Hi, welcome to Ridinghood Agility Club and training with
Tig! Ridinghood Agility club is small and friendly, committed to providing fun,
science-based, technical training in a happy and safe enviromement to help you
and your dog acheive your agility potential. We provide training and coaching
for a wide range of levels; our students range from complete beginners through
to international competitors representing Great Britian. We cater for all breeds,
and Kennel Club, UKA and FCI styles of agility. We are located in Iver, which
is on the outskirts of west London, 10 minutes from both the M4 (Juntion5) and
the A40 (Swakelys Roundabout).
We use reward based training methods and believe that
Agility training should always be fun for the dog, and strengthen your relationship
and bond.
Lessons Availible
Agility Classes
Agility 1-2-1 Lessons
Canine Sports Conditioning
Agility Foundation Training (low impact classes suitable for young dogs)
Paws for Coffee Lifeskills/Basic Obedience
AgiliFit
Do As I Do (the exciting new training method for dogs using immitation/social
learning)
Instructors
All our instructors are qualified and experienced in teaching. We are committed
to continued proffessional development, attending seminars, training courses
etc, to ensure that our knowledge includes developments in dog training, canine
behaviour and canine welfare & fitness.
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Tig & the Tervs
Tig has been invovled in agility for 20 years, running her own club
Ridinghood Agility Club, plus teaching as a guest instructor at other clubs,
and teaching training workshops for agility instructors. She has written
agility training articles for a number of publications, including DogsToday
Magazine and a regular training column 'Grass Roots' in The Agility Voice
Magazine for several years, and writes agility training articles for Clean
Run Magazine (the leading magazine for agility enthusiasts). Tig has provided
training advice on Agility and dog training to media companies Endemol,
Splash Media, TalkBack Thames and Hungry Bear Productions, She has also
undertaken work for several TV production companies, most recently on Channel
5's primetime series 'The Secret Life of Puppies - Terrible Teens' teaching
foundation agility skills to Molly the Collie. You may have seen Tig's dog
Tabitha staring in episode 5 of EE's The Wembley Cup, and also on BBC1 saturday
night show 'All Round to Mrs Browns' working alongside Kate Humble and Mrs
Browns' Boys. |
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She is a Coach/Trainer first and a compeditor second;
Tig owns Tervurens who share her passion for agility, and although she
only competes very occasionally Tig has qualified her dogs for several
national finals including winning second place in the Agility Finals at
Crufts. Tig's priority is her student's achievements - her accomplishments
as an Agility Instructor have resulted in Tig becoming a top 15 Finalist
in the APDT Trainers Achievement Awards in both 2007 and 2008, and being
nominated for the KCAI Trainer of the Year in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and
2018. Tig is honoured to have been shortlisted for the KCAI Trainer of
the Year in 2017.
Using fun, reward based training methods Tig teaches
dogs focus, drive and independent obstacle perfomance, in conjunction
with the development of a consistant and intuitive agility handling system,
adapted to suit each dog and handler's personal style and ability.
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In addition to Agility, Tig runs classes in the
new and innovative training concept 'Do As I Do', in which dogs learn
to use social learning to learn behaviours demonstrated by thier handler.
In March 2017 Tig became one of the first people to pass the DAID First
Level exam in the UK.
Tig is a qualified
Agility Club Approved Instructor (ACAI) and an assessed member of The
Association of Pet Dog Trainers UK (MAPDT No. 0655). She is also a member
of the Pet Dog Training Instructors (PDTI no. 1500) and also a founder
member of the Kennel Club Accreditation Scheme for Instructors in Dog
Training & Canine Behaviour (Kennel Club KCAI no. SS 7120083) and
is currently working towards accreditation through this scheme.
Tig has been involved in Agility training for over 20 years, and was invited
to join the committee for The Agility Club and served for several years,
helping to run their Championship Agility show and Agility Instructors
Training course.
Commited to continued professional development Tig invests in learning
from top international dog trainers and sports vets, and has particular
interests in the fields of the affects of conformation on perfomance dogs
including the biomechanics of jumping and other agility activities, evolution
of agility handlig systems here in the UK and abroad, new methods for
improving independent agility obstacle perfomance, DAID training, and
scientific developements in the understanding of canine cognative behaviour
and how this can be utilies to positively influence training methods and
agility handling systems.
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As well as training with Tig, at Ridinghood Agility Club
we have a number of additional instructors who help with classes:
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Elinore Vickery
Elinore is a qualified Agility Club Instructor
and says "Dogs have been a part of my life since I was 9 years old
and I got my first dog, a lovable GSDxLurcher who became my best friend
and cemented my love for dogs. I've been training my own dogs for many
years and instructing in pet obedience for over 15years.
Over the years I've completed several training courses in various deciplines
including Agility, Working Trials, Obedience, Heelwork to Music, RallyO
and Canine Behaviour.
Like Tig I am a founder member of the Kennel
Club Accreditation Scheme for Instructors in Dog Training & Canine
Behaviour. I have also completed the BIPDT instructors course and the
PDTI course (Pet Dog Training Instructor) obaining the Advanced Instructors
level with PDTI and going on to become a member and one of their course
assessors."
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Who can take part in
Agility?
Just about anyone, as long as you and your
dog are both fit and health. We consider the abilities of the dogs, our
classes are relaxed and flexible with no compulsion to raise the height
of jumps, so for example, older dogs which are fit and still enjoy agility
can still have fun working over low height jumps, likewise for large breeds
who’s owners are concerned about joint problems.
If you are unsure about either you, or your dogs
health, visit your doctor/ vet for advice as to whether it is safe for
you, or your dog, to do agility.
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Sweeties & Toys.
We use reward based training methods, so remember to bring some high value food
such a cheese or ham and your dog’s favourite toy (something you can throw).
Clothes.
Agility is a dog sport, so wear something you can run in i.e. trousers
and trainers. In the winter when it can get muddy you may need approprite footwear
that will provide grip.
Collars.
For safety your dog should wear a flat collar.
Obedience Training
We run our Paws for Coffee life skill class.. These classes
are held outdoors, in a secure compound.
For training tips on pet dog manners training please see the link 'Mr MuddyPaws'.
We encourgage owners to attend life skills training classes in a variety of
different venues; I can recommend Alpha dog training club (Outdoor training
venue in Finsbury Park, London) and Iver Dog Training Club (Indoor training
venue in Iver); both use kind, reward based techniques, and ensure each dog
receives individual attention and teach appropriate puppy socialisation.
(please note that 'puppy socialisation' refers
to teaching the dog how to behave appropriately in the presence of other dogs
- as opposed to play sessions with other dogs)
Pre-Agility
foundation Classes
All exercices are low impact, and therefore suitable
for young dogs.
Lessons include Pre-Agility foundation exercises such
as sit stay, attention
to handler, play with toys & leave on
command, proprioception exercises such as cavaletti, introduction to contact
equipment & tunnels,
flatwork using cones & jump-wings and jump bumps.
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