HOOPERS CLASSES

WHAT IS HOOPERS?

Hoopers is a low impact version of Agility. The obstacles in the game are hoops (to be run under), 3' bottomless tunnels (NO slipping), 3’x4’ pannels (gates) and tall barrels. Hoopers began in North America (NADAC) and made its way over seas. The European enthusiasts got Hooked on Hoopers and developed organizations just for this game. Different classes were added, trials and title streams. Canada now has its own Hoopers Organization “Canine Hoopers of Canada” established in the summer of 2023! Rules of the game can be found on their website.

Hoopers involves dogs running thru an obstacle course, like agility, however there are no jumps, weaves or obstacles off the ground. As teams grow their skill level, the handlers can choose to steer their team mates entirely on verbals and body language without having to run with their dogs. The choice is theirs. Because of the very low impact on the dogs’ bodies, it is a game suitable to SO many dogs!! From puppies 6 months to retired senior Agility dogs. Also for Handlers that may not want or be able to run quickly around a course, Hoopers course design allows the dogs to run fast but the handlers can steer from a Handler’s ‘box’ or area within the ring.

Can a dog play Hoopers AND Agility? Yes!! The two games compliment each other 100%. AniMotion is now teaching Foundations for Agility thru the Hoopers program and then sliding those teams across to the Agility program to add in Jumping, weaves and Contacts once the dog understands her role finding lines, following basic handling skills, start lines and forward focus requirements … all needed in Agility. In addition to dogs new to Agility, Hoopers also lets dogs return to “Agility without impact” if returning from an injury recovery, a long hiatus from Agility etc. The same would apply to the Handlers as well.

An overview of how Hoopers is learned.

How do I start?

There are two ways to take AniMotion’s 4 week Intro to Hoopers course:

Take part in a small group of 3-4 dogs for 4 weekly one hour lessons in Nanaimo. September Intro classes are full. October Intro classes available on Thursdays 10:00-11:00, Fridays 1:00-2:00.
Join our new online Intro Class run thru Facebook. Four lessons over 8 weeks. Class starts September 8th/25. The online version will add lessons every 2 weeks (4 lessons over 8 weeks). Videos of students enrolled in the live class will be included along with video of me doing the drills too. Equipment needed for the online class is 4 hoops and 1-2 barrels. (Garbage cans or pop up barrels at hardware stores are ideal). Instructions for how to make Hoops are in the AniMotion’s Hoopers group on Facebook.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ENROLL IN EITHER INTRO CLASS (LIVE OR ONLINE) PLEASE COMPLETE THE FORM BELOW AND BE SURE TO INDICATE WHICH CLASSES YOU ARE AVAILABLE FOR. BOTH CLASSES ARE $168.00

AniMotion Hoopers Form

Name

First Name

Last Name

Email

Group class in Nanaimo or Online thru Facebook

Please indicate if you would like to take Group Intro to Hoopers lessons (4 weekly classes, max 4 dogs per group. One dog at a time works. Classes are 60 minutes outdoors) or the online Intro to Hoopers classes run thru a Facebook group (4 lessons over 8 weeks) The online Intro course will begin on Monday September 8th.

Your dog...

Please tell me your dog's age, temperament around other people and dogs and any experience s/he has had in other dog classes.

Vaccines

Is your dog up to date on vaccines or has been titred recently?

Intro class schedule

Please indicate which class times you are available for: Thursdays A) 10:00-11:00am, B) 1:00-2:00pm (4th/11th/18th/25th) OR C) Fridays 1:00-2:00pm (5th/12th/19th/26th)

If you have any questions about Hoopers or classes for Hoopers live or online, please email me Nicki I Have a Question…

ONLINE HOOPERS CLASSES

If you would like to take AniMotion’s LEVEL 1/LEVEL 2 online Hoopers classes click on this link to be taken to the AniMotion Academy for Online Learning.

Also great exercise on a winter day!