Classes & Seminars in VT

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Karen Holik: Rear Crosses for the WIN!

When: Saturday 7/11 AM (9am – 12:30pm)
Cost: $180/working team; $100/auditing spot
Max 6 working teams

Did I just say rear cross? Yes, I did! There are often times when a blind or front just isn’t possible or may not be the clearest option to the next line. In this skill sharpening session, you’ll work on advanced rear cross sequences. It is time we polish our rear cross skills so you can be confident when you are handling from behind.

Karen Holik: Distance & Layering

When: Saturday 7/11 PM (1:30pm – 5pm)
Cost: $180/working team; $100/auditing spot
Max 6 working teams

Agility goes beyond just “running fast.” Spend the afternoon learning how to effectively teach and use your physical and verbal cues to utilize distance and layering in your agility training.

Karen Holik: Threadle Wrap Basics

When: Sunday 7/12 AM (9am – 12:30pm)
Cost: $180/working team; $100/auditing spot
Max 6 working teams

A threadle wrap can often be performed using only physical cues—like a turn on the flat or a flick away—but these require you to stay close so your dog can see you. What happens when you’re behind your dog, or need to move laterally away from the jump? This is where verbal cues become essential for true independence. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to train a clear, reliable verbal threadle wrap, giving your dog the confidence to respond even when you’re not in position. We’ll cover the foundational skills and then apply them in short sequences to build understanding and independence. This workshop is suitable for teams at all levels, providing foundation level understanding for new teams and problem solving for experienced competitors.

Karen Holik: International Skills & Coursework

When: Sunday 7/12 PM (1:30pm – 5pm)
Cost: $180/working team; $100/auditing spot
Max 6 working teams

This seminar will focus on international-style course work, with challenges inspired by the types of skills and questions teams may see from the 2026 UKI U.S. Open judges as well as the 2027 WAO, EO, and AWC judges. These same skills are also valuable for teams preparing for ISC, Masters Series, and other similar technical course challenges. Dogs and handlers do not need to “just run the whole course.” Teams may choose to work the larger/full course sections, or break it down into small sequences, individual skills, and training pieces for ` who are newer to this style, need confidence, or benefit from more reinforcement.

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Stefanie Rainer: Connection – When? Why? Etc.

When: Thursday 7/16 full day (9am – 5pm)
Cost: $225/working team; $150/auditing spot
Max 10 working teams

Great agility isn’t just about handling techniques—it’s about connection. The strongest teams share an invisible conversation that happens through body language, timing, focus, and awareness.
In this seminar, we’ll explore one of the most overlooked skills in agility: where handlers should be looking, when they should be looking there, and how that visual focus directly impacts their dog’s performance and confidence.
Through demonstrations, practical exercises, and course work, participants will learn how visual connection influences timing, commitment, obstacle performance, and overall flow on course. We’ll break down how your eyes, shoulders, and attention communicate information to your dog, often before you realize you’re giving a cue.
Whether you’re struggling with missed lines, dropped bars, off-courses, or simply want to strengthen your partnership, this seminar will help you develop a clearer understanding of how to stay connected to your dog while also looking ahead and planning the next sequence.
Suitable for dogs 8 months and older, that are sequencing with jumps and tunnels. Can be good for older teams too.

Stefanie Rainer: BIG! Discriminations

When: Friday 7/17 full day (9am – 5pm)
Cost: $225/working team; $150/auditing spot
Max 10 working teams

Big Discriminations AKA Hard Shit lol
Stefanie will put your dogs listening skills to the test. We will be working on short sequences with many either or type challenges where your dog will be tested to listen to verbal cues that may over ride the handlers natural physical cues. Some skills that will be featured include: tricky dog walk exits, backside vs tunnel, finding hidden weave entries, and much more!

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