With more and more people coming into agility, instructors need a method of determining which teams are prepared to enter into group classes. The team will have far more fun in their agility endeavors if they already have some basic obedience (team work) preparation before they begin. This will also raise the comfort level of the existing members as you bring new dogs into the practice sessions.

Agility training is often held in very close proximity to other dogs and handlers; manners are an absolute must from our canine friends! They must be neither people or dog aggressive. This includes having the basic social skills to not rush up to other dogs which may not appreciate the sudden attention.

This assessment isn't at all hard to pass and is only intended to see if the "team" has some basics of team work which is so helpful before beginning agility training. If a team is found in need of basic training they can attend a pre-agility class if the club/school has one, or one at a local obedience school.

Use a 1 - 5 scale to determine the level of responsiveness. Those who don't pass are asked to take a basic obedience class, or further socialize their dog and then revisit for a later agility beginners class. Those that are "iffy" are given home work assignments before they return to the class.

The first exercise is a sit or down at the handler's option. You're just looking for some prior experience in training from the team. The handler should have been working on something prior to coming for agility training.

The 2nd exercise is a come-fore. With the dog on leash the handler moves out until the dog is at the end of the leash ahead of the handler. The handler then calls "come" and backs up. Once again, you're looking for the level of responsiveness of the dog to the handler. That helps to determine the placement of the students in their class. Dog/handler teams can be placed into a class relative to their experience.

The the assessment team (usually 3 members) invites the dog to visit and pets the dog if it will allow the contact. Since so much of beginner training involves a helper who holds the dog it is important to know if the dog will accept such handling. A reserved or tentative dog is acceptable, one that growls or is overtly fearful is excused. The handler is asked to further socialize the dog or enroll in a local obedience class.

Then divide the students into 2 groups. The dogs are placed in the off-side position (not heel side). The two groups are lined up facing each other and with the dogs on the inside path and the handlers on the outside path they then jog toward each other so that the dogs pass by each other. Then send them by each other. The curious dog, or the inviting to play dogs are not faulted. The dog that growls or lunges at another is asked to be further socialized or join a local obedience class and to revisit for a later beginner agility class.

There is then one final phase for the team to pass. Off lead the dog and handler then jog around the park with the handler darting to and fro, clapping and calling the dog to join in the fun and follow the handler around. Often you have to demonstrate this portion.

What you're looking for here is responsiveness to the handler once again, but also the ability of the handler to call the dog off the general membership and their dogs if the dog decides maybe that group over there looks more interesting than the handler. You can do this assessment while there is a class or two already underway so the invitation to join another group is strong.

Remember, this dog has already passed the static people or dog aggression phase of the test before being allowed off lead. That way if the handler is not able to call the dog off you won't experience an accident if it bounds into the crowd ignoring the calls of its handler.

Using some type of pre-class assessment will help to keep your classes peaceful and full of fun for everyone! Katie Greer (This test was first published on the old Agility-L web site circa 1994)

A similar topic came up on the list about 2 years ago.  At that time, one of the list members, who was a lawyer, posted a warning that I certainly took to heart as a trainer. This is not an exact quote, but is the essence of what they posted:

One thing all clubs and trainers MUST keep in mind if you have known aggressive dogs in your classes and you continue to keep them and do nothing to mitigate the danger:  If the dog injures another, then you can be held liable for negligence.  When we present ourselves to the public as "experts" or as a professional trainer (and we are considered that, whether you are teaching for yourself or for  the club) with previous knowledge of
a danger who does nothing to deal with it, if something happens you are liable.

These dogs that are being discussed who are growling and lunging at others in class are certainly showing they are a danger to others and that a potential problem exists.

In today litigation-happy world, if your dog or one of your students dogs' gets out of control and hurts another dog, be prepared for the worst.

I know we all want to make our sport available to as many people who are interested as possible, but  keeping aggressive dogs in class, who constantly demonstrate their aggressiveness is trouble waiting to happen.  This is not a blanket statement saying that all aggressive dogs are bad, or that their handlers are incompetent or that they should all be thrown out of classes.  It is just a warning about potential consequences. Kathie Leggett

This is really sad! It seems to me that in the interest of making a few extra dollars, dogs which should not be working in group classes are kept in them.

I agree with Cindy, these folks are in denial of the problems they have and the potential liability that they face. I have over-heard comments that the  dog just wanted to play, while watching it take a nip, or worse, at the dog it rushed up to. Play? Additional study on canine behavior is needed by these instructors and owners.

I appreciate that Cindy is the type of owner who recognizes her dog's limitations and deals with it in a straight forward manner. Thank you for your well thought out post.

Perhaps if agility schools developed a class for these socially inept canines to help correct their behavior, they could still be getting that cash they wish to receive, then the dog could return to regular agility classes later. This would benefit everyone! Anna McCord