After months of testing the classroom and refining the running dogwalk training system with some challenging dogs, I’m thrilled to officially launch this project – an online class Running Contacts: Beyond The Target!

It all started when I had to adapt my usual running contacts method for my dog, Tiger. His exceptionally long stride required him to first learn how to control and understand his striding. At the same time, I began receiving many requests from students seeking help with difficult cases—dogs they wanted retrain from 2on2off, dogs struggling with repetition, and highly-driven dogs who didn’t seem to care even when no reward followed an unsuccessful attempt.

These challenges inspired me to create a variety of games that guide dogs through every step of the training process, allowing them to earn jackpot rewards on nearly every try. This approach has proven incredibly effective for all types of dogs, including those struggling with repetition, high-driven dogs, retrained dogs, and many more!

About the Class

My primary goal when teaching running contacts is to minimize unsuccessful attempts throughout the learning process. To achieve this, we begin by building understanding in a calm environment. Gradually, we introduce speed, handler motion, and obstacles after the target/contact, guiding dogs through every step of the process. This ensures they can channel their drive while meeting criteria, maintaining a consistently high success rate. That is why the class is called beyond the target – running contacts are much more than just touching the target!

We address potential challenges early in the training when still working on the ground, significantly reducing the number of repetitions needed on actual equipment later on.

My training system builds confidence, establishes correct muscle memory, and makes the training process super fun for both the dog and the handler!

Holistic approach is the key. Alongside running contacts, we will work on:

• Body awareness tricks– since hitting a specific spot of the contact at high speed requires excellent body control.
• Impulse control exercises – vital for maintaining the perfect balance between speed and control.

Agility, including running contacts, is all about finding that balance. We want our dogs fully driven to reach maximum speed while still being able to think and maintain criteria. Each of these skills must be trained separately before being combined.

How the Class Works

All materials are available in the online classroom, allowing each team to work at their own pace. As part of the registration process, you’ll be asked to provide details about your dog. This will help me gain insights into their strengths and potential weaknesses so I can tailor the approach to each team. Every dog is different, and I will adjust the training accordingly.

Class Details

• Duration: 3.5 months (12 weeks + a 3-week break in between)
• Dates: Starts March 3rd and ends June 16th
• Group Size: This first online class will be limited to a smaller group.

If you can’t join the March team, another working group will begin in May (starting on May 12th). You can book your spot in the May class at the early bird price by registering before the end of February!

For details about age limits, equipment requirements, and the registration form, check out this link: RUNNING CONTACTS – BEYOND THE TARGET.

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