Dog agility is a lot of fun for dogs and people. It’s also a great way to get and keep fit with your pooch. The kennel club created The Agility Club in 1983. They host a three-day championship show that includes a selection of agility classes. The Kennel Club also runs the agility league, whereby clubs compete for the most points. But dog agility doesn’t have to be uber-competitive. In common with most sports we do with our pets, it’s up to us how seriously we take and how competitive we choose to be. At its core, agility is a lot of fun however you choose to do it.
Here are some of the best London clubs and training centres for agility (in no particular order):
London Dog Training Centre – The Dog Club
Trainer Roland offers over 25 years of experience as a professional dog trainer and utilises a ‘silent training’ method that uses a lure for reward. Potential clients are invited to learn about the methods and watch a training session to give an insight if the classes and what to expect before signing up.
http://www.dogtraining.org.uk/
Facilities:
Large hall. Outdoor puppy area, four-acre field.
Where and When:
Southgate Sunday mornings.
Barnet and District Dog Training Club
Shirley Paine and Kevin McNicholas both have over thirty five years of dog training experience. They train for working trials, dog obedience, agility, and they are famous for Flyball. Kevin is also a dog behaviourist and specialises in difficult dogs. They also have Kerry as part of the team who specialises in puppy training, clicker training, obedience and heelwork to music. All are based on positive reinforcement.
Facilities:
A certified Kennel Club dog training centre. Barnet and District Dog Training Club also offer home visits.
Where and When:
Classes take place at Finchley, N3, on Monday evenings.
Wagging Tails Dog Training
Wagging Tails Dog Training in South Norwood offers a range of courses, including agility from trainers Karen, Jenni and Salem. They have venues in South Norwood and East Dulwich offering small classes for all breeds and cross breeds using positive reward based methods.
Facilities:
Small classes
Where and When:
South Norwood and East Dulwich Saturday’s and Tuesday’s.
Perfect Dog – Dog Training
Monday evenings is the day and time for a six week fun agility course for you and your dog. They take all breeds, shapes and sizes as long as the dogs are already well socialised. The classes are designed to be non-competitive and fun. They have over 25 years of experience. Visit the website for course programme and video.
Facilities:
Booking essential. Classes held at the Ebony Horse Club SW9.
When:
Monday evenings are agility night.
Elmtree Pet Hotel
There are agility classes held at the Elmtree two evenings a week known as Jac’s Jodies Agility Club. They are a division 1 club but known for being friendly and supportive.
Facilities:
The Pet Hotel Facilities.
When and Where:
Classes at the hotel on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.
Alpha Dog Training
Run by Sue and Ceri Evans, who are both qualified instructors, the agility classes run between April and September. They have a registration fee and a very reasonable weekly charge thereafter. They are located Just 150 metres inside Finsbury Park from Manor House Station. Their qualifications are impressive and Elinore Vickery makes up the senior team and specialises in agility. There are also other instructors and trainee instructors.
Facilities:
Outdoors so summer classes only.
When and Where:
Finsbury Park April-September, registration and booking essential.
Six London Clubs
Above, we have selected six training establishments that include agility. Whichever club you choose and your reason is up to you. We hope that you find this guide useful when looking for the best club for your dog agility needs in London.
If you enjoyed this article you might also like to read about Dog Agility Sets