Flying Paws Agility

Flying Paws Agility Club offers a structured progression of agility classes. Agility Foundations is a prerequisite for all other classes, requiring dogs to be at least 10 months old and covering basic skills like walking with the handler, sending around cones, jumps, tunnels, and exposure to new surfaces like tippy and travel boards.

Subsequent levels include Obstacles 1 and Obstacles 2, which build upon foundational skills by introducing jumps from all angles, start line stays, confident tunnel and dog walk navigation, stopped contact behaviors, and exposure to teeter, A-frame, tire, and broad jumps. Handler skills such as front crosses, post turns, and sequencing multiple obstacles are also developed.

Specialized classes like Mastering Weaves and Teeter focus on weave pole entrances, independence on sets of 6 and 12 weaves, and full-size teeter work. The Handling class, a two-part series, emphasizes communication between handler and dog, covering handling elements, walking the dog’s line, sending, recalls, and various types of crosses. Intro to Courses uses entry-level courses to teach students how to review course maps, determine handling plans, and execute successful side changes and obstacle sequencing. The club also offers one or two-day seminars and workshops on specific skills, and hosts “Nationals Inspired Run Thrus” for practice.

Pricing Summary

Classes are offered in 6-week sessions for $140. Seminars typically cost $200 per day for a working spot and $50-$75 per day for an auditing spot. Run Thrus are available for $20 for a full day per dog or $7 for a single run. Information on membership requirements and benefits can be obtained by emailing the club.

Flying Paws Agility Club is a 501.c.3 non-profit organization based in Bloomington, Indiana, dedicated to dog agility enthusiasts. Their mission is to provide a place for practicing agility at a reasonable cost and to bring agility events to the Bloomington area.

They offer a variety of agility classes structured as 6-week sessions, each lasting about an hour per week. They also host one or two-day seminars and workshops focusing on specific agility skills like weaves, teeter, and start line stays.

The club welcomes junior handlers, recommending them to be at least 10 years of age, with exceptions considered on an individual team basis. They also organize “Try-It Days” for those interested in exploring dog agility.

Accomplishments

Flying Paws Agility Club is a 501.c.3 non-profit organization. Their instructors and guest presenters have notable accomplishments in the sport of dog agility.

Karen Lechner, an agility veteran, was the sixth person in the country to earn a Master Agility Championship (MACH). She has earned numerous placements and titles in both agility and obedience, including Obedience Championships (OTCH) and Master Agility Championships (MACH) with several of her dogs. Her Labrador, Grady, qualified for AKC World Team tryouts, and Pepsi became the first female black lab in the U.S. to earn both OTCH and MACH titles. Her current agility partner, Tag, has earned multiple MACHs, competed in four consecutive Westminster Kennel Club events (placing 4th in 2021 finals), and is ranked as a “Top 25 Labrador” and the #2 overall AKC agility Labrador in the country.

Samantha Parsons holds a Bachelor of Science degree in animal science and has over a decade of experience in dog agility and training. She has qualified for AKC national agility championships from 2012-2021 with three different dogs, placing 2nd in the preferred 12” class in 2019. She has also completed personalized coaching with Sarah Stremming to enhance her problem-solving skills with performance dogs.

How to Get Started!

To register for a class, clients can use the provided online class registration link. For more information or to discuss which class is best, individuals can email FPagility@gmail.com. Those interested in membership or signing up for seminars should also contact the club via email. The club also hosts annual free “Try-It Days” to introduce potential students to agility.