I have to warn you, my trainer is not a professional. I guess she has a goal to learn new skills too..."dog agility training." We are working and learning beside one another. This could be a challenge for both of us.
My trainer (Master) bought a book on Amazon about dog agility (See Reference at the bottom). We are beginners, so she found a book that appears to be written for beginners. Neither one of us has done agility training, but it looks fun to try.
My goal as an athletic dog (my Master thinks I am athletic) is to learn obedience, plus have a little fun and exercise. I do not plan to be competitive, but the sky is the limit, so it could happen.
First Goal
My first goals to master: sit, come, stay.
I am off to a great start. I know how to "sit" and "come" and am really good at "stay", as long as I am not distracted. I will get a refresher lesson on these words, as sometimes I do not want to follow commands.
I can be stubborn and won't always follow commands until they are repeated more than once, and a treat is involved.
Second Goal
After mastering my first goal, I will learn more advanced terms to reach my ultimate goal of completing an agility course. A course is the long-term goal; let's focus on the short-term goals for now, such as mastering basic commands.
My trainer (Master) says that once I've mastered my basic terms in my first goal, I can be introduced to more advanced terms. Commands such as "wait" and "focus". I sort of know the terms, as I hear them often, but now I will listen to and follow them more often in practice.
Third Goal
Last but not least in basic skills, I am also going to learn how to maneuver in a particular direction. Hint...hint...this is where I get to know my "left" from my "right." This sounds difficult. This skill will be an ongoing learning experience as I gain ability and knowledge of agility equipment.
In conclusion, regarding my learning. My trainer (Master) bought a whistle with a clicker. I am learning that the "click" sound means I did good. I am also learning that the whistle is used to get my attention. This is new to me, so I am not always sure what the whistle means, but it does get me to look in my Master's direction, wondering what she is doing.
To be continued...Pistol Pete's Agility Training. New Year, New Goals. Happy 2026.
FYI: High Five... I like giving high fives a lot. One of the first skills I learned as a pup. I give high fives when I want a treat. I get treats also when I learn new skills.
Book: Grayce, R. (2025). The complete guide to canine agility: Essential techniques to build a fast, focused, and competitive agility dog. Sanzen Publishing.