Foundations Class
Yes, a completely new program and a new DVD for this class!!! The major reasons why I decided for the change are:
- Ta taught me the importance of pre-obstacle work, so working on really very basic ground skills that make all the rest go way more smoothly... - so lesson 1 is all away from obstacles now.
- I couldn't stand people redoing sequences over&over again even when I kept saying not to do it... So now sequences are only in lesson 6, the rest are various exercises with lots of variations to make sure people are training, not pattering their dogs.
- I couldn't stand seeing my terribly bagged tunnels in the old DVD!!! So I had to make a new one with properly bagged tunnels! 🙂
What is different is the order, the emphasis and the exercises and I also added some new topics, so the transition to Xtreme Foundations should be super smooth - this class certainly doesn't lack in providing MANY challenges. And definitely covers many topics that we'll be working on!
The reason why I included explanations on hands and handling is just because that's one of the frequently asked questions in every class. HOWEVER, please note that this is TRAINING, NOT handling class, so I don't mind at all if you want to use hands differently as I do! Just let me know and we'll leave your hands alone and focus on training alone!!! - Perfectly fine with me!
This class is appropriate for all levels, from total beginners from 7 months on - and also for experienced agility dogs - I promise to keep everybody challenged!!! All feedback completely individual.
Minimum equipment needed: 2 tunnels, 4 jumps and if you want to work on see-saw and weaves as well: see-saw and stick to the ground and/or channel weaves (ideally both!). + The new Foundations DVD of course.
Topics covered: play, fetching, static toys, stays, restrains, warm ups and cool downs, tight turns, sends, pushes, threadles and serpentines, come to hand, verbal discrimination, obstacle discrimination, tunnel sends, traps and turns (hard and soft turns), extension and collection, different crosses and handling, see-saw, weaves, tire, long, double and wall jump, how to choose sequences and adjust them to your dog, how to handle mistakes and more.
At the moment, you can only register as auditor of the past, April class - and then enter the classroom here. Next class starts on October 8, with registration opening on September 10.
Some graduation videos from previous classes (still with the old program):
Video length limitation per lesson is 10 minutes per lesson (in total that means 60 min in 12 weeks of the class).
The class has 6 lessons, one every 2 weeks = 12 weeks of feedback (+ 2 weeks of a catch-up break in between).
Repeaters price is for those who took Foundation before with the SAME dog. You still need a new video now though, even if you're a repeater...
Please make sure your are registered and logged in before you proceed to paying with paypal - this will ensure you will get your correct access automatically.| participant (includes the new Foundations video) - 280 EUR / cca 315 USD |
| participant (if you have the new video already) - 240 EUR / cca 270USD |
| repeater/ auditor / 2nd dog (includes the new video) - 200 EUR / cca 225 USD |
| repeater/ auditor / 2nd dog (if you have the new video already) - 160 EUR / cca 180 USD |
 Silvia Trkman is known for bringing every dog, from her first dog on, to the very top of the sport. Her dogs are known for great speed, tight turns, running contacts and long and injury-free careers. Silvia is in agility since 1992 and is– 3x World Champion (with two different dogs)
– 5x European Open winner, with 4 different dogs (Lo, La, Bu, Le)!!!
– National Championships podium and World Team member with every dog she’s ever had – National Champion for 22-times (with 5 different dogs of 3 different breeds) – World Team member for 19-times (mostly with at least two dogs at the time – sometimes four 🙂 ) |
Hi Silvia, I was wondering if it would be better to join the current session of Foundations with Arrow or wait until March to join Extreme Foundations? Right now we are getting some seesaw and weave motivation issues. He will do the seesaw in training and trials, but he does it slowly the first time (but still going all the way to the end) and only run fast to the end the second time. With weaves, in the past we have trained hard entries and rear crosses and he even ran ahead to drive to them in trials, but recently he stopped wanting to drive to them and has been slow going through the weaves too. If he still has these issues later when Extreme Foundations opens, would it be ok to still join that class with him? Or is it better to try to work through them now in regular Foundations? I also have not really taught verbal turns and wraps so would need to work on those too. Thank you! 🙂
Yes, I think Foundations would be the best way to start since we discuss see-saw and weaves a lot there + you will need wraps for Xtreme anyway. You might want to have him checked to be sure he is not sore somewhere though as that can cause sudden dislike of weaves…
Hi Silvia. How are you? I’m writing to see if I am in time to enter Foundations Class. In the description there is a deadline until December, but I am afraid that maybe they are already very advanced. I would like to do the course with my 11 month old puppy, terrier mix, very intelligent. What do you think?
