At last, what you’ve all been waiting for, the schedule of seminars taught by Mary Ellen Barry here at Quicksilver again in November 2026. First, in case you aren’t already familiar with this excellent competitor and teacher, here are a few words about her. if you have not worked with her before, I and many others cannot recommend her highly enough.
Mary Ellen has been participating in agility for 30 years and has been involved in all aspects of the sport including: training, competing, teaching, coaching and judging. She is a 3 time member of the IFCS team, a 5 time member of the WAO team and is currently the coach of the WAO Team USA. She has won multiple medals on the national and international stage at WAO, IFCS, Cynosports, and the US Open. She began judging in 2018 and her courses have shown to be fast and flowing for the dog, yet challenging to the handler. She lives in Norristown PA with her 4 border collies and runs a full time agility business, KineticDog, LLC which offers training and competition events.
Schedule of seminars offered:
- Thursday November 5
- Lines, Lines, Lines – 10 am – 2 pm
Are you cueing your jumps and tunnels proactively enough that your dog can anticipate the exit line that you want. Do you fully understand your elements of handling and how they can be combined to help your dog achieve this?In this workshop, we will help you better understand your dog’s line upon the completion of the obstacle and what you need to do as a handler to achieve that.
These will be very short sequences and may include some technical elements such as backsides and threadles. Dogs should be sequencing jumps and tunnels confidently. Handlers should have a thorough understanding of the 7 elements of handling (motion, chest, position, eyes, feet, arms, verbals).
- Young Dogs/ Handling Basics – 4 pm – 8 pm
This workshop breaks down the basic skills every agility handler needs to guide their dog efficiently and confidently around a course. We will focus on:- Crosses (front, rear, blind)
- Lateral push. Using your direction of feet and chest laser to maintain forward lines
- Deceleration. Communicating turns through speed changes
- Lines, Lines, Lines – 10 am – 2 pm
- Friday November 6
- Puppies – 10 am – 2 pm .
Age appropriate games and exercises for future agility stars. - Slices and S Lines – 4 pm – 8 pm
Focus on S-lines and the various ways to handle them from both take off and landing sides as well as being ahead or behind the dog. Jumps and tunnels in sequences up to 10 obstacles.
- Puppies – 10 am – 2 pm .
- Saturday November 7
- Which Cross Where – 10 am – 2 pm
Course work with emphasis on planning and executing appropriate crosses. All equipment used, dogs should be currently competing. - Distance & Layering – 4 pm – 8 pm
Work on handling from a distance. Strengthen and test your dog’s obstacle commitment, line recognition, discrimination, and verbal without always worrying about getting there.Prerequisite: Dogs should be competing at the highest level in their venue of choice
- Which Cross Where – 10 am – 2 pm
- Sunday November 8
- Lines, Lines, Lines – 10 am – 2 pm
Are you cueing your jumps and tunnels proactively enough that your dog can anticipate the exit line that you want. Do you fully understand your elements of handling and how they can be combined to help your dog achieve this?In this workshop, we will help you better understand your dog’s line upon the completion of the obstacle and what you need to do as a handler to achieve that.
These will be very short sequences and may include some technical elements such as backsides and threadles. Dogs should be sequencing jumps and tunnels confidently. Handlers should have a thorough understanding of the 7 elements of handling (motion, chest, position, eyes, feet, arms, verbals).
- Get in Line! – 4 pm – 8 pm
Build on the concepts of the Lines Lines Lines workshop – work lines not obstacles!
- Lines, Lines, Lines – 10 am – 2 pm
Each workshop is $170 and is limited to 7 working spots. Unlimited audit spots, $50 per session. $90 for auditing both sessions in a single day. For any questions email Leerie Jenkins.
Payment
Upon being accepted into the session, you will receive an invoice. This is how you know you’ve gotten into the session. Please pay using the invoice, or you can send check or money order to:
Quicksilver Canine
3331 Beaver Creek Rd
Burlington NC 27215
Payment is due by October 30th, or your spot will be offered to the next team on the waiting list.
Registration
REGISTRATION FORM WILL BE HERE ON SATURDAY 10/10 at 10 am.
