focus and impulse control in the dog and introduces the dog and handler to the agility obstacles. Handlers will learn how to shape behavior and encourage and foster the dog’s willingness to learn, building the dog’s confidence to tackle the challenges of agility and partnership with the handler.
All training activities in Beginner I are performed on leash. Some activities in Beginner II may be performed off leash.
Dogs must be controllable in a group setting with other dogs and people in a high energy training environment.
Pre-Requisites:
1. Dogs must be at least 12 months old.
2. Handler must be at least 15 years of age.
3. All beginner dogs must attend a required orientation the week before classes begin.
The orientation will cover the training policies and class requirements. A short canine evaluation will also be conducted to ensure all dogs can safely work around other dogs in a high energy group environment. Dogs unable to attend must make arrangements with the training director for an evaluation before class begins. Students must bring their own crate/kennel.
All students are expected to help setup the exercises before class and help tear down at the end of class.
Schedule: Beginner I (new dogs)
1. Fall Session (9/30/24-11/21/24) – Monday, 6:30pm-7:45pm
FULL Novice Class, Mondays, 8 weeks, $120.00
In Novice, teams will continue to build the proficiency on all the agility equipment started in the Beginner classes, including learning the contact obstacles and weave poles. Dogs are also introduced to jumping skills, including grids, bend work and increased jump heights.
Dogs must be controllable off leash in a group setting with other dogs and people in a high energy training environment.
Pre-Requisites:
1. Dogs must be at least 15 months old
2. Handlers must be at least 15 years of age
3. Dogs must have completed Beginners I and II or have the permission of the training director.
Students must bring their own crate/kennel. All students are expected to help setup the exercises before class and help tear down at the end of class.
Schedule: Novice
1. Fall Session Fall Session (9/30/24-11/21/24) – Monday, 7:45pm-9:00pm
Beginner 2, Mondays, 8 weeks, $120.00
The Beginner II class is a continuation of Beginner I. Students MUST have successfully completed Beginner I with Contact Zonies to sign up for Beginner II. Dogs must be able to work off leash for short periods of time in this class. Dogs must be controllable in a group setting with other dogs and people in a high energy training environment.
Prerequisite:
Successfully complete Contact Zonies Beginner I class.
All students are expected to help setup the exercises before class and help tear down at the end of class.
All students are expected to help setup the exercises before class and help tear down at the end of class.
Schedule: Beginner 2
1. Not offered in Fall session
Advanced Handling (AH), Tuesdays, 8 weeks, $120.00
The Advanced/Handling (AH) class puts more emphasis on training the handler in a wide variety of cues and signals for directing their dogs around a course. Sequences are longer and more challenging. Lesson plans will focus on turning cues such as wraps, turn aways, outs, lead outs, serpentines, and false turns. Handlers will also be introduced to other advanced handling cues such as blind crosses, backsides, and a variety of collection and tight turn cues. Handlers will learn advanced obstacle skills and proofing such as obstacle discrimination exercises, handling contact obstacle from a distance and challenging weave pole entrances and exits.
Handling skills will present teams with sequences designed to replicate challenges found in Open/Advanced and Excellent/Masters level courses. Dogs must have competence on all obstacles and handlers should have reasonable competency in basic handling maneuvers. Dogs should be jumping at or close to their competition height.
Dogs must be controllable off leash in a group setting with other dogs and people in a higher energy training environment.
Pre-Requisites:
1. Dogs must be at least 18 months old.
2. Handlers must be at least 15 years of age.
3. Dogs must be proficient on all obstacles, including 12-weave poles and all the
contact obstacles.
Students must bring their own crate/kennel. All students are expected to help setup the exercises before class and help tear down at the end of class.
Schedule: Advanced/Handling
1. Fall Session Fall Session (9/30/24-11/21/24) – Tuesday, 6:30pm-8:00pm
FULL Intermediate - Wednesdays, 8 weeks, $120.00
Intermediate class presents teams with longer sequences and more challenging approaches to the obstacles. Emphasis will be placed on handling maneuvers while ensuring the dog’s thorough understanding of independent obstacle performance. Obstacle discrimination and lateral and forward distance handling are incorporated into the lesson plans, along with commonly occurring sequences such as 180s, 270s, pinwheels and serpentines. Handlers will increase their use of front, rear, and blind crosses, turn away cues and similar handling moves.
The Intermediate class should be repeated until dogs are proficient on all obstacles, including 12-weave poles and all the contact obstacles. Dogs demonstrating proficiency will be allowed to move to the Advanced/Handling class. Dog/handler teams should be able to compete at the Novice/Intro level upon successful completion of the Intermediate class.
Dogs must be controllable off leash in a group setting with other dogs and people in a higher energy training environment.
Pre-Requisites:
1. Dogs must be at least 15 months old
2. Handlers must be at least 15 years of age
3. Dogs must have completed Novice or have the permission of the training director.
Students must bring their own crate/kennel. All students are expected to help setup the exercises before class and help tear down at the end of class.
