On Sunday 24th October we ran an Introduction to Hoopers workshop at Westfield Stables, Steeple Aston. We were lucky with the weather as it was dry. In the beginners class, we had 6 new handlers and their dogs being taught the basics for Hoopers using the Hooperholics method of training. We taught the dogs to run through the hoops so they develop Hoop awareness, to run around the barrels and to be able to do right and left turns. The barrels are used to 'smooth' out the Hooper courses so there is no stress on the dogs joints. Hoopers is very good for dogs who are too young to start agility or to old to do agility. It enables the dogs to be able to use their brains and you learn that you become a team rather than handler and dog. The second class was for those dogs that have already done some Hoopers. In this workshop we ran courses with various new training techniques e.g. working the dogs at a distance and not running with the dogs. Once again all the dogs did brilliantly and were very tired at the end of the session. I am so sorry but I was so busy that I didn't have time to take any photo's but have loaded some from another workshop so you can see what we did.

Thanks must go to Jonathan and Rosemary who were a great help on the day.

We had such an enjoyable weekend of 31st July and 1st August. Angela Lucas from Hooperholics came to give us some very valuable training for Hoopers. I am so proud to report that 4 of our club members were successful in gaining their some of their Hooperlevels. George and Mary gained their Level 2 Hooperlevel as well as the medal for Best Small Dog, Kate and Hugo and Jennie and Ava also gained their Level 2 Hooperlevels. Abi and Thatch and Rosemary and Shadow were successful in gaining their Level 3 Hooperlevel.On this course we had three guest handlers who also gained their Hooperlevels on Saturday. Sarah and Bea won Level 2 and Sarah with her second dog Rita won Level 3. Lesley and Jet  and Hettie with her border collie Level 4.

Thank you Angela Lucas for all your very helpful training techniques and everyone for coming to this Hooperholics workshop at Priors Marston Sports & Social club. 

All our Hooperholic winners!!

If you want to join us, we train every Saturday at 12pm at 

Woof & Co Wellness Centre, Grendon Underwood, near Bicester

Please pre book. Comtact Jennie ockcairns@yahoo.com

I am running the following courses NOW, so you are able to begin to train your dogs once again. 

Puppy Socialisation for dogs less than 6 months old is every Thursday evening at 7 pm at Arncott village hall, Arncott, near Bicester.

Basic Obedience for dogs older than 6 months is every Thursday evening at 8 pm in Arncott village hall, Arncott, near Bicester.

Agility is every Saturday afternoon from 1pm. The 5 week introduction to agility course costs £80. You can start when ever you want too but you must pre book. Experienced dogs and their handlers are welcome.

Venue: Woof & Co Wellness Centre, Grendon Underwood, near Bicester

Hoopers is every Saturday from 12pm at Woof & Co, Wellness Centre, Grendon Underwood, near Bicester

 The 5 week introduction to Hoopers course costs £80. You can start when ever you want too but you must pre book. Experienced dogs and their handlers are welcome.

Scent/nose work is at Arncott village hall, Arncott. For dates and times of the next courses please email Jennie ockcairns@yahoo.com

If you are unlucky enough to miss out on the obedience training classes, I am still be able to help you to train your dog using online Zoom sessions for Obedience as well as Scent Work. There is no need to wait for the next courses to start, Zoom means you are able to have one to one training sessions with me, tailored to suit you and your dogs needs. You don't need to wait until we are allowed to train our dogs, you can start when ever you want too! So, those of you who have a new puppy, dogs who are beginning to develop bad habits or dogs who are unable to socialise with other dogs for one reason or another you can start their training NOW in the comfort of your own home! 

I will be following the Kennel Club Good Citizen Scheme for all obedience training so that you will soon be on your way for a happy, obedience dog. There are several advantages to online training:

•  You do not have to get in the car and drive to the venue so saving on your time and petrol. 
• If your dog doesn't like other dogs, there won't be any for it to worry about and there will no other dogs to distract your dog during training 
• if you have just got a new puppy you can start training before it is allowed to meet up with other dogs. 
• As I do not have any overhead costs I am able to offer these course at a reduced price.

The way Zoom works is that once you have signed up to a course and provided you have either use of a computer, smart phone or tablet that has video and a microphone, I will send you an invitation with a link and password to attend the meeting. It is very much like our usual training sessions in that you and I can see, speak, and hear each other, so I can demonstrate various techniques to you and then watch you practicing with your dog and I am able to help when there is a need. These are one to one sessions at a date and time convenient to us both. You can try one Zoom session for £10 which would be for 30 minutes or a short 3 week course lasting for 45 minutes per session for £30.

Places do have to be pre-booked so please contact Jennie email ockcairns@yahoo.com for a Booking form. Payment is due before the course starts.

Two Scent/Nose work workshops on Saturday 18th January 2020 and Saturday 22nd February 2020.

Dates: Saturday 18th January 2020 and Saturday 22nd February 2020 

Time 1-3pm 

Venue: Arncott village hall, Arncott 

Price: £25 per dog per workshop.   

Places must to be booked for these coursse.

Contact Jennie for further details 

Heel Work to Music Workshop on Saturday 25th May with 

Louise Ince

L ouise has competed at Crufts Heel Work To Music (HTM), won many competition in both Heel Work and Freestyle as well as being a very talented Trainer is coming to Oxfordshire on Saturday 25th May 2019 to share her knowledge of Heel Work To Music (HTM).
All dogs are welcome (must be at least 10 months old) so if you have never tried HTM before you are welcome. Equally if you are competing, you are welcome to come along. We can look at Freestyle as well as HTM positions, Or if you have become stuck with something in your routine. For the new handlers Louise can teach you some new 'tricks' e.g. twist or twirl', begging, give paw, dog walking in front of you or on the right hand side of you, leg weaves, etc. The list is endless, Louise will be able to help y ou. Any suggestions from those attending the workshop will be welcome?

All dogs are welcome big, small, pedigree or cross breed. Dogs must be at least 10 months of age. Those new to Heel Work To Music are most welcome as are those more experienced HTM handlers.

The Venue is Arncott Village Hall, Upper Arncott, Bicester , OX25 1PL
The date is: Saturday 25th May 2019

Price: £50 per dog or £15 as a spectator

Places need to be booked. Contact Jennie ockcairns@yahoo.com for a booking form

  Heel Work to Music Workshop on Saturday 22nd June with 

Lesley Brockenhurst

In this workshop Lesley will help the newer recruits to the sport develop basic moves and behaviours and build a strong handler/dog partnership. More experienced handlers will concentrate on choosing suitable music, a theme or story and identify appropriate moves to plan and develop their performance effectively.  Motivation and fun will be a key element for all. All dogs are welcome big, small, pedigree or cross breed. Dogs must be at least 10 months of age. Those new to Heel Work To Music are welcome as are those more experienced handlers.

The venue is Arncott village hall, Upper Arncott, Bicester, Oxon OX25 1PL

The date is: Saturday 22^nd June 2019

Time: arrive from 9:30am for tea or coffee to start at 10am. Finish around 4pm

Places need to be booked. Contact Jennie ockcairns@yahoo.com for a booking form. Once the place is booked the booking fee is non-refundable except under exceptional circumstances. 

Our last Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme tests were held on Thursday 21st March 2019. And once again I was so pleased that all who took the test passed, so, well done everyone you all worked so very hard training your dogs.