Agile Canines Training School

Training is structured in progressive levels: Sports Foundations (9–12 months, prerequisite for all agility), Beginning Agility (weave poles, contacts, sequencing), Intermediate Agility (10–14 obstacle sequences, handling cues), and Advanced Handling (complex courses, distance work). Obedience classes are ongoing and limited, requiring completion of Foundations. Therapy Dog classes are drop-in only. Progression is based on instructor assessment and home practice (2–3x/week recommended). Specialty workshops (e.g., Weaves, Contacts) are offered periodically.

Pricing Summary

Group classes are sold in 6-session blocks: $140 for Sports Foundations, $125 for Agility and Obedience levels. Therapy Dog drop-ins are $18 per class, or discounted passes: $65 for 4 sessions, $90 for 6 sessions (valid 4 months). Private lessons available Monday–Thursday; pricing and scheduling via online form. No refunds within 24 hours of cancellation.

Policies

Refunds are issued only with more than 24 hours’ notice for cancellations. Classes are ongoing with no fixed start/end dates. Waitlists are long, especially for Sports Foundations. Priority for class spots is given to current and former students. No mail is received at the facility address.

Agile Canines Training School is a dog training facility in St. Louis Park, MN, specializing in positive reinforcement-based training for competitive agility and obedience. They offer ongoing small-group classes with individualized instruction, ensuring each dog-handler team receives personalized attention. Their signature Sports Foundations program prepares puppies and dogs (4 months and older) for agility, obedience, rally, and freestyle by building foundational skills like impulse control, body awareness, target training, and loose-leash walking. Classes are held in a calm, supportive environment with experienced instructors who have competed nationally in multiple agility organizations. They also offer drop-in Therapy Dog classes for certification preparation and ongoing skill refinement. Private lessons are available Monday through Thursday. The school fosters a strong community of dog owners and provides additional learning opportunities like mock trials, open ring times, and specialty workshops led by national experts.

Their instructors have decades of combined experience competing in AKC, CPE, NADAC, UKI, and USDAA events. Students progress through levels—Sports Foundations, Beginning Agility, Intermediate Agility, and Advanced Handling—based on skill mastery, not fixed schedules. The facility is dedicated solely to training, with separate rooms for each class to minimize distractions. Retention rates are high due to the structured, positive, and consistent approach.

Therapy Dog classes are open to dogs 11 months and older with solid obedience and no negative reactions to other dogs. Drop-in sessions allow flexibility for both new and experienced handlers. The school does not offer boarding, grooming, or day care, focusing exclusively on training and competition preparation.

Accomplishments

Annelise Allan, owner and lead instructor, has trained over 20 dogs in agility over 25+ years and earned championships in AKC, CPE, NADAC, UKI, and USDAA. Lisa Hennen earned a MACH and C-ATCH with her Italian Greyhound. Patty Fulton has earned Utility titles in AKC and CDSP. Patti Anderson is a certified Pet Partners Evaluator and TTouch Practitioner with 20+ years in therapy dog work.

How to Get Started!

New clients must join the waitlist for Sports Foundations via online form. For Therapy Dog classes, pre-register using the provided form. Private lessons require scheduling through the online registration link. Beginners are advised to complete obedience basics before starting Foundations. All new students are assessed by instructors before placement.