Agility SOS: Focus & Connection, 6 September 2025

Imagine stepping to the start line with total confidence. Your dog looks up at you, fully engaged, waiting for your cue. No sniffing, no looking around—just focus, connection, and readiness. You lead out, your dog stays locked onto the first obstacle. You cue the release, and you’re off—moving together as a seamless team. That moment isn’t just about speed. It’s about connection, teamwork, and clarity. In this workshop, we’ll cover key skills to create a dog that chooses to work with you—no matter the distractions. Through ODR (Observe, Don’t React) and engagement exercises, we’ll help you build a dog that stays focused on agility, not the environment. Whether you’re just starting or refining your dog’s focus, this workshop will give you practical, real-world tools to strengthen your partnership on and off the course. Join us and take your agility training to the next level! Participants may be at any level.

About the Instructor: Paola Hoger
My agility journey began back in 1997 with my Akita, Yukon—and started teaching in 1999. Since then, I’ve had the joy of running everything from a Siberian Husky to a Chesapeake Bay Retriever, and now my Border Collies. Each one has taught me something new—about training, about partnership, and about how much dogs can surprise you when you learn to really listen. Over the years, I’ve worked with a wide range of students, too—each bringing their own goals, personalities, and learning styles to the table. It’s been a constant lesson in curiosity, connection, and problem-solving. Helping dogs and people find their rhythm together is what keeps me in this sport. My passion lies in building clarity, engagement, and focus—not just for the dog, but for the team as a whole. When both ends of the leash understand each other, that’s when agility really comes alive.