Choosing the right agility instructor or class is terribly important. I would encourage potential students to ask questions and to watch an instructor teach a class before enrolling their dog.

1. What are the instructor's training methods? What kind of reinforcement do they use? Do they use food and or toys to motivate the dogs? Are they familiar with clicker training? Do they allow or encourage the use of choke, pinch, or electronic collars?

I personally prefer positive reinforcement when training a dog in agility. I want my dog to LOVE what it is doing and I find that I get that attitude most often when the dog enjoys the training sessions, its mistakes are ignored and it gets rewards (food and/or toys) for what it does correctly. Although working a dog on leash over an agility obstacle may be appropriate, I would never force an animal over an obstacle of which it is obviously frightened. I prefer training methods that develop the dog's self-confidence over the long term until it becomes able to comply on its own. I prefer to work dogs on a quick release flat collar and I do not recommend choke, pinch or electronic collars when training agility.

2. How long has the instructor been involved in the sport? As a generalization, in my opinion it takes a good year or two of training their own dog and then another year or two of continual competition before someone has the experience necessary to properly teach agility.
3. How many dogs has the instructor personally trained (of their own)? Although it varies with the individual, someone who has successfully trained and competed with a number of dogs would have more practical experience than someone would who has trained and competed with only one dog.
4. How many different breeds has the instructor trained and titled? It is one thing to train and title a herding breed, another thing to train and title a sighthound or a terrier. As a general rule, the more experience with different breeds and groups of dogs, the better.
5. What is the highest level at which an instructor has titled/competed? If an instructor has titled only at the novice level, they probably will not have the skills and knowledge of someone that has put excellent, elite or masters titles on their dogs.
6. How do the instructor's present students do when they are in competition? You can often tell a lot about an instructor by watching how their students handle their dogs in competition. I've known several individuals who have selected an instructor by watching those who did well in competition and then asking with whom they trained.
7. How large are the agility classes? It may be difficult for one instructor alone to handle more than 8-10 dogs at the novice level in a one hour class.
8. Is the agility equipment used in the classes well maintained? Is it sturdy, safe? An initial check of equipment before you enroll your dog is something one might want to consider.

Agility is a terrific sport. Agility training reinforces a strong bond between handler and dog. It stimulates the dog mentally and helps build their body by turning them into athletes. It increases self-confidence in the shy or insecure dog and burns off excess energy in the energetic one. And it's fun!

I would encourage everyone who thinks they might enjoy this sport to get involved. One does not have to compete to have fun in agility. Just working with and training the dog soon becomes a reward in itself. And the big smile on the dog's face when it completes a course, makes it all worth while.