Velcro No More! Distance and Layering Skills
Do you have a dog that you have to run to each and every obstacle with? How about a dog that doesn't commit to obstacles as soon as they are cued? Do you want to run courses that utilize distance and layering? This is the class for you!
Course Details
Do you have a dog that you have to run to each and every obstacle with? How about a dog that doesn't commit to obstacles as soon as they are cued? Do you want to run courses that utilize distance and layering? This is the class for you!
Let's get started getting rid of the Velcro! In this class we will work on the basics of getting your dog to go ahead without you, move off of you laterally and really start getting your dog to be confident moving away from you on command! Verbals will be taught as well as several games to work on your dogs understanding that they can do things without you being right there!
Whether you have a beginner dog that is just learning obstacles, or a seasoned dog that needs more skills at a distance, this class can meet you where you are at and expand on your teams knowledge!
Teaching Approach:
Lectures will be released weekly, all on the same day. Lectures contain key concepts to accomplish with written instruction and videos.
Feedback is given with time stamps, second by second analysis, if needed, to help the student understand what to improve and also what is going well. The student can then resubmit video with the changes.
Syllabus
Week 1: Testing your dogs distance skills
Distance Game #1
Week 2: Finding a line skills
Teaching a GO ON verbal and forward focus
Week 3: Lateral movement away from the handler
Teaching an OUT verbal and commitment
Week 4: Beginning Layering
Week 5: What verbals DO you need?
Teaching solid verbals: how to reward, how to add motion as a distraction
Week 6: Working with all the variables and how to increase challenges!
Sample Lecture
Something I hear a lot while teaching seminars is, "I need more distance because I am slow", or "I am always behind my dog, so my dog gets mad at me, they need more distance"
As if "needing distance" is a bad thing? A side affect of not being fast enough, or smooth enough.
Here is a secret for you ;) EVERYONE NEEDS DISTANCE HANDLING!!
Why?
It builds confidence!
It builds drive!
It gives the dogs independence so you can be in another place to help them see the next challenge on course!
It reduces your yardage, while increasing them, making you look faster! Who doesn't want to look faster?
Many times people neglect distance work until they run into an issue on a course that requires it, and it is nowhere to be found. The goal is to have these skills already in your toolbox so you can use it whenever needed.
Most courses at this point will have places on course that you can utilize distance, which gives you an advantage over other teams who have to run the entire thing.
The goal is to have a CONFIDENT dog, trained with CLARITY, who can execute behaviors at a distance with CONSISTENCY.
Let's get Started!!!!
Instructors
Loretta Mueller (she/her) has been involved in agility since 2003 with her first rescue dog, Ace. Since then she has been involved in a variety of dog training activities including USBCHA herding, competitive obedience, rally obedience, and service dog training. In 2007, Loretta...
Registration
Gold
$260
Enrollment limit: 10
- Access to all lectures and homework forums discussion
- Read all posted questions and answers
- Watch all posted videos
- Post general questions to discussion forum
- Submit written assignments
- Post dog specific questions
- Post videos (unlimited)
- Receive instructor feedback
Registration dates:
May 22, 2026 - June 15, 2026
Silver
$130
Enrollment limit: 25
- Access to all lectures and homework forums discussion
- Read all posted questions and answers
- Watch all posted videos
- Post general questions to discussion forum
- Post dog specific questions (video only)
- Post videos (up to 2)
- Receive instructor feedback
Registration dates:
May 22, 2026 - June 15, 2026
Bronze
$65
Enrollment limit: Unlimited
- Access to all lectures and homework forums discussion
- Read all posted questions and answers
- Watch all posted videos
Registration dates:
May 22, 2026 - June 15, 2026
Scholarship available! Apply here
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FAQ
Explore the questions we get asked most often and find out everything you need for a smooth experience with us.
Start by clicking on the Course Schedule link at the top of this page. If registration is open, select the course you wish to take from the list and click on that link. From that page, click on the registration link and choose the enrollment level you are interested in. This webpage describes the steps in more detail.
Registration opens on the 22nd of the month preceding the course start date (ie March 22 for courses beginning April 1st) and close on the 15th day of the month the session has started (ie April 15 for courses starting April 1st). You cannot register for 6 week courses outside of this period.
Scholarships are offered to students who do not feel they can afford the full tuition, but who have a sincere interest in expanding their skills as a dog sport trainer. Scholarships are offered in the form of a 50% tuition credit at the Bronze level. To apply, select the Scholarships link from the top menu (under new students) or click this link. We ask that if you are on a scholarship, you limit yourself to one class. There are a maximum of three scholarships per student permitted in a calendar year.
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