Free dog agility course and training sessions at Shrewsbury’s Darwin Centre

Shropshire’s dog owners will be able to test their four-legged friend’s obedience when a free mini agility course comes to Shrewsbury’s Darwin Centre on Saturday 14 August 2021, from 11am to 4pm.

The mini agility course will allow shoppers to test their dog’s obedience and show-stopping tricks in both structured ‘prize winning’ and ‘free play’ sessions – each covering skills including sit/stay, recall, lie down, leave it, loose lead walking, and watch me.

As well as ‘best in show’, awards will be given throughout the day for waggiest tail, floppiest ears, and more. There will also be treats and branded tennis balls for every dog that takes part.

There will also be mini training sessions, offering advice on calmness, jumping up, leash pulling, and the all-important toilet training.

Each session – which will be held on the lower floor of the Centre – is open to a maximum of six dogs and their owners.

Kevin Lockwood, Shrewsbury shopping centres manager, said:

“We invite Shropshire’s pooches and their owners to attend the doggy event of the year, as we celebrate our four-legged and furry friends in true, tail-wagging style.

“This is the first such event we will have run since the easing of lockdown restrictions and we look forward to welcoming people and their pets to the Darwin Centre. And we’ll have extra safety measures to keep everyone safe.”

The Darwin Centre has been officially be ‘dog friendly’ since February 2020.

For more information visit www.shrewsbury-shopping.co.uk.

Further information

The sessions being run are as follows:

11am – Free play
11.30am – 2 x awards and free play
12pm – Training session
12.30pm – 2 x awards and free play
1pm – Training session
1.30pm – 2 x awards and free play
2pm – Training session
2.30pm – 2 x awards and free play
3pm – Free play
3.30pm – 2 x awards and free play

Dog session rules

Maximum of six dogs and their owners in each session only. This isn’t just because of social distancing but it is to give the puppies a chance to concentrate! They struggle when surrounded by other exciting dogs!

It is advisable that people bring high reward treats that they know their dogs love, cheese or ham etc. We will have some onsite, but some dogs are fussy and due to allergies its good as a backup. If these paw-rents are anything like me, they will come prepared with a bag full anyway!

Generally these sessions work best with puppies as with all training but we can allow all ages. All dogs however, must be well socialised and not reactive around other dogs or people, this is so important for safety reasons and to ensure the classes go well. If our trainer notices any reactivity then she will kindly ask the client to leave (in the nicest way possible as not everyone can tell when a dog isn’t comfortable!). This is for the safety of the dogs, their owners and our staff.

All dogs must be vaccinated and to not attend if they are ill at all.

All attendees must make sure dogs have been to the toilet prior to the class and to please clean up after their dogs if there is an accident. We will have cleaning items and poo bags onsite should attendees require them.

Dogs need to be on lead at all times and owners in complete control of their dogs.

No dogs on aversive pieces of equipment, such as slip leads, choke chains, prong collars, if they arrive on these they will be kindly asked to leave.

Attendees will be advised not to handle anyone else’s dog or lead or feed other dogs treats for allergy reasons and asked to keep their distance from other dogs and owners.

When entering and exiting the training area attendees should do so one at a time allowing other dogs and owners space.

To follow Shrewsbury shopping centres on social media, go to:

Facebook: @shrewsburyshopping
Twitter: @shop_shrewsbury
Instagram: @shrewsbury_shopping

Issued on behalf of Shrewsbury shopping centres