Agility is ABSOLUTELY the most fun you can have with your clothes on. That is, when it goes right. When you and your dog are in “the zone”, moving as a well-oiled machine.
My Great Dane Tessa is my first agility dog. I had never