Beginner Dog Agility Foundations Course in Leeds
Start your agility journey with six weeks of progressive foundation training at Unleashed Pawtential in Thorner, Leeds.
Build the Skills Your Future Agility Dog Needs
Our Agility Foundations Course is designed for complete beginners. Neither you nor your dog needs any previous agility experience, and dogs can begin from six months old.
Rather than rushing dogs onto full-height equipment, the course develops the focus, confidence, body awareness and handling skills needed to create a strong foundation for future agility training.
Who Is the Course For?
The course is suitable for:
Complete beginners with no agility experience
Puppies and young dogs from six months old
Adult dogs trying agility for the first time
Owners looking for an enjoyable activity with their dog
Handlers interested in progressing towards competition
Dogs that need help developing focus and confidence
You do not need to know how to handle an agility course, and your dog is not expected to arrive with perfect obedience.
A reasonably reliable recall and some basic obedience will make training easier, but focus and engagement are skills we will continue developing throughout the course.
What Will You Learn?
Over six weeks, you and your dog will begin developing essential agility foundations, including:
Focus and engagement around distractions
Reward skills and motivation
Flatwork
Following the handler’s movement
Introductory handling techniques
Forward focus
Start-line waits
Body awareness
Confidence in tunnels
Working over poles at a very low height
Building independence
Working together as a dog-and-handler team
Exercises are introduced progressively and adapted to suit the age, confidence and current ability of each dog.
Why Do Foundation Skills Matter?
Dog agility involves much more than teaching a dog to complete obstacles.
Dogs need to understand how to follow handling cues, move confidently away from their handler, respond around distractions and approach new exercises with confidence.
Handlers must also learn how their movement, timing and reward placement influence the dog.
Taking time to develop these skills makes future equipment training clearer and helps prevent confusion later. Strong foundations give both dog and handler a better understanding of how to work together before exercises become faster or more physically demanding.
Age-Appropriate Agility Training
Dogs can join the course from six months old, provided they are fully vaccinated and physically well.
Young dogs will not be expected to perform repetitive or full-height jumping. Training focuses on safe, age-appropriate foundation exercises, tunnels, body awareness and poles set at a very low height.
Proper jumping technique is introduced from approximately 12 months old, with heights increased gradually as the dog develops.
There is no benefit in rushing a young dog through every obstacle. The goal is to prepare them carefully for future agility training.
What Happens During the Six Weeks?
Each week introduces and progresses skills that contribute to your dog’s future agility training.
You will receive practical coaching during the sessions and leave knowing which exercises to practise between classes. Short, focused practice at home will help you and your dog progress throughout the course.
Dogs learn at different speeds, so they will not all complete every exercise in exactly the same way. Training will be adapted so each team can work at an appropriate level.
A Supportive Small-Group Environment
The course takes place in a small group, giving each dog-and-handler team individual training time and feedback.
Your dog does not need to be the fastest, most confident or most focused dog in the group. The course is where those skills begin to develop.
If your dog is nervous, reactive or likely to find a group environment overwhelming, please contact Nikki before booking. A one-to-one session may help prepare them for the course or provide a more suitable starting point.
What Should I Bring?
Please bring:
Plenty of small, high-value treats
Your dog’s favourite toy
A long line
Water for your dog
Comfortable outdoor clothing
Secure footwear
Choose rewards your dog genuinely enjoys. A training environment can be exciting, so high-value food and favourite toys can help your dog remain engaged.
Outdoor Training in Thorner, Leeds
The Agility Foundations Course takes place outdoors at Unleashed Pawtential’s training venue in Thorner, Leeds.
Please arrive prepared for outdoor conditions and check any course-specific information sent before your first session.
Course Price
The six-week Agility Foundations Course costs £120.
Your booking reserves your place for the full course, allowing skills to progress consistently from week to week.
Why Learn with Unleashed Pawtential?
The course is taught by Nikki Hodgson, a Grade 7 and Championship agility competitor who has attended Team GB tryouts and international qualifiers.
Nikki’s coaching is positive, clear and practical. Exercises are broken into manageable stages so handlers understand what they are teaching and dogs can learn with confidence.
Whether your goal is to enjoy a new activity or eventually enter agility competitions, you will begin with foundations designed to support your future progress.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my dog need previous agility experience?
No. The course is designed for complete beginners.
How old must my dog be?
Dogs must be at least six months old, fully vaccinated and physically well.
Does my dog need perfect recall?
No, although a reasonably reliable recall and some basic obedience will make group training easier.
Will my dog use agility equipment?
The course may introduce tunnels and poles at a very low height alongside focus, flatwork, handling and body-awareness exercises. Young dogs will not perform repetitive or full-height jumping.
Can an older dog join?
Yes, provided the dog is physically fit and comfortable exercising. Training can be adapted to suit the individual dog.
What happens after the course?
Depending on availability and your dog’s progress, you may continue through beginner classes, one-to-one coaching and eventually more advanced agility classes.
Begin Your Agility Journey
Build the focus, confidence and teamwork that future agility skills depend on.