Excelling at Dog Agility- Book 3: Advanced Skills Training

by Jane Simmons-Moake

Illustrates how to isolate and train many of the higher-level skills necessary to successfully compete at the most advanced levels of competition. This book describes how to strengthen and maintain... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0967492920
• ISBN13: 9780967492926
• Release Date: August 2007
• Publisher: Flashpaws Productions
• Length: 3 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.6" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

Dog Agility - book 3

My daughter is an experienced dog agility trainer, and was thrilled to receive this book as it is the series she reads to learn her skills, and this was the next book she wanted. Very helpful!!

Your dog is sure to excel at agility with this book!

The 3rd book in the Excelling at Dog Agility can be described with one word: FANTASTIC! Simmons-Moake wastes no time getting into the good stuff, and starts out this very advanced book with advancing your weave-pole skills. She covers difficult and "impossible" weave entries and how to train them the right way... and succeed! Moving on to the pause table in the next chapter, she explains the concepts behind a perfect pause table performance, namely teaching your dog to "grip the table," get an immediate sit/down, and correct the perpetually sliding pooch. Other than the weaves and table, the rest of the book really focuses on the handler and developing his/her skills. Learn to "layer" courses designed to trip you up (literally!), perform precise pinwheels and super serpentine sequences. Improve your distance handling with this book, so that gambles are no longer a gamble! Some really great things about this book:· Extremely advanced skill taught in an understandable way· Home practice tips and exercises· A section on evaluating your handling and training skills, and addressing the dog who is "over drilled"· The MOST helpful Problem Q & A section I have ever seen for problems ranging from the dog being too fast/slow to control issues and more!Though this book is definitely not for the beginner and will probably require a professional instructor's guidance, it is a great way to increase your knowledge on the subject and improve your handling skills. Like the two previous books, this is an THE way to achieve excellence, yet a very enjoyable read. Kudos to Jane Simmons-Moake for creating the best books on dog agility out there!

Excelling at Dog Agility -- Excellent!

Simmons-Moake's book offers excellent sequences to practice, and down-to-earth practical information on how to correct problems if something goes wrong. There are many books on the market now about Agility, but none measure up to Moake's. This book is NOT for the beginner, but rather for one training at the AKC Excellent level, NADAC Elite level, or USDAA Masters level.

Excelling at Dog Agility - Book 3: Advanced Skills Training

In the years since Jane Simmons-Moake's three agility tapes hit the market, I have attended a bunch of seminars held by many different trainers. While I have learned from them all, I still feel that the information Jane presents in her tapes and their companion books is the most basic, easy to understand and to follow instruction around. What Jane promotes is common sense handling that is feasible for all handlers to achieve, no matter their age, ability, background or breed of dog.The first two books and tapes in the "Excelling at Dog Agility" series cover obstacle training and sequence training. The third book, which was just published in 2002, is subtitled 'Advanced Skills Training.' As was the case with the other two books, a handy reference guide at the end of the book directs you to the place on the tape where the skills being discussed can be viewed. The advantage of having the book to refer to, in addition to the tapes, is that it beautifully diagrams the various practice maneuvers and presents some marvelous course designs for practicing each of the featured skills. As I scanned through the book I made mental note of the courses I wanted to try. They looked like so much fun!The first topic addressed in this book is advanced weave pole skills. In watching Jane run her own dogs I have always marveled at her ability to send her dogs into the weaves regardless of where the weave entrance was in relation to her. This is a vital skill for anyone involved in USDAA or NADAC gambler classes in addition to often being the difference between a Q and an NQ on any course.This chapter carefully details the steps that will lead to a dog who doesn't need babysitting on the weaves. It also includes a number of suggestions on how to proof your dog so he will remain in the weaves, regardless of your enthusiastic praise or the distractions at a show.Advanced pause table skills might not seem necessary once your dog has learned to get on the table, but could your dog handle a wet slippery table at top speed? Jane writes, "If you have not taught your dog to grip the top of the pause table to keep from sliding off, you have yet to address an important part of his training." Also included in this chapter are ideas on how to maintain the sit or down.Two vital skills for anyone needing to make up for a slow dog or catch up with a fast one are the ability to (1) send and run and (2) layer. The first occurs when you send your dog to a jump or tunnel but you, the handler, continue to run ahead to where you need to be next. Layering is similar in that you send the dog to an obstacle while you run a more direct line to where you are headed, even if there is an obstacle between you and the dog.Other topics addressed are obstacle discrimination, the 'get out' command, pinwheels, zig-zag rear crosses, 'heel and side' commands and advanced distance skills. The latter chapter includes a number of pages devoted to how one should prepare for gamblers.Each chapter in the boo