Hoopers

Hoopers

Canine Hoopers is fairly new to the UK, being introduced in 2017. Hoopers is a fantastic hobby/sport for all types of dogs. It is an alternative to agility which has less impact on the dog’s and handlers’ bodies. The courses are always made up of smooth-flowing lines and low-impact obstacles ensuring the dogs are not doing any fast tight turns which could cause injury. Hoopers are more accessible to smaller dogs and larger breeds which are not suitable for agility. Hoopers advocates the yellow dog scheme meaning reactive, nervous, and worried dogs can take part on a 121 basis. Hoopers is a great way to help build and develop your bond with your dog while taking the pressure off training and having fun while doing so!

Over time, your dog’s learn to run courses built of hoops, barrels, tunnels, chutes, and tango mats. The dogs learn great independence and distance handling. We start off by teaching the dogs basic equipment value, we then move on to teach the dogs to drive away from us before we combine the equipment into sequences. Our hoopers teaching is fun, non-competitive and enjoyable. We will not put pressure on you to compete your dog, we ask what your end goals are for hoopers and work towards these! We have many clients that enjoy hoopers as a hobby with their dog where they come and have fun each week, alternately we have a few clients who are competing across the UK in hoopers.

We have regular weekly group classes from beginners to advanced (competition level) held either in our outdoor paddock in Lyng or indoors at an equine centre in Mattishall. The beginners classes are currently full and we are accumulating a waiting list for a new beginners class. If you are not a beginner and have basic equipment value and are looking for sequencing or course running group class, please drop us a message as we do sporadically have spaces in these group classes. In the group classes, we work each dog individually, working on a structured week-by-week lesson plan building on your skills in place.

What Does Canine Hoopers Cover?

Hoopers training focuses on:

  • Obstacles: Navigating through hoops, barrels, tunnels, and weaving poles.
  • Focus and Engagement: Dogs are trained to stay engaged with their handler and work as a team.
  • Control and Precision: It enhances the dog’s ability to respond to cues, learning to move fluidly between obstacles.
  • Low-Impact: Hoopers can be gentler on the joints than traditional agility, which makes it a great option for puppies, senior dogs, or dogs recovering from injury.

Benefits of Hoopers vs. Agility

While both sports are fun and mentally stimulating, Canine Hoopers has some distinct benefits compared to traditional agility:

  • Lower Impact: With fewer jumps and emphasis on weaving and tunnels, Hoopers is less stressful on your dog’s joints, making it great for all ages and dogs with physical limitations.
  • Teamwork & Focus: Hoopers encourages a strong handler-dog relationship, as the dog works closely with the handler’s direction while staying focused on the course.
  • Less Physical Stress: There’s less risk of injury in Hoopers as it focuses on controlled, precise movements rather than high jumps and sharp turns.
  • Increased Mental Stimulation: Dogs need to think and problem-solve as they navigate through different obstacles in the course, boosting mental sharpness.

 

What's Included?

Good Hoopers Awards

During the classes and 121’s we can work towards your good hoopers awards. This is a great scheme to help you monitor your skill levels from Foundation to Gold! The awards help you feel a sense of achievement for reaching specific goals in hoopers. You work towards specific criteria, and on completion, you will receive a certificate and rosette! The foundation level can be completed from 16 weeks old!

Can’t make a group class? We have regular weekly 121 slots or monthly workshops available.

121 hoopers are suitable for nervous or reactive dogs or if you are unable to attend a group class. Our 121’s take place on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays in our outdoor paddock in Lyng. We have ad-hoc or regular slots available.

When working on a 121 basis you will be invited to your own private Facebook training group where you can post your homework for feedback and criteria change. You will gain access to our Pawfect Pets Canine Hoopers Facebook page where you can find access to free training videos to help you through your training journey. If required, we can work on alternative behaviours to help progress your hoopers. For example: sit and stay to help improve your start line waits.

Join our Pawfect Pets Canine Hoopers group for community support, regular training videos and top tips on how to help with your hoopers. Our classes, 121 availability and workshops are advertised in this group before being published on the Pawfect Pets Dog Training facebook page.

Workshop

We hold regular workshops which can help you build on specific skills. We hold sequencing/skills workshops, course running workshops and course analysis workshops. Each workshop has a specific aim and is advertised below.

Hoopers 1-2-1 Training Sessions

We’re currently running 2 group classes a week for dogs working at a competition level. If you’re looking to advance your dog’s Hoopers skills and take them to the next level, our 121’s will help you do just that!

Interested in joining a group class?
To get started, you’ll need a 121 session with us first to assess your dog’s current skills and make sure they’re ready for group training. After that, you can join the group classes to train with other competitive dogs!

📅 Book your 121 session today

Let’s get your dog Hoopers-ready and have some fun! 🐶🌟

Hoopers Competitions

BK9 Hoopers Shows, hosted by Pawfect Pets Dog Training in partnership with T&A Agility at the incredible World Horse Welfare venue! 🐾✨

Whether you’re a seasoned Hoopers competitor or looking to try something new with your dog, these shows are the perfect opportunity to showcase your skills, have fun, and connect with other dog lovers.

📍 Location: World Horse Welfare
📆 Organizers: Pawfect Pets Dog Training & T&A Agility
💻 How to Enter: Visit https://www.bk9hoopers.com/ for details and registration.

Come and be part of this exciting event—where teamwork, flow, and fun take center stage! We can’t wait to see you and your four-legged friends there. 🐶❤️

What Our Clients Say

Check out some of the amazing feedback we get from our clients

Jess is a very competent dog trainer. She teaches you how to gain and maintain the attention of your dog to enforce positive behaviour. Our dog made massive progress after puppy class.

Ulrike Behrendt

Jess is a brilliant trainer, she is so helpful with every query and question whether that was in class or a text message after hours. She made every lesson fun and engaging and my dog was always so happy to see her. I cannot recommend Jess highly enough - her dedication and passion for these pups shows and I just think she’s fantastic at what she does. Thank you for everything Jess

Emily Girling

Had a fantastic time at our first Hoopers workshop. Jess was very clear with her instructions, and really helpful with noticing the small adjustments needed. Jess made the whole experience fun and informative. Buddy really enjoyed himself and so did I. Cannot wait for the next workshop. Many thanks Jess

Tracy Wyatt

I have just had our second 1-2-1 training session with our 1 year old spaniel. Jess recognises his “spaniel instincts” and tailors the training techniques for the best outcome. We are working on lead pulling, recall and engagement and I can’t believe the difference in just 2 sessions! If you’re looking for a kind and knowledgeable trainer I would highly recommend Jess!

Lisa Thompson

I really enjoyed our training sessions with Jess - sometimes it can be hard to find dog trainers who are good with dogs and humans but Jess definitely ticks both boxes! Her teaching was always clear and straightforward to replicate and she was always more than happy to take extra time to go over anything we were struggling with. I look forward to learning from her again!

Kiren Louise

Dog training can be overwhelming and emotional for dog owners. It can be difficult to understand why your dog is exhibiting a behaviour. Do not feel lost and overwhelmed, speak to our qualified trainer for advice and reassurance.

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