Classes ° Private Lessons ° Trainings

CATS offers affordable classes taught by member instructors for members. The schedule of classes is easiest to see on our Ring Calendar. Classes are held during the outdoor season (generally May-October). Our instructors are: Cindy Stewart, Lynn Smitley and occasionally other Club members.

The Monadnock Humane Society also offers weekly classes for agility and those classes are taught by: Rachel Brostrom and Cindy Stewart. Some classes are held outside in the CATS agility ring and others are held inside the MHS Training Center. MHS classes are open to the general public and can be found on their website: MonadnockHumaneSociety.org. Specifically Cindy’s competition agility classes thru MHS are here: https://monadnockhumanesociety.org/dog-training/novice-competition-agility/ If you can’t follow the link, find your way to Rally/Competitive Obedience > Starters/Novice Comp. Agility. CATS members receive a discount on MHS agility classes.

Members can also use the outdoor agility ring anytime when there’s no scheduled trainings, classes, privates, Club trials, or ring maintenance. See the Outdoor Calendar for ring availability. Members may invite non-member guests & their dogs. There is a fee ($20), a waiver for them to sign, and a Guest Use Policy and Waiver. Typically a guest will already have had an introduction to agility. If not, use extreme care to introduce obstacles in a safe and positive way. If you are unsure, ask a more experienced member.

CATS Instructors

Lynn Smitley — agility foundations & distance instructor for CATS

Lynn Smitley began playing agility in 1998 with USDAA. She shifted to NADAC, fell in love with distance and never looked back. Lynn, and her first agility dog, Yola, earned 10 NATCH titles, including 115 successful distance runs. For three years in a row, Lynn, and her second dog, Mia, were ranked in the NADAC Top Ten of all Bonus* Qualifiers (U.S. and Australia). Lynn has been a CATS member for 25 years and is a founding member of NAE (Northeast Agility Enthusiasts). For years Lynn’s generously shared her distance-handling know-how with CATS members. Prior to COVID, she independently hosted weekend distance handling camps with attendees from throughout the northeast. Lynn emphasizes these fundamentals of distance handling – a trusting relationship and using what comes naturally to dogs. *Bonus: At the Elite level a handler stands in a bonus box and directs the dog through the entire course from an extreme distance. These Bonus Runs comprise a specialty division for handlers skilled in distance handling.

VIDEO: Watch Lynn and her dog Mia put their distance handling skills to the test at the highest level during the Superstakes class at the 2010 NADAC Championships.

Cindy Stewart — agility instructor for CATS & MHS

I’ve been competing in agility for about 20 yrs.  I compete in Canine Performance Events (CPE), United States Dog Agility Association (USDAA) and North America Dog Agility Counsil (NADAC).  I been to CPE Nationals 5 times with different dogs and USDAA Nationals 1 time.  My dogs have been competitive in all those events.  Last year Sami (1 ½ yrs old) went to CPE Nationals and had 4 first places and 2 second places in her jump height.  We have qualified again this year, and we are going to CPE Nationals in North Hampton, MA at the end of May 2025.

I have been teaching novice and advance agility classes for CATS for several years and love watching students and their dogs improve over time.  It is so rewarding to see the teams meld during the season.

I also teach for the Monadnock Humane Society (MHS) both Novice Competition Agility drills, skills and short courses as well as Advance Competition Agility.  Those classes are on Tuesday nights year-round.  Information can be found on their website.

I love the game of agility, the challenge of working with my dog and the connection we make while running the sport we both love.

VIDEO: Cindy & Sami running CPE Colors

VIDEO: Cindy & Sami running NADAC Gamblers

Private Lessons

Private lessons with CATS instructors are by appointment and arranged directly with the instructor. 
* Lynn Smitley lsmitley@comcast.net
* Cindy Stewart cindy_stewart@myfairpoint.net

Classes

2025 Schedule of Classes

To help our turf become healthy and happy, the number of trainings being offered this year has been cut back. Trials and member practice sessions have been relocated. Thank you for your patience as our grass grows.

  • Cindy Stewart
    MHS Novice Competition Agility: drills, skills & short courses
    Competition Agility is the class for those teams continuing from Intermediate Agility, or those with permission to move up and into this class. Courses, new handling skills and sequences designed to improving your handling and agility skills for starting competition. We also continue obstacle work with the teeter-totter and weave pole training in this class as needed.
    Tuesdays 4:00 – 5:30 ongoing year-round indoors
    6-weeks Class Fee $140, drop-in (if allowed) $25, CATS members are discounted to $87.50
    7 Working Spots REGISTER ONLINE w MHS https://monadnockhumanesociety.org/dog-training/novice-competition-agility/
    For assistance with MHS class registrations: training@humanecommunity.org 603-352-9011 X206
    This class is traditionally filled and registrations online indicate FULL. Contact Cindy directly to confirm availability. cindy_stewart@myfairpoint.net
  • Cindy Stewart
    MHS Advanced Competition Agility
    Advanced Competition Agility is the class for those teams already progressing in their competition skills through trialing or those with permission to move up and into this class. Courses, new handling skills and sequences designed to improving your handling and agility skills for competition. We also build on weave pole skills introducing difficult entries.
    Tuesdays 5:45 – 7:15 Ongoing, year-round, indoors.
    6-weeks Class Fee $140, drop-in (if allowed) $25, CATS members are discounted to $87.50
    7 Working Spots REGISTER ONLINE w MHS https://monadnockhumanesociety.org/dog-training/novice-competition-agility/ For assistance with MHS class registrations: training@humanecommunity.org 603-352-9011 X206
    This class is traditionally filled and registrations online indicate FULL. Contact Cindy directly to confirm availability. cindy_stewart@myfairpoint.net
  • Lynn Smitley
    CLASS TO BE DETERMINED
    Prerequisite: Team has experience with advanced level in their preferred organization’s competition classes.
    On-going class $10/session
    # of Working Spots TBD
  • Lynn Smitley
    CLASS TO BE DETERMINED
    Prerequisite: Team has trained on all equipment.
    Lynn Smitley, on-going class $10/session
    # of Working Spots TBD

