Excelling at Dog Agility - Book 1: Obstacle Training (Updated Second Edition) (Hardcover)

~ Jane Simmons-Moake (Author) "It seems that much of the world is now acquainted with dog agility-the rapidly growing sport in which handlers direct their dogs through challenging obstacle..." (more)
Key Phrases: weave pole skills, dogs scoring, downside contact, Commands Common, Agility World Championship, Gradually Eliminating Food (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

...written in a fast-paced, clear, concise manner that is excellent for both beginner and experienced agility handler. -- Carol Morris, The Belgian Sheepdog

Build a Canine Library -Must-Have Books and DVDs
by Stephanie Horan

Excelling at Dog Agility Series
These three books provide step-by-step instructions for the agility enthusiast, from beginning to advanced levels of competition. Simmons-Moake emphasizes building a solid foundation so that correcting errors and retraining won t be necessary. Setting a high standard together with consistent and clear communication with your dog is important in developing a great working relationship so that your dog becomes fast and reliable. Detailed lesson plans are given for training classes, and a very useful problem-solving appendix gives in-depth answers to many common questions. --Dog World Magazine January, 2008

If you're looking for a handy reference for agility, this book is definitely the place to go. -- Helen Phillips, Front and Finish, and Borderlines

Jane Simmons-Moake has written a significant book to accompany her award-winning set of videos. -- Angelica Steinker, Clean Run Magazine

Product Description

- Provides detailed, step-by-step instructions for training your dog to master each agility obstacle with competitive excellence in mind.

- Includes important principles for building a happy and successful working relationship with your dog, as well as a solid foundation for all of your agility training.

- Focuses on setting high standards and getting it right from the start so that no retraining will be necessary later down the road.

- Is the perfect companion to Competitive Agility Training with Jane Simmons-moake, Tape 1: Obstacle Training - named Best Video of the Year by the Dog Writer's Association of America.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: FlashPaws Productions; 2nd edition (October 8, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967492904
• ISBN-13: 978-0967492902
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #99,394 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

62 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-have book for agility enthusiasts and neophytes alike, October 25, 2000

By	"seradkins" (Texas) - See all my reviews

This book is an ideal starting point for anyone wanting to learn about the wonderful sport of dog agility and how to train their dog to compete in the agility ring. In addition, it can help the experienced agility handler train their beginning dog the right way from the start, helping to ensure success.

This book is written as a companion to Simmons-Moake's award-winning set of videos on agility training (which are also excellent), but you do not need the videos to enjoy the book. There are pictures and diagrams, and the book is well-organized into easy to understand sections. The author breaks down the art of training agility into simple concepts, which she reemphasizes and builds on throughout the book. Simmons-Moake clearly understands how dogs learn, and encourages positive, motivational methods to teach dogs how to perform each agility obstacle correctly and to enhance the dog-handler relationship.

I highly recommend this book! Agility is an addicting sport, one of the most fun things you can enjoy with your dog, and this book is a great way to learn about it.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Raising the bar for agility books!, January 2, 2004

By	Amanda Eaton "Jack Russells rule!!!" (Custer Park, IL United States) - See all my reviews

Masterfully worded with wonderful illustrations and diagrams, Jane Simmons-Moake has created one of the best books on dog agility training I've seen. This book covers obstacle training for all of the AKC/NADAC/USDAA equipment, focusing on excellence and doing things "the right way" from the beginning. Each obstacle is presented in an easy-to-read, step by step format. She provides tips for those who have troubles teaching a particular obstacle, and has special sections on fixing dropped bars and missed contacts. Not only does she show you how to train the obstacle, but also how to work from a distance with control and confidence... from the beginning! Many trainers leave distance training until the basics have been mastered, but this book allows even the novice agility enthusiast to get a competitive edge early on. Her method will produce consistent and satisfying results! Included in the beginning of the book is also a chapter on equipment and getting started. A brilliant read from start to finish! I would highly recommend this book for anyone interested in agility, from the "newbie" to the seasoned competitor!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book for the beginner, January 5, 2007

By	Heather Luedecke (NW, Ohio) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I thought it would be fun to teach my italian greyhound some agility, so I picked up the entire series by Simmons Moake. She give excellent instruction on teaching your dog each obstacle, and how to properly approach and preform the obstacle the right way from the beginning. This book might not be appropriat for those with little patience (of the trainer or the dog), because she focuses of doing one obstacle till it is preformed appropriately from all directions at speed. She does not go into doing series until the next book. So, if you are just interested in having fun in the yard with your dog - this might not be the right book for you. If you could go on to competition and you and your dog want to feel confident in preforming a course I highly suggest picking up this series.