Classes · Beginners
Beginner dog agility classes in Chandler.
No experience needed. 16 weeks, $250 including annual club membership, at Faith Family Church in Chandler. Dogs must be at least 9 months old.
Mondays, 6:30–7:45 PM · Sept 21 – Jan 18 · next session starts in February
Beginners is a 16-week course designed to introduce dogs to agility and the performance of agility obstacles. Time is also devoted to the foundation skills agility itself depends on — holding a start-line stay, coming to hand, and learning to take direction from you at a distance.
The class focuses on teaching handlers how to communicate with their dogs and gain a greater understanding of how dogs learn.
What you'll work on
- Introduction to the agility obstacles
- Start-line stay and release
- Come to hand
- Establishing consistent verbal cues
- Handler and dog communication
- Understanding how dogs learn
We're not an obedience class — we won't be drilling sit, down and heel. What we do teach are the specific skills agility asks of a dog, and how to communicate them clearly. Basic obedience helps, but it isn't a prerequisite; keep working on it at home alongside class.
Prerequisites
None. This class assumes no prior agility experience. Dogs must be at least 9 months old before the first class meeting — a dog's growth plates take time to close, and it's important to limit repetitive stress to those areas as they grow.
Homework
Handlers are expected to practice during the week outside of class. The exercises generally don't require home equipment, though students may eventually consider acquiring a jump, a 12-foot plank, and PVC weave poles.
Details
- Length: 16 weeks
- Cost: $250, including annual club membership
- Class size: limited to 20 dog and handler teams
- Where: Faith Family Church, 11530 E Queen Creek Road, Chandler, AZ 85286
Suggested verbals
Pick your words early.
Your dog doesn't care which words you choose — but they care a great deal that you use the same ones every time. This is the list we suggest for students starting out.
Foundation
| Behavior | Verbal |
|---|---|
| Instruct dog to stay in a stationary position | Stay |
| Release dog from a stationary position | Break or OK |
| Marker word | Yes |
| Instruct dog to get toy or food presented | Get It |
Obstacles
| Behavior | Verbal |
|---|---|
| Tunnel | Tunnel |
| A-Frame | Frame |
| Dog Walk | Walk It |
| Weave poles | Weave |
| Jump — take the jump in extension | Jump |
| Table — get on table and down | Table or Table Down |
| Initial 2O2O stopped contact training | Touch |
Handling & direction
| Behavior | Verbal |
|---|---|
| Drive straight ahead to the next obstacle on the line | Go |
| Drive away from the handler laterally | Out |
| Wrap the front of a jump, turning right tightly 180° | Dig |
| Wrap the front of a jump, turning left tightly 180° | Check |
| Dog turns right approximately 90° | Right |
| Dog turns left approximately 90° | Left |
| Backside jump | Back |
| Threadle — take the non-obvious side of the jump or tunnel | In-In |
Questions
Before you sign up.
Do we need any agility experience?
No. Beginners assumes no prior agility experience, and it's where every new team starts.
How old does my dog need to be? Can a puppy join?
Dogs must be at least 9 months old before the first class meeting. A dog's growth plates take time to close, and it's important to limit repetitive stress to those areas as they grow. Older dogs are welcome too — see our FAQ.
Does my dog need obedience training first?
Obedience helps, but it isn't a prerequisite. Your dog should be able to cope in a large dog and handler setting without undue stress.
How much does it cost?
$250 for the 16-week session, including your annual club membership. All major credit cards are accepted, and members can pay up to 50% of class fees in Doggie Bytes earned by volunteering at our shows.
When is the next session?
We run two sessions a year, starting in September and February. Fall 2026 is full, so the next Beginners class starts in February. Join the waiting list to hear first when registration opens.
Where are classes held?
Outdoors on a fully fenced and gated training field at Faith Family Church, 11530 E Queen Creek Road, Chandler, AZ 85286. A crate or exercise pen is required — see what to bring to your first class.
Do I need equipment at home?
Not to start. Homework exercises generally don't require home equipment, though students may eventually consider a jump, a 12-foot plank and PVC weave poles.
Sign up
Start agility in February.
Fall 2026 Beginners is full. Ask us a question or join the waiting list, and you'll hear first when February registration opens. Tell us your name, your dog's name and age, and that you're interested in Beginners.