CATC Agility Welcome Letter

We’re excited that you and your dog are joining a CATC agility class! Please read through this information about our agility classes — it will help you and your pup be successful during your session. 

General class info 

Class sessions are once a week for six weeks and cost $300 per session ($270 for CATC members). 

You will need to sign up for each 6-week session via Acuity. You will get a reminder email from our scheduling coordinator 2 weeks prior to the new session to sign up. 

If your instructor is absent or classes are cancelled due to weather, your session will be extended for an additional week. 

You will begin in a class called Intro to Foundations. That class will run for 6 weeks. Your class will proceed at the same day and time after that 6-week session, but it will be renamed “Foundations.” 

Once the class has acquired the sufficient skills for Foundations, the class will be renamed “Skills” – usually after 8 months to 1 year. 

Agility class spots are ongoing. They are billed in 6 week sessions, but most students stay in them indefinitely. If you are not planning on continuing with your class spot, please notify us at least two weeks before the next session starts so we can fill your spot. If you give up your class spot, we can’t guarantee availability in that class or in another group class in the future. You can participate in private lessons if desired to keep up with material, or purchase one-off classes of an appropriate level from the Facebook group as they’re sold. 

Treats and other class-prep notes 

You’re welcome to use food as rewards in class, but we ask that you don’t use crumbly treats. Non-crumbly treats ensure that other dogs don’t get distracted while working and makes clean-up of the turf easier! 

Bring LOTS of food of varying values and a non-squeaking tug toy for your dog to use as rewards. We also highly recommend anyone training with food purchase a food stuffable toy like a lotus ball or treat hugger. Both of these toys can be purchased in our retail store on-site. 

A water bowl to use between turns is also a good idea. You can fill your dog’s bowl at our water fountain. 

Missing classes 

If you miss a class, there are no refunds or makeups. Intro to Foundations Classes can’t be bought, sold, or traded. 

For foundations, skills, and higher level competition classes, you can try to sell or trade your spot to other CATC students by advertising available classes on our student Facebook Page. Please get instructor approval before finalizing any trades or sales. All payments should be handled by students via venmo/cash/etc and CATC is not responsible for any transactions made between students. 

Crating 

While your dog is not working, you will be asked to crate your dog. You may use one of our crates in the crating room adjacent to the agility arena, or you may crate out of your car (depending on the weather). Please wipe out your crate at the end of the class with disinfectant wipes. 

If you plan to crate out of the car, be prepared with sun shades, fans, and free access to water for your dog. If you’re not sure how to crate your dog out of the car, chat with your instructor. 

If your dog can’t be crated or is disruptive in the crate room, we ask that you crate out of your car so that you can watch your classmates and participate in the class, even when it’s not your turn. Students are expected to watch their classmates, help with jump setting or equipment swaps, and engage in the class when they’re not working. 

Please do not let your dog approach other dogs in the crates. We ask that all students keep their dogs on a leash when exiting and entering the crate room for your turn. 

Entering and exiting the building 

For agility classes, please enter into the crate room on the north side of the building. Peek inside the crate room window to ensure other dogs aren’t being taken out of their crates before entering. 

Your dog must be on leash at all times while entering or exiting the building, or anywhere on the property. You may enter the building with a dog on a prong or e-collar, but it must be removed for class. Please have your dog wear a flat standard collar with no tags for training. 

Pottying your dog 

Please potty your dog in the area on the East side of the building (the mulched area between our building and our neighbor’s building). Pick up all waste and dispose of it in the trash can. There are poop bags on holders along the outside wall of the building. If your dog eliminates on the turf in the agility arena or any other area of the facility, there is a $20 pee-nalty fee, paid via Venmo. 

We’re so excited to have you in a CATC agility class! We can’t wait to see your relationship with your dog grow on your training journey.