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

  • 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
  • Startline Challenges
    Exercises to run with your dog or lead out. You decide. Lots of turning options here. Plan ahead! Exercise 1 for Wed, 6/4, and exercise 3 for Sat, 6/7. 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.
  • Serpentines in Sequence
    Serpentines are common configurations in agility. Recognizing them and knowing how to manage them will make your runs faster and much smoother. The general rules for dealing with serpentines are 1) first look at where you want to be after the serpentine (that often determines which side of the serpentine you want to handle on—or whether to ... Read More

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