I got a message from someone who needed help with their agility training the other day. It’s not the first time I’ve heard the story, and I’m sure it won’t be the last.

She went to a “top” instructor for help with her fast Border Collie. She has a health issue that doesn’t allow her to run. After spending a couple of months and a ton of money focusing on a start line the instructor insisted would help, the instructor had only one solution for the handler. She told her to “just run faster”. Ouch.

The Limitations of a Single Agility Handling System

The handling systems that emphasize lots of running, “complex” handling moves, and constant movement are challenging and fun. When they first became popular, and I was more able to move, I learned those methods and (mostly) enjoyed them. My “Multi-Dimensional Dog” seminars blend that type of handling with distance to make the systems more accessible to the average competitor.

I love teaching those methods to the students who are able to excel with them.

BUT, those systems aren’t the only answer.

They aren’t even an option for many of the typical agility competitors.

An Agility Instructor’s Responsibility

Instructors need to be honest with students. I can, and have coached students to the national level, where they’ve done very well. It’s fantastic to see people earn Championship titles and place at Nationals. Coaching people to that level is fun, whether they are able to run or need a different solution.

When I get a student who truly has world team aspirations, I am very up-front about how far I am willing to coach them. We can crush things like foundations, masters-level handling, distance (my favorite), and course analysis together, but I honestly don’t enjoy the pressure-cooker atmosphere of world team-level coaching. I want to love what I’m doing, not be stressed by it.

I’d rather refer them out and lose a student than hold someone back from their dreams.

What’s the Solution?

If an instructor has only one teaching method based on a system that requires people to run, they should only be taking on clients who are physically capable of thriving in that system. Telling a student that you can help them, charging them for training that may or may not be related to their issues, and then trying to fit them into a system that doesn’t work for them is both unethical and unkind.

Round pegs don’t fit into square holes. It makes both parties miserable and can turn students off of agility for good.

If a student is beyond what an instructor can or wants to teach, the instructor needs to find someone who is a better fit and refer them out. There are instructors who enjoy teaching alternate methods that the student can actually thrive with.

It’s not about ego or money. It’s about not making a student feel like they are “less than” or incapable. It’s about letting everyone feel the joy of succeeding with their teammate while they are having fun. It’s about kindness and decency, and as professionals, we owe that to whoever we are coaching.

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