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IN THE ZONE DISTANCE SERIES

If you would like to learn how I teach my distance skills, I will be teaching In The Zone Distance Series through Bobbie Lyons Canine Campus!  There are many elements to distance training and I have broken them down into specific classes to work specific skills. We start out with the foundation for distance class which is prerequisite for all distance classes. In this class, we go over foundation skills to teach distance! After this class, we have different classes to teach forward distance, lateral distance and layering, directionals at a distance, distance off of contacts and then put the skills together in a Distance Challenge Class. Once you take the foundation for distance class, you can pick and choose which distance skill class you would like to take. To view how I use my distance, here are some highlights from my runs from 2017 NADAC Champs.  Here is a video of my Bonus Runs (Big Distance) in 2018


​FOUNDATION FOR DISTANCE
 THIS CLASS IS A PREREQUISITE FOR ALL DISTANCE CLASSES  
Enrollment is open NOW 
 https://www.bobbielyonscaninecampus.com/p/foundation-distance 

This class will focus on the foundation skills necessary to be successful working away from your dog. Whether it is 10 feet or 100 feet, strong foundation skills are imperative for good distance control. During this class, we will cover how to build and increase distance skills. There are so many difference groundwork exercises to teach your dog distance without any agility equipment. This class will include videos of me training my puppy Inspire the groundwork and foundation exercises I teach my dogs to have the confidence, drive and focus for distance work. We will be using targets, toys, cones, and 1-2 hoops or jumps to work the sequences in this class. Open to all dogs over months of age. Required equipment; non-slippery elevated foot target (I use feed bucket), 2 cones and 2 hoops or jumps. Minimal Space: 30 x 40 This class is required for future distance classes

DRIVING FORWARD AT A DISTANCE    Prerequisite is Foundation for Distance Class

   
Enrollment Opens July 30th and starts August 5th

As I travel all over the continent doing seminars, one skill I find is consistently lacking is “GO – GO STRAIGHT!!. Many dogs cannot do 2 or more obstacles in a row in a straight line without curling in, spinning or barking. If you have a dog that has a hard time continually moving forward and or doing the last obstacle, this class is for YOU!! Videos will include teaching my puppy Inspire ( He will be at least 10 months old in the videos ) as well as my other dogs.
Open to all dogs 10 months or older that can perform hoops or jumps, and tunnels. Minimal space: 50x60 Required equipment 1 tunnel and 7 jumps or hoops

DIRECTIONALS AT A DISTANCE 
 Prerequisite is Foundation for Distance Class Enrollment Opens July 30th and starts August 5th

Directionals is an extremely important part of agility training! The farther you work away from your dog, the more clear and consistent you need to be with your cues. In this class, we will go how to cue your dog to turn properly for here/come (turn towards you) and switch/flips (turn away from you). We will go over body language, verbal cues and motion to cue your dog to turn at a distance. Videos will include teaching my puppy Inspire ( He will be at least 10 months old in the videos ) directionals and adding distance as well as videos with my advanced dogs. Open to all dogs 10 months or older that can perform hoops or jumps and tunnels. Required space: 50x70 Required equipment 1 tunnels and 8 jumps or hoops

LAYERING & LATERAL DISTANCE 
Prerequisite is Foundation for Distance Class
Enrollment Opens August 27th and starts September 2nd

Lateral distance is a very useful skill to have. The more lateral distance you have the easier it is to send your dog forward at a distance. In this class, we will go over how to teach and become comfortable with lateral distance. Homework will include sequences but also discussing various courses and analysis how lateral distance is advantageous. We will also work on layering obstacles. Videos will include teaching my puppy Inspire ( He will be at least 10 months old in the videos ) as well as my older dogs. Open to all dogs over a year old that can perform hoops or jumps and tunnels. Required space: 50x60 Required equipment 1 tunnel and 8 jumps or hoops

