In addition to our regularly scheduled classes, Fit-N-Trim hosts special workshops, seminars and events throughout the year. Workshops and Seminars have been conducted by Andy Winther, Jon Nyes, Amanda Shine and our own instructors.
Some our recent events have included: Winter Skills, Agility Try-It, Fun with Agility, Puppy Socialization Hour and Fun Sampler Classes. We also host practice Agility Games, Scent Work Trials.
REBECCA THRIFT WORKSHOPS — June 16 & 17
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Four (3.5-hour) Workshops @ $175 each
Limited to 6 teams per workshop
103 Haverhill Street, Rowley, MA
Rebecca thoroughly enjoys coaching agility and believes successful teams are built through relationship building, clear communication and trust. She also has a background in both biology and collegiate sports. She received her bachelors of science degree in biology which has allowed her to creatively apply unique knowledge and experience to her coaching style.
Rebecca is a nationally known agility seminar presenter and competitor. She has made the podium multiple times with multiple dogs at different jump heights at several National events, including Cynosport & the UKI US Open. She has been a member of both WAO and IFCS US teams, and most recently won a spot on the USA WAO team is traveling to the Netherlands in May.
Rebecca has a strong background in OneMind Dogs methodology, and in 2016 was named a OneMind Dog assistant coach and she is proud to be a part of this coaching team. She’s trained in Finland with Jaakko Suoknuuti, Janita Leinonen, Timo Liuhto and Tuulia Liuhto which allowed her to strengthen her skills as a handler and further her education as a successful coach in the constantly evolving sport of agility. She is well known for her strong dog training and creative solutions that motivate dogs and inspire handlers.
KEEPING THE CONNECTION
Tuesday,June 16: 9:00 am-12:30 pm
This half day seminar will help you work on perfecting the 3 Cs of agility and help you keep the connection with your teammate- the most important skill in agility!
Any level team welcome, focus will be on the CCCs in mostly masters level sequences.
EITHER / OR TRAINING
Tuesday,June 16: 1:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Balance your training to strengthen your dog’s understanding of your handling and improve your technique execution in short sequences that show your dog how small differences can make a big impact.
Appropriate for dogs sequencing at least 8-10 obstacles and have an understanding of jumps and tunnels. (jumps do not need to be full height). Dogs should be a minimum of 12 months, but appropriate for dogs of any age.
DISTANCE HANDLING
Wednesday, June 17: 9:00 am-12:30 pm
This seminar will help you unlock the ability to run a fast dog, even if you are not a fast handler, or get that velcro dog off your side!
Any level team is welcome, focus will be on distance handling in mostly masters level sequences.
SKILLS AND DRILLS TO IMPROVE HANDLING FROM BEHIND
Wednesday, June 17: 1:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Do you feel like you are always behind your dog? This seminar will take a deep dive into improving your handling communication from behind the dog.
SPEEDWAY – A 2-Hour Workshop
Presented by Gillian Caroll
APRIL 11
Speedway is set up for success of the teams participating. Each team has 60 seconds to complete any event throughout speedway. If your team makes a mistake you can fix it and still have a qualifying run. Hypothetically you could make 10 mistakes and as long as you fix them and finish the course within the allotted time – you qualify! Yay! Agility can put a lot of pressure on both teammates. In speedway the dog does not have to find their weave entry, worry about knocking a bar or hitting the contact. Speedway can breakdown skills that might need some extra training and even help you be a better agility team if that is what you are working on. It is also set up so your first few titles are easily obtained. Dogs 12 months or one year can compete in speedway!
Speedway is commonly a sport for young dog teams being introduced to the wild world of dog sports or older dogs that don’t or can’t jump anymore. For Nellie and I we are neither of those things. Especially when we started speedway. Agility felt as though I would show up to every trial and have an unbelievable pressure for perfection. I walked into the speedway ring with no pressure for huge greatness. Sure there is still titling tracks and pretty ribbons within the sport but if she didn’t give me a tight turn – we practice it on our next run. I never thought speedway would give me such a good outlet but it has brought us to so many places and to meet people we never would have. Nellie and I even got 5 medals at the speedway nationals in 2025 in Northampton, MA including a first place finish in pole position for her ever so tight turns! Nellie is currently titled up to her Speedway Bronze Legendary! That’s over 2,500 points! Speedway can be just practice for you or it can also be the sport where you meet a new version of you and your dog. It’s truly what you make of it.
The 2 speedway games Gillian will introduce you to are Slingshot and pole position.
SLINGSHOT: Slingshot is similar to CPE’s jackpot or UKI’s gamblers. There is a distance challenge thrown somewhere within the course. You have the option of going a greater distance and getting 3.0x the points or a smaller send and getting 1.5x. At any point if you feel as though your dog will not drive forward you can get regular points. The course consists of hoops and tunnels. You will always start and finish with your dog going through a hoop. Commonly the course is hoop, tunnel, tunnel, hoop, tunnel, hoop, hoop, tunnel, tunnel, hoop. The distance challenge can be right at the start, in the middle or at the end. It could be a lateral send challenge, a start line stay challenge or drive ahead challenge.
Slingshot challenges forward focus, drive to a tunnel, blinds, fronts and even a tight turning cue out of a tunnel!
POLE POSITION: Dogs start by going through a single hoop and immediately go tightly turning around a barrel. The dog is normally asked to wrap a barrel 5 times before sending them to the finish line which is a second hoop. You commonly see front crosses and rears in this event! Depending on your dogs strength a blind may also be used.
Pole position is a great way to keep connection with your dog and work on their verbals of a tight turning cue. Pole position also works distance, start line stays and connection throughout the team.
Date & Time
3:00 pm Saturday, April 11
Location
103 Haverhill Street, Rowley, MA
6 Working Teams
$65 for Working Team
$40 for Audit
Requirements for Your Dog
Dog must be at least 9 month old,
currently in an Agility class,
know how to wrap a barrel, and tunnels.
Please use this link to be placed on the Wait List if workshop is full. You will be notified and charged if there are any cancellations.