Running Contacts 1

Running Contacts Level 1 is the first step in a three-part program designed to develop fast, confident, and reliable running contacts for both the dogwalk and A-frame.

This introductory course focuses on building the essential foundation skills required for safe and consistent contact training before dogs begin working on the dogwalk itself.

The lessons follow Justine’s young dog Revival from 10 to 12 months of age, demonstrating how the core foundation exercises are developed and applied as young dogs learn the skills that support accurate and confident contact performance.

The focus of this level is developing body awareness, reward understanding, balance, and directional cues, all of which are critical components of successful running contacts training.

Skills Covered

Exercises in this course include:

• Developing body awareness

• Building self-control around rewards

• Introduction to foot targets

• Teaching verbal directionals

• Building confidence with balance and height

• Learning to adjust striding for straight lines and turns

Requirements

Dogs should:

• Be at least 8 months old

No contact equipment is required for this level, making it an ideal starting point for dogs beginning their running contacts training.

Working Spots

Working students may submit up to 5 minutes of video per week for review. Videos may be submitted as several short clips or one longer training session.

Auditor Spots

Auditors have access to all course material and may follow along with the lessons while asking questions throughout the class.