The Jokers Notebook: A Year-Long Foundation Course for Independent Obstacle Performance
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Class has started, but it's not too late to join in! You will be able to see all of the lessons regardless of when you enroll.
The Jokers Notebook is a thorough training program that introduces step-by-step methods and video examples for teaching an agility dog to perform obstacles independently at a distance from the handler. This is a "from the ground up" program suitable for dogs with no agility experience, but it is also applicable to dogs whose foundation training did not create the confidence and understanding needed to work at a distance. It addresses many aspects of agility, including handling skills as well as obstacle skills. The training program was created by agility pioneer Bud Houston, who kept in mind highly competitive handlers as well as those who need distance work due to mobility challenges.
The Jokers Notebook, named for the distance portion of Gamblers courses which was often referred to as "the Joker," is set up for those who can train 5-10 minutes each day. Mealtime training is encouraged. Of course, those who can't train daily are also welcome, and can take advantage of the extra time at the end of the course to catch up - this 40-module program runs for an entire year. And because the course is available indefinitely, the material is always accessible for those who move at a slower pace.
NOTE: If you join the class after the start date, you will have access to all previously-released material.
What is included with your registration?
- 40 lessons with written lectures and video instruction, and 52 weeks to get help from the instructor
- Access to all course materials on both mobile devices and your computer
- Downloadable content for off-line access when you're out training
- Ability to ask questions, participate in discussions, and watch all posted videos
- Keep what you buy—No expiring content; after the course ends, you won't be able to ask questions, but the content is still available to you
What additional items are included with a Premier registration?
- Ability to submit up to 10 minutes of video each week for a year
- Instructor feedback on video assignments
Prerequisites
The Jokers Notebook training methods are ideal for a dog in his first year of life; however, this program is also practical and effective for more experienced dogs who need to learn how to work at a distance.
Equipment and space needed
This course addresses many aspects of agility, including obstacle training as well as handling skills. If you have 4 jumps and a plank or contact trainer of some kind you can do much of the coursework. If you can arrange access to the weave poles and full-sized equipment when you are ready, then you can take advantage of the rest of the course material. Most of the exercises are about specific skills, and you may substitute obstacles used in developing those skills. The instructor can help with ideas for substitutions.
How do I access my Learning Center purchase?
After you complete your purchase using your credit card or PayPal, you will receive 2 email confirmations: the first is a receipt acknowledging that your order has been received and the second email contains the link for your Clean Run Learning Center program. Click on the link in the email to complete enrollment. If you already have a Learning Center account, then you will go directly to your educational program. If you do not, then you will enter your email address and a password to use for this Learning Center program and any future ones your purchase. Please be aware that this is a separate account you are establishing on https://cleanrunonline.com/home and it is not the same as your Clean Run website account (although you can use the same email and password for both accounts).
If you have a Clean Run website account, then you can also access your program at anytime by signing in at cleanrun.com and selecting Classes/Webinars from the My Account menu.
Refund Policy
We offer a 90% refund for the class if you request a cancellation at least 5 days before the class begins. There are no refunds once the course has started.
We suggest that you read the information provided carefully before making your purchase. If you have any questions about whether the content is right for you, please email us.
"Bud has a unique training method and has documented this in the Jokers Notebook, which I use as my training "bible." The Jokers Notebook begins with basic foundation work and gradually incorporates confidence building, obstacle discrimination, various handling techniques, and distance training. Bud believes in natural dog handling and assists you in identifying your dog's natural skills for use in the exercises in the Jokers Notebook. Every dog is different, and Bud encourages you to be patient and take as long as you need to train your dog, but the key is to keep training fun. I have trained several dogs over the years, and using the training modules in the Jokers Notebook has brought me great success with my dogs. I have a couple of very fast Border Collies and a fast little Miniature Schnauzer. As you can imagine, they require different training skills. The Jokers Notebook addresses the various types of skills needed for each dog to be successful. I give it a 5-star rating." —Brenda
"I wanted to give you a review on The Jokers Notebook. I have recently done this training with a 3-month-old Papillon that has just now turned 2. I started this training to try a new and different perspective on agility. After all the foundations through The Jokers Notebook, I have come to find this has been the best I have ever trained. I have continued to use The Jokers Notebook with this same dog to keep sharpening up our skills. What is so nice about it is you can always go back to practice different skills. I have even on some of the skills been able to put my own little spin on it. I would recommend this training to anyone." —D.S.
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