A Different Kind of Dog Agility Training in Orange County with Intelligent Agility
Intelligent Agility dog agility classes are not new to
Orange County. In fact, Intelligent Agility has established dog agility classes
at two beautifully picturesque locations; in Costa Mesa at Vanguard University
and in Lake Forest at Pittsford Park, all outdoors, on grass, and the course is
fenced.
But what
sets Intelligent Agility apart is their philosophy about dog agility. It’s all
about people and their furry best friend having fun in the safest possible
environment. While some of their students get the itch to eventually compete in
agility trials, the vast majority of students just want to spend some quality
time with their pooch. And there is never any pressure to compete. If someone
is inquiring about their beginning and intermediate classes, they are never
asked if they intend to compete. It is not a prerequisite. "How do you
know if you want to compete until you at least try agility?" asks Erin
Riley, co-owner of Intelligent Agility.
The trainers, Erin & Kevin Riley (the other co-owner), have been training dogs for over a decade and a half, starting with obedience and then focusing their skills on agility. Erin studied animal behaviorism at UCLA, leading Kevin to conclude, “There is so much about obedience that I have learned over the years, but I will never catch up with Erin’s talents, so I've kept much of my focus on the X’s and O’s of agility. So often students tell us how shocked they are that their pooch is doing so well on the agility course.” The leap from obedience to agility was seamless for Erin & Kevin, because, as Erin puts it, “Obedience is such an important component of agility.” So, Erin & Kevin brought their positive reinforcement method of obedience training to the agility course; no yelling, no smacking, and nary a pinch collar allowed in class. Just praise, encouragement, and treats or toys for the dogs (their own PET method).
Erin &
Kevin decided to start Intelligent Agility in Orange County some years back following
their own experiences with other agility classes. While learning a lot from
some of these classes, they often found some to be chaotic (their dog was
repeatedly attacked by uncontrolled and untrained dogs) while others were as
dry as a Santa Ana wind (in other words, not so much fun). “Think of learning
the piano”, said Kevin. “If all you do are scales and arpeggios, you’ll likely burn
out. Playing songs is the fun part.” The songs in agility are running an
agility course and Intelligent Agility always makes sure there is at least one
course run in every class, even in beginning classes. “Exercises and technique
are essential”, says Erin. “But when you take the things you've learned in
class and apply it to an agility course run with your dog, it can be
exhilarating. It’s all about having the most fun possible with your dog.”
A common question asked of Intelligent Agility is if dog agility is generally for larger dogs. “Absolutely not,” replies Erin. “The dogs in our classes run the gamut from smaller breeds like Chihuahuas and Pomeranians all the way to larger ones like Rhodesian Ridgebacks, and everything in between.”
Intelligent Agility has been featured in the Orange County Register and is a big supporter of Desperate Paws of Orange County Dog Club. For more information about Intelligent Agility, including class schedules, visit their website at www.intelligentagility.com
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