Schedule: Intermediate
1. Fall Session Fall Session (9/30/24-11/21/24) – Wednesday, 5:30pm-8:30pm
Masters Course, Thursdays, 8 weeks, $120.00
The Masters Course (MC) class provides dogs and handlers with masters/excellent level full courses from USDAA, AKC, and UKI. Each week will alternate between jumpers and standard along with international and championship courses. The class is overseen by instructors competing at the master’s level who will select the weekly course, offer suggestions during walk throughs, and provide feedback during your runs. Each team will be able to run the course at least twice.
Dogs must be controllable off leash in a group setting with other dogs and people in a high energy dog agility environment.
Pre-Requisites:
1. Dogs must be at least 18 months old
2. Handlers must be at least 15 years of age
3. Dogs must have competence on all obstacles (including 12-weaves) and handlers should be competing at least at the Advanced/Open level to participate in this class. Dogs should be jumping at their competition height.
Students must bring their own crate/kennel. All students are expected to help setup the exercises before class and help tear down at the end of class.
Schedule: Masters Courses
1. Fall Session Fall Session (9/30/24-11/21/24) – Thursday, 6:30pm-7:45pm and Thursday, 7:45pm-9:00pm
Refund Policy
All requests for refunds MUST be submitted via email to the Class Registrar. (registercontactzonies@gmail.com)
1. Refunds Before Classes Start:
- Before the first day of class, a 100% refund is available less a $15 cancellation fee*.
*The cancellation fee will be waived with proof from a veterinarian or healthcare provider that either the dog or handler is unable to participate in class; medical verification may be requested.
*If Contact Cash was used, the $15 cancellation fee will be deducted from the cash submitted. If a voucher was used, no fee will be charged and the voucher will be returned.
2. Refunds After Classes Start:
- Regular 8-week classes: Students withdrawing for any reason before Week 3 are eligible for a voucher for a future session for the same class. The vouchers expiration date will be two (2) years from the original session start date.
- No vouchers are given after the 3rd week of class for any reason.
3. Refunds for students suspended from class due to dog (or human) aggression will be determined by the Contact Zonies Agility Team Control committee.
How do I Find Out if a Class is Cancelled?
On the rare occasion that class must be cancelled, your instructor will contact you as soon as possible. The following methods can be used to inform you of cancellations:
1. Text messaging
2. Email
General Class Information
Training Philosophy
Classes are taught by volunteers and not paid professional staff, although all instructors have a range of experience both in competing in agility and teaching the sport. Class lessons follow a written curriculum that is carefully designed to provide a cohesive, consistent and progressive approach to training all of the agility obstacles and handling maneuvers. Lesson plans are updated for each new training season.
Contact Zonies’ training philosophy is based on a positive reinforcement methodology. No force or coercion is used in our training approach. Food, toy play and praise are the primary reinforcers employed to creating a positive learning environment for both the dog and handler.
Safety is also of utmost importance to us. Dog-to-dog or dog-to-people aggression is not tolerated and any incidents will be promptly assessed with the possibility of dogs being excused from class without refund of fees. Beginner dogs and new dogs to the program are required to be evaluated through a questionnaire and in-person evaluation for their ability to work in a stimulating environment without aggression to other dogs or people.
We know that many dogs will be excited by the class setting and the activity of agility itself, especially for the new and inexperienced dogs. Lesson plans are designed to teach dogs and handlers methods to cultivate engagement, focus and impulse control along with the skills associated with obstacle performance and handling. Management techniques such as crating, the use of long line leashes and other tools are also employed in the class setting as teams are building their attention capability.
Class Structure
- New students will be expected to enroll in classes according to the class descriptions. Moving on to the next class level is determined by the dog/handler team’s meeting the criteria for the next level.
- Class sizes are usually between 8-12 dog/handler teams.
- Classes are 75 minutes in length.
- Please arrive a few minutes before the class start time to potty your dog and put them in their kennel so you are ready at the start of class time.
- Class time includes the time to setup and/or tear down the equipment.
- Students are divided into two or three groups depending on the size of each class (except the Master Course class).
- Each group will rotate through exercise stations containing one or two exercises (except the Master Course class).
- Students must bring their own crate/kennel. Dogs are NEVER allowed to be tied to fences, chairs, etc. before, during, or after class. If your dog barks while in a kennel, please bring a cover for the kennel.
- While waiting for your turn, it is strongly recommended to watch the other dog/handler teams working. You can learn a lot by watching other dogs work and listening to the advice from the instructor.
- Dogs are only allowed on the agility equipment under the supervision of the instructors. This is for dog safety and fairness to your classmates.
Set Up & Tear Down
- Class times are 75 minutes in length which includes the time to setup and/or tear down the exercises.
- Students should arrive a few minutes early to potty and crate their dog.
- As club members, all students are expected to help in the set-up and tear-down of the exercises. Please let your instructor know if you have any physical limitations.
Barking Testimonials!
My mom learned so much! And I loved the treats and seeing my friends each week!
Joe the Collie
So glad my dad finally was able to get the hang of rear and front crosses.
Cali the Corgi
