The ladies from my work...plus a couple friends hold a private training class just to keep ourselves and dogs busy. We each take a turn leading the class in different exercises some fun and some training. There is also homework to work on until the next class.

I will be having a turn in two weeks and I would like to do something fun like circuit type training (or rally-o stuff) where each station has a different activity...however if the weather should be unkind we train in the works "barn" which really isnt big enough to keep 8 people busy for long.

Some of the classes have lots of sitting while we each take a turn with the requested tasks and I would like a very fun but busy and very little sitting about...

I could really use some ideas as I've never lead a class before and I am very nervous even though they are all my friends..lol...

Most of the dogs have basic skills and the purpose is to have fun and build on skills from previous classes.

PLEASE HELP!!...:)

Julie

If you're running a rally course they'd have to do it one at a time, though the others could be watching and seeing what the one working is doing right or wrong. But if you want to practise individual signs, which is a good idea if they've not done rally before, you can easily have 4 or even 8 up at a time depending on space and which signs you are practising - yes you will have to keep an eye on everyone to offer advice and praise, but that's no different to my pet training class when the whole group is told to practise something and the trainer just walks round each of us in turn. Signs like 'sit walk round', the call fronts, or the various turns and circles don't take up much room, and even with spirals or weaves you could do 2 at a time. Then homework can be to link 2 or more signs together, until you can do a full course?

Put people into two teams. Place a set of cones out for each team (say 4 four cones, enough space between them for the largest dog in each team to weave round). You can then do relay races with things like.....
On the first race, each team just weaves round the four cones to the top. As soon as they go past the last cone, the next handler from their team goes. First team to get all four handlers back to the start wins. If anyone knocks over a cone, they pick up the cone and go round it again.
On the second race, each team has to weave round the cones and then back again before the next handler can set off.
Can add a five/ten second stay (sit or down) when each team gets to the last cone. To make it more difficult, the last dog on each team could do a recall instead of a stay. So the dog to wait in the sit/down whilst handler returns to the starting line and then has to count to five before they call their dog. If the dog anticipates, either add 10 seconds or make it a rule that the dog must start the recall again.

Do group stays with a difference. First dog does a sit, the dog next to him/her does a down, the dog next to that one does a sit etc. Can also ask handlers to stand sideways on to their dog or (for the more advanced) to turn their back to their dog for 10 seconds. Can also do the stays with a titbit on the floor, say 4 feet in front of the dog, dog to leave the titbit.

Do recalls through 2 lines of sweeties on the floor. Same with the emergency stop - dog to stop between lines of sweets.

Can the dogs do a hand touch? If not, could teach this as a new exercise. If they already can, have two handlers and their dogs on the floor. Handlers to hold dog's collars (unless dogs have a very good wait) whilst they throw a titbit past a certain point. On command, dogs to run out and scoff sweetie, then run back to handler and do a hand touch. Fastest dog to complete the exercise wins. You can do this either as an individual game (knock-out system, winner goes through to next round) or in teams.

Let me know if you'd like any more ideas. 14 years of teaching classes every week gets you thinking lol.