(We already have and saw your DVD 😀 )
We’re at lesson 3 at the moment, but yes, you can actually still join, do as much as possible till December and then finish things up on your own if needed.
Hi Silvia,
I have read somewhere in important post that you now use ‘in in’ command for threadles instead of cth and cik/cap. Since this is new, would it be thaugt/discussed in upcoming foundations classes as well? Because DVD still uses cth for threadles 😉
Just wonderering for my next agility dog 🙂
No, I definitely still use cik/cap!!! But yes, I separated in-in from cth cue -- it’s discussed in Xtreme DVD and class. And the next Foundations class will have a new program and will include it too yes.
Okay great!So you still use cik & cap on threadles but will use in-in instead of cth command there?
Looking forward to new foundations class! I will join one of the future foundations classes with my new agility dog. But that might be only untill end 2019/beginning 2020, we will se how soon exactly 😉 But sure good to hear it is renewed by then! 😀 😀
Yes. Only if the thraedle is wide enough that no collection is needed. But usually, it is. Keeping fingers crossed for your puppy plans!!!
Hi Silvia,
can I still subscribe to the foundution class as an auditor?what is the price as an auditor?
Yes, no problem to join as an auditor! Auditing price is 180e.
Hello Silvia,
I’m almost sure you told us when the next foundations will start, in April, but when? I’d like to participate with Amber, she’ll be 7 months on April 17th, would that be OK? Or still too young?.
And also will the “old” version of the DVD still be OK, the one we have from Zakie’s foundations class?
Thanks again for puppy class, it was really fun to observe Ida and Amber learning together 🙂
Yes, that should work. The class starts on April 2nd. BUt hm, no, the program is totally different now, so you will need the new DVD…
When will the registration open?
March 19! 🙂
Hi Silvia, I was wondering if the foundations class would be good for my dog. He is almost 4 (!) and is very frustrating to me, to the point I may not do agility with him. He is OBSESSED with tunnels, he runs around jumps especially if I try to run in a more or less straight line or even slightly curved line and doesn’t like to listen to collection cues. His obstacle commitment is low, in that I can’t get to where I need to go because I need to make sure he takes the obstacle. I stopped trialing for a year and a half and worked on cth exercises and trying to get him to stop running around obstacles. he just wants to RUN. He is a phenomenal nosework dog and would probably like to do herding LOL. I have taken previous classes with you and really like your methods, I started this dog the same way but he did not learn like my other dogs. I purchased your new DVD and really like it. I am happy with his teeter and aframe, and his dogwalk is getting there. It’s everything else that’s not okay. Weaves and bars are an issue as well. THankyou for any help! Tammy
This video is from last weekend, our novice courses here are awful, I would rather run him in an excellent level class where there is not so much space!I couldn’t get him to do the weaves, we are only allowed 3 attempts, but the next day he did 3 sets of 12 with no problem. ?? THis video doesn’t even show the worst of his efforts, lol.but it’s recent. the next day I didn’t get video unfortunately.
Yes, definitely a good idea to join! We can focus on things that are hard for him, like collection and jumping in general I think and build more value for jumps and weaves. I think it’s just hard for him -- he has such looong legs that agility distances aren’t easy for him at all! But I certainly wouldn’t give up on him, he is obviously having fun and trying hard!
thank you so much Silvia! you give me hope. 🙂 we will sign up.
Tammy and Goose
Hey there,
My sheltie puppy is 5 1/2 months old and half way through the puppy class as a late entered auditor. I presume we should just audit this class and start when she is a little older?
And how big of a field do we need. Our space is only around 9x6 meters.
Thanks
You can certainly start with lesson 1 already now, just avoid too many repetitions of anything at this age of course and don’t try to master the whole program in 3 months of course.
But yes, that’s very limited space and while it does allow you to work on some exercises, I would make sure to often go to a park or similar and work on really running and the extension there -- for developing speed, giving them lots of space is VERY important.
Hi Silvia !
Do you know when the next foundation class will be scheduled ?
Thank you
Chloé
Yes -- end of September/beginning of October.