Build the skills your young dog needs before agility
PAWS • PAUSE • PLAY is our six-week Agility FUNdamentals course for young dogs aged 9–18 months.
Designed for dogs who may go on to agility in the future, the course focuses on the skills that come before jumps, tunnels and weave poles: connection, confidence, focus, self-control and learning how to work together.
There is no agility equipment used during this course. Instead, you and your dog will learn through games, play and positive reinforcement, building foundations that will be useful both in everyday life and in future dog-sport training.
PAWS • PAUSE • PLAY
PAWS — Awareness & Connection
Learn to understand your dog, communicate clearly and build a stronger connection.
We’ll look at how dogs learn, how and when to reward them, and how you can become part of the reward rather than simply the person holding the food or toy.
PAUSE — Calmness, Thinking & Impulse Control
Help your dog learn to pause, think and make good choices even when exciting things are happening around them.
We’ll work on skills such as settling, focus around distractions, body awareness and self-control.
PLAY — Reward, Engagement & Relationship
Discover how to use food, toys and play to make training enjoyable and build a dog who wants to engage and work with you.
These three themes run throughout the six weeks.
What will we cover?
Week 1 — Understanding Your Dog
Humans only, with a demonstration dog.
We’ll start by looking at how dogs think, learn and communicate, including:
- setting training goals
- marker words and reward timing
- shaping and learning through games
- understanding reward value
- using food effectively in training
- using tug and play to build connection
- building confidence and trust
The aim is to help you better understand how to teach your dog before we bring the dogs into class.
Week 2 — Calmness & Self-Control
We’ll begin putting those principles into practice with:
- boundary and mat games
- making good choices
- lead and collar confidence
- front-feet targeting
- body awareness
- focus around distractions
Week 3 — Focus & Body Awareness
We’ll build engagement and confidence through:
- focus games
- box games
- hand targeting
- tug and connection games
- body-awareness challenges
You’ll also choose a fun trick to work towards for graduation.
Week 4 — Confidence Around Distractions
We’ll work on:
- disengaging from distractions
- recall and orientation
- confidence around noises
- working around distractions
- confidence and trust
Week 5 — Real-World Confidence
We’ll take those skills into situations your dog encounters in everyday life, including:
- door and gate manners
- self-control
- owner focus
- new experiences and environments
- working confidently close to you
Week 6 — Bringing It All Together
Our final week brings together the skills you’ve developed over the course: focus, proximity, recall, engagement, listening and connection.
And, of course, graduation.
We’ll also talk about ways you can continue developing your dog’s skills and, if agility is in your future, where you can go from here.
Course Details
Next Course: Thursday 22 October 2026
When: 6:30pm–7:30pm
Duration: 6 weeks
Location: 700 Marshland Road, Christchurch
Cost: $120
Age: Dogs aged 9–18 months
If your dog is older than 18 months, you’re still welcome to get in touch. We may be able to add you to a waitlist or point you towards another CCATS course that is a better fit.
Register for Agility FUNdamentals
Questions about this course can be sent to [email protected]