Trainings

Safety Training, Leslie Vassall, FREE
No registration. Leslie will coordinate date and time with new members. Completion of CATS Safety Training gives a member “Advanced Handler” designation allowing solo use of CATS outdoor ring with equipment.
Dates to be announced. Unlimited Spots.

FAQ’s

1. Where Do I Find the Outdoor Ring Calendar to Register for a Training or Class?
Register for trainings and classes on the CATS Outdoor Ring Calendar.
Go to the CATS website: https://canineagility.org. Click on Calendar tab, click on Outdoor Ring Calendar, and then click on the link to Outdoor Ring Calendar.

2. What’s the difference between a training and a class?
Trainings are one-time events in which a member shares their know-how with other members, are for CATS members only and generally are free. The person offering the training is not compensated.
Classes meet either for a pre-set number of weeks or are ongoing. They are for CATS members only. CATS members are compensated for teaching a class.

3. Which Classes Last for a Specific Number of Weeks and Which are On-Going?
Classes set-up for a specific number of weeks (2, 4 or 6 weeks) are Cindy’s Intermediate to Advanced Agility classes.
On-Going Classes are Lynn’s Distance classes.

4. How Do I Register for a Training?
Find the training you want to participate in on the Outdoor Ring Calendar.
Put your name in a slot. (The number of slots equals the number of working spots for this training.)
Most trainings are free. If one comes along with a training fee, please pay with a check made out to CATS and left in the CATS locker OR mail your check to CATS, c/o Monadnock Humane Society, 101 West Swanzey Road, Swanzey, NH 03446.
If you are unable to attend the training, please remove your name from the Calendar.

5. How Do I Register and Pay for Cindy’s Intermediate to Advanced Agility?
Find the class you want to participate in on the Outdoor Ring Calendar.
Put your name in a slot for every week the class meets. (The number of slots equals the number of working spots available for this class). If you are unable to attend a weekly session, do not put your name on the calendar for that week of the class.
The fee for these classes is paid in full prior to the start of the class. There are no refunds for missed sessions.
Please do NOT pay in cash. Make checks out to CATS. Leave your check in the CATS locker in the MHS training room where it will be picked up by Heidi Konesko, our CATS Treasurer OR mail it to: CATS, c/o Monadnock Humane Society, 101 West Swanzey Road, Swanzey, NH 03446.
If you are unable to attend a session, please remove your name from the Outdoor Ring Calendar for that week.

6. How Do I Register and Pay for Lynn’s Distance Classes?
Find the weekly session for the class you want to participate in on the Outdoor Ring Calendar.
Put your name in a slot for that session. The number of slots equals the number of working spots available for this class. (Yes, you may register for more than one weekly session at a time).
The fee is $10/session. Pay weekly or keep track of the number of sessions you participate in and then pay.
Please do NOT pay in cash. Make checks out to CATS. Leave your check in the CATS locker where it will be picked up by Heidi Konesko, our CATS Treasurer OR mail it to: CATS, c/o Monadnock Humane Society, 101 West Swanzey Road, Swanzey, NH 03446.
If you are unable to attend a session, please remove your name from the Outdoor Ring Calendar for that week.

7. If I need to miss a class session, may I give my spot to a friend?
Check with your instructor. If they’re ok with the switch (and your friend is a CATS member) you’re good to go.

8. How much are class fees?
Classes which last for a pre-set number of weeks are not drop-in and have a class fee which you are asked to pay in full upfront. There are no refunds for missed sessions. Fees for these classes are calculated by multiplying the number of times the class meets each week (# of weekly sessions) x $10/session.
Ongoing Classes are $10/weekly session. Pay as you go OR keep track of how many sessions you participate in and pay at the end of a month.

9. What happens to the money collected from class fees?
Trainings are generally free. Income from class fees is split 50/50 between the instructor and CATS. The 50% that goes to CATS is used to help fund the things we need to keep the Club going – for example, buying new agility equipment, monthly MHS rental, repairs, grass seed and fertilizer, TP for the Porta-Potty, fencing and tarps, batteries for the microphone, erasable markers for the white board, tie-downs for the tent, etc.

10. Who should I contact if I have questions?
If you’re wondering about things like, “Is your class right for my dog and me?” “May I get on your wait list?” – contact the instructor.
If you are having problems with registration or have general training/class questions – contact Ann Driscoll ann.driscoll@comcast.net. Issues with MHS class registrations should be directed to: training@humanecommunity.org 603-352-9011 X206