ARFF Current 2025 Practice Schedule

ARFF practices at our home field in Carlisle, Massachusetts from late April until November (weather permitting). Our practices include full courses from USDAA, AKC, CPE and NADAC trials, as well as exercises designed to teach and refine handling skills. Members of the Practice Committee offer insights and assistance during practice for those who would like training help. ​
Wednesday 5:00 Playtime
5:45 Setup
6:00 Practice Time
7:00 Practice ends
Saturday 9:15 Setup
9:30 Practice Starts
11:00 Practice ends
11:00 Playtime
Sunday 3:00 Playtime
3:45 Setup
4:00 Practice Starts
5:00 Practice Ends
5:00 Playtime
Please bring the course/exercise maps to practice. You'll find them by clicking the link at the top of each description.
sign up for practice

Weekly Practice and Field Info

  • Distance Work with Crosses
    This exercise from One Mind Dogs will keep you on your toes with sends to the tunnel and jumps and crosses. See which works best for you. And be mindful of the line you set for your dog. Sign up and see who else has signed up at https://bit.ly/ARFF_Practice Please remember to bring your course maps ... Read More
  • Finding the Tunnel Entry
    This setup will help your dog search for a tunnel entry he may not initially see and to get comfortable with your going around the “backside” of a curved tunnel. Jackpot his successes. Sign up and see who else has signed up at https://bit.ly/ARFF_Practice Please remember to bring your course maps with you to practice.
  • Contact-Tunnel Discriminations
    These exercises let you practice getting your dog to the right obstacle as well as flipping him into the tunnel away from you. In planning your run, think as well about where you want to be after the contact obstacle or tunnel. Try Exercise 1 on Wed, 6/25, and Exercise 2 onSun 6/29. Sign up ... Read More
  • Lead-Outs
    This jump–tunnel exercise will let you practice lead-outs and experiment with front, blind, and rear crosses to see which works best to draw the line for your dog. Sign up and see who else has signed up at https://bit.ly/ARFF_Practice Please remember to bring your course maps with you to practice.
  • Distance Work with Crosses
    This famous exercise, designed by Monica Percival, lets you practice crosses. She intended it originally to be a front-cross exercise to clue the then-clueless handlers that it was possible to get ahead of your dog to guide him smoothly around a course. But you can practice blinds and rears just as well. Sign up and see who else has ... Read More

Signup and see who else has signed up at ARFF Practice Signup Sheet