Cindi, The best resources I have found for Utility training are:
Books: Steppin' Up to Success (3 bk series) - by Terri Arnold (see her website www.terriarnpld.com Competition Obedience: A Balancing Act - by Adele Yunck and Judy Byron Beyond Basic Dog Training - by Diane Bauman (older book) Videos by Janice Demello and Ann Marie Silverton all are available from www.dogwise.com and some from Boris's book site: http://members.rogers.com/bernerboris/bernerbooks.html The very best thing to do is take private lessons from a good instructor, one who has at LEAST a couple UD's (Utility Dog title) and best still a UDX (Utility Dog Excellent) or OTCH (Obedience Trial Champion)....see the AKC's website (www.akc.org)for the "Rules and Regulations" fo Obedience Trials...and write to them to get a copy of them. Can tplay hte game if you dont know the rules! :-) How do you find a good instructor in your area? I would go to a big trial in your area and set up a chair outside the Open B and Utility B rings. Watch the class, take notes in the catalogue on what you like. Then see who gets placements in the class. Go up to these people after the 1st thru 4 th places are given out, compliment them on how well thier dogs did, and ask if they give private lessons or who they would recommend who does. Expect to drive a bit, I drive nearly 3 hrs each way now. Even if you cant get weekly lessons, a couple times a month is good. It is soooo much fun. Best of luck!!! Vilma Briggs (Kistner) Mt. Gilead, OH U-UD Mocha Java Slurp, UDX, HIC, TT Ch. Brighteye Expresso Bean, UD, NDD, TT U-CDX Our Little Buddy, UD, NA, TT Thirdtym's A Charm, CD Hob Nob Clouds In My Coffee (puppy "Perc") and foster Bernerboy: Brew/Bruin