DISTANCE OFF OF CONTACTS: 
 Prerequisite is Foundation for Distance Class
Enrollment Opens August 27th and starts September 2nd
An important skill to have is to be able to send your dog off a contact from any location. Having distance off of contacts opens up your handling options!! Many FAST/Chances/Gamblers/JACKPOT etc require the dog to send ahead while being behind the line or requiring lateral distance. In this class, we will go over the steps I take to teach my dogs distance off of contacts. This class is not about teaching contacts. I will include some foundation videos of my puppy Inspire learning distance off of board that will translate to contacts when he is ready for contact training. Open to all dogs over a year old that can perform contact, hoops or jumps and tunnels. Required space: 50x70 Required equipment- dogwalk or aframe, 1 tunnel and 6 jumps or hoops


DISTANCE CHALLENGES! 
Prerequisite is Foundation for Distance Class
Enrollment Opens September 24th and starts October 1st
Do you get stuck on the line in the Gamblers, Fast, Chances, Jackpot? Are you ready for more distance challenges? In this class, we will setup sequences with distance lines ( like FAST, Chances, Gamblers, Jackpot etc).We will examine different handling techniques needed to work your dog while staying behind the line.. We will focus on when, where and how to cue your dog properly using body language, verbal cues and motion so that you do not get stuck crossing the line. Open to all dogs over a year old that can perform hoops or jumps and tunnels. Required space: 60x70 Required equipment: dogwalk or aframe, 2 tunnels and 8 jumps or hoops. If you do not have contact equipment, substitutions can be made !!

 I also offering two In The Zone Agility Monthly Training Subscriptions
Enrolled is open now and starts July 1st!
The 3 month training subscription classes are Big Distance Handling and Monthly Training. The next session starts in July and end in September. In each of these classes, I setup a facebook page to post lectures and videos of sequences that I am working on. You can post videos of your training sessions and I will critique them. Ask as many questions as you want. For more information or to sign up for the classes visit: http://inthezoneagility.homestead.com/subscription.html 

Big Distance Handling Training
Do you want help preparing for Stakes Classes at Champs or trying Distance Challenges or Bonus Boxes? Are you read to take the next step and push for more distance? Every month, I will post some of my big distance training sessions. I will show you how I handle and train for it at a big distance. Going to be a great class if you want to increase your distance skills.

In The Zone Agility Monthly Training Session

Do you need ideas of what to train? Do you need help coming up with training sequences? Do you need help deciding on how to handle courses? Each month I will post some of my training sessions with my dogs. I will run the sequence and then break it down into skills. May be a chances, regular or one of my own training sequences. I won’t just post videos of my awesome dogs and runs :) I will post the actual training sessions with my dogs— including how I trouble shoot when I am having a hard time with a skill or sequence. So you can see how I handle training challenges!



IN THE ZONE DISTANCE TIP

Every agility venue has a class that requires distance skills. Whether it is Fast, Gamblers, Chances or Jackpot, you are required to work away from your dog. If you want to be successful in the classes with distance tests, it is a really good idea to practice distance in other classes!! One of the underlying issues people have in the distance class is that they don’t practice distance in any class but the class with the distance challenge. If you do not practice distance in other classes, it will be extremely difficult to get distance in the one class you need it. So I suggest using and practicing distance skills in other classes, not just the distance class. If you start to use your distance in other classes, it will feel more comfortable and the distance classes will become easier!! So my suggestion is to pick a sequence in a non-distance course where you can incorporate distance skills. Start layering obstacles, send your dog to a tunnel and not run all the way there… do a pinwheel from behind, get some lateral distance on the contact and weave poles etc. Start with just a few feet and work up to advanced level distances. The more you practice distance skills in all classes, the more confident you will be, the more successful you will be! Train it, trust it and trial with it!! 

Here is a video of Inspire at 8 months old learning distance! He has been training with hoops less than 2 weeks. He already has great commitment and distance with limited training on equipment because he has had GREAT FOUNDATION TRAINING without equipment !!