What is Agility
Agility is a FUN team sport involving a dog and a handler. It involves obstacles and a prescribed course and is a game of physical skill. It is a game where control and patience are needed and teamwork is paramount to success. Agility is a race against the clock, but accuracy is always the first requirement.
Agility requires the handler to direct the dog through a course set up by a judge. Obstacles include jumps, tunnels, contact obstacles, and weave poles. These test the dog’s versatile and agile nature.
Agility requires lots of training through a variety of levels of agility training at CDTA. Beginner, or Foundation, Agility is the first class in the curriculum and introduces the dog and handler to the basic skills of focus, attention, and flatwork with inclusion of some of the obstacles in the game. Basic classes further develop the skills of handler and dog. Additional classes are designed to help the handler and dog fine tune the basics and work on developing more advanced skills.
It's a sport that requires team work and that requires a commitment of time each week to develop the skill that will eventually be used in competitions. Students should be prepared to spend at least a year or more in the training phase before entering a competition.
For further general information please read the Agility General Information Flyer.
Agility Classes
Chuckanut Dog Training Association offers agility classes to small groups at all levels. Students already in a class are given priority. Please check the event calendar for information on this session. Sessions are generally six weeks in length see the 2025 Jan-July Agility Calendar.
A completed Agility Class Application Form (online) is required for any level.
Beginner classes come up only once a year or less often and wait lists are a standard thing. There's often a wait list for other classes as well.
A letter to those on the waitlist
Welcome to CDTA Agility!
We usually have a waiting list to begin in-person instruction, but there's a lot you can do to prepare while you are waiting! Check out the lists of available online resources for training and agility available to you.
Online Training Resources - Part 1 and Online Training Resources - part 2 - Agility
As with all sports, Agility requires a lot more than is initially apparent. Your dog needs several basic skills, including the ability to wait in a crate, ignore all sorts of distractions, be comfortable with objects moving under them, stay while you walk away, and be able to work around other dogs. It would be great if you could work with your trainer, a friend, or in an online class to start getting your dog ready for class!
Some examples of things that may be distracting for your dog at Agility class include noises such as barking dogs or a teeter banging or dogs running in an adjacent ring, people and dogs moving outside the fence, old horse manure in the dirt arena, and other people (including the instructor) in the ring. It might be really helpful to take your dog to a park or outside a busy store to practice some attention and calming skills before starting class. Remember to start far enough away from the distraction to make it easy for your dog to ignore it, and pay extra attention to find what your dog loves as a reward!
Most importantly, we want our dogs to feel confident and trust that we will give them the information they need.
Please contact us if you have any questions about getting started with this training. We look forward to having you and your dog join us!
Details on Classes
All classes are on Thursday nights at the Northwest WA Fairgrounds. If you are beyond the Beginner level, please contact the coordinator at any time by emailing agility-info@cdtadogs.com to ask about open spots, even if they are temporary.
Dogs eligible to participate: Any dog, mix-breed or purebred, large or small, that is physically sound and non-aggressive to people and other dogs can play. Dogs 4 months of age and older may start in the Beginner Class. Dogs must be current on all vaccinations including Rabies.
Training methods are positive and motivational (for both dog and human). Students are prepared to compete in all venues. Students also learn about equipment by helping to set up for or put away equipment from classes.
Just one more thing. Instructors at CDTA are volunteers, giving their time to help you pursue your dreams in this sport. Please help out when you are able. Come early, especially for the early classes to help set up or stay late to help put equipment away. Thank you.
Class Levels - (not all offered at the same time):
Beginning/Foundation - new handlers and new dogs.
Obstacle Performance & Basic Handling
Techniques and Sequencing
Intermediate Handling
Advanced Handling
Electives - occasionally offered - e.g. - Jumping skills, Weaves, Contacts, Course Management, Introduction to Competing. etc.
Session Dates & Fees
Specific dates for classes are on the 2025 Jan-July Agility Calendar, and the Events page.
Fees are dependent on the number of weeks but ranges from $85 to $110 for a six week session. Non-members pay approximately 25% more per class than club members. Junior CDTA members (under 18 years) pay one-half of the amount charged to regular CDTA members.
Agility Contact
Should you have any further questions, please contact us at agility-info@cdtadogs.com