Great Agility is our agility beginner’s program. Its the perfect place to get started in one of the most fun and rewarding activities that a dog and handler can share together! It’s even more so when the team has the proper foundation behaviors that will make training obstacles and handling so much easier and more successful.
Once you’ve met the requirements for our program, start with an Agility Readiness Evaluation. The program is made up of seven different classes, which cover everything you’ll need to get started in this sport. Start with the Agility Fundamentals class. Then, the remaining classes can be taken in nearly any order (each class’s requirements are listed). You’ll be able to retake any classes you need extra time with. Once you and your dog are proficient on the skills trained in Great Agility, you’ll be ready to join one of our Ongoing Novice Agility classes.
We’d love to have you and your dog join us for Great Agility!
Note: If you are ready to try agility, but aren’t sure that you’ll ever want to compete, our Fun-gility classes may be a better fit for you and your dog. In our Fun-gility classes we’ll teach the basics of the sport while learning basic obstacles and agility handling skills.
Agility Fundamentals
Agility Fundamentals is the first class in our Great Agility program. This class gives you and your dog the very best start in this fun sport.
Agility Fundamentals will focus on reinforcement mechanics, engagement and recalls, body awareness, flatwork for handling, foot targeting, tunnels, foundations for jumping, and much more!
- Dog must be a minimum of 11 months of age.
- Dogs and their handlers must have completed Manners 1 and 2.
- Dog and handler teams must pass an Agility Readiness Evaluation.
- Reactive or aggressive dogs are not eligible for this class.
- $228 for six, 50-minute group sessions
- Discounted make-ups are not available for this class. A private lesson may be needed if classes are missed ($70).
Contacts
All that foundation work completed in Agility Fundamentals will finally pay off in this class, when training the full height dog walk, A-frame, and table. This class focuses on training an independent and confident performance on each of the contact obstacles.
- Dogs and their handlers must taken and passed Agility Fundamentals (or by instructor approval).
- Reactive or aggressive dogs are not eligible for this class.
- $228 for six, 50-minute group sessions
- Discounted make-ups are not available for this class. A private lesson may be needed if classes are missed ($70).
Teeter & Weaves - 1
The teeter totter and the weave poles are some of the most complicated obstacles to teach dogs to perform. That’s why we allocated 12 whole weeks to learning them! Teeter & Weaves 1 will introduce and get your pup started on learning to perform these obstacles confidently and independently.
- Dogs and their handlers must taken and passed Agility Fundamentals (or by instructor approval).
- Reactive or aggressive dogs are not eligible for this class.
- $228 for six, 50-minute group sessions
- Discounted make-ups are not available for this class. A private lesson may be needed if classes are missed ($70).
Teeter & Weaves - 2
This second installment to the Teeter and Weaves class will allow your pup to complete their training on these complicated but fun obstacles! The focus of this class will be to solidify the dog’s understanding of the obstacles and how we would like them to be performed.
- Dogs and their handlers must taken and passed Agility Fundamentals and Teeter & Weaves 1 (or by instructor approval).
- Reactive or aggressive dogs are not eligible for this class.
- $228 for six, 50-minute group sessions
- Discounted make-ups are not available for this class. A private lesson may be needed if classes are missed ($70).
Jumping Skills
Jumps are taken more than any other obstacle in an agility course, so we’ve dedicated an entire class to teaching your pup how to jump properly, with good form and independence. This class will not only teach the dog how to take jumps in both extension and collection, but how to take all the different varieties of jumps they will encounter (broad jump, wing jump, wingless jump, panel jump, tire jump, triple jump).
- Dogs and their handlers must taken and passed Agility Fundamentals (or by instructor approval).
- Reactive or aggressive dogs are not eligible for this class.
- $228 for six, 50-minute group sessions
- Discounted make-ups are not available for this class. A private lesson may be needed if classes are missed ($70).
Introduction to Handling
- Completion and “passing” of Agility Fundamentals and Jumping Skills (do not have to pass Contacts or Teeter & Weaves class)
- Or instructor approval
- $228 for six, 50-minute group sessions
- Discounted make-ups are not available for this class. A private lesson may be needed if classes are missed ($70).
Your Instructors
Specialty & Pet Manners Trainer
Gabi Vannini CPDT-KA
Gabi Vannini CPDT-KA joined the WAGD staff in fall 2018. She teaches barn hunt, agility, conformation, rally and manners. She is an AKC CGC, trick, ACT test, temperament test and farm dog evaluator. Gabi competes in a variety of dog sports with her own dogs and has titled in obedience, agility, rally, conformation, lure coursing, dock diving, barn hunt, tricks […]Jessica Ibarra
Jessica began attending agility classes at What a Great Dog! in 2018. She quickly developed a passion for agility and for understanding the applied behavior analysis behind positive reinforcement training in order to be a better handler. During the day you will find her working as a Senior Payroll Manager. Jessica has her Juris Doctor from Texas A&M School of […]Katianna Pihakari
Katianna joined the WAGD trainer team as a part-time agility instructor in 2023. She is a long-time agility competitor and previously trained seeing eye dogs. Katianna started attending agility classes in 2013 with the new love of her life, Tonza, a Dachshund/Cocker Spaniel mix. Additionally, she and Tonza earned their therapy dog certifications, and participated in local therapy dog programs for […]Agility & Senior Pet Manners Trainer
Meagan Johnson FDM, CPDT-KA
Meagan Johnson is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (Knowledge Assessed) through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers and a Certified Family Dog Mediator (FDM). Meagan joined the WAGD staff in 2018. Meagan has worked with families and their dogs around North Texas and virtually since 2012. She teaches Agility, Tricks, Rally, and Pet Manners classes, while also working one […]Paige Varvel
Paige Varvel joined the WAGD staff in January 2023 as an agility instructor. Paige had a passion for animals from a very young age, and has built her career in various areas of the animal care and rescue fields. She has her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Texas A&M University, and had the honor of working with Glen […]Agility Trainer
Ryan Shaw CPDT-KA
Ryan joined WAGD in May of 2011, teaching Agility and Pet Manners classes. Ryan worked in the commercial construction industry for 22 years. When she earned her CPDT-KA (Certified Professional Dog Trainer) in 2013, Ryan left the corporate world to pursue her dream of working with and training dogs as a full-time profession. Ryan’s utilizes positive reinforcement training methods, including […]