Crazymaesy Agility Training

Many will know me from agility in England.

I have taken all my dogs to Advanced/Grade 7 over a 19 year period and have qualified for all the major finals over the years, taking podium places at most.

I have won the British National Champion title as well as winning all the pairs and teams competitions (more than once!). I train regularly around the world and enjoy seeing the people I’ve trained achieve their agility dreams.

People who train regularly with Crazymaesy Agility Training work their way quickly up through the grades and most have achieved Advanced/Grade 7 with one or more dogs.

My approach to agility is to always be asking what the dog understands of the task it is being set and what the handler can best do to ensure a successful and enjoyable outcome.

I do not think that agility can really be learned "by the book". Every partnership is different and there will always be the exceptions who break every rule and still succeed. My approach is to look at what does and does not work for each dog and handler and to help them to incorporate their own style into a consistent framework that both are confident with.

There are some consistent rules and approaches that can be applied to all agility situations. By working within these rules the dog can gain clear and certain direction, even when the partnership is working under pressure.

However, different dogs and handlers have different strengths and weaknesses and it is important to recognise these in selecting the right technique for a given situation. On completing a training session both dog and handler should feel more confident that they are doing what each other wants and the partnership should therefore run faster, more accurately and more consistently.

Speed and accuracy come from the partnership between dog and handler. Your job is to be consistent in giving the right cues at the right time. There are an infinite number of ways to work agility courses with your dog but if you concentrate on a limited number of techniques it will be easier for the dog to always be sure what you want (and easier for you to make the right move under pressure!).

I will insist on handlers learning to work effectively both from in front of and to the rear of the dog. My strength is in training the dog to learn to work independently and to respond to the verbal and visual cues which, correctly given, reinforce precise handling at a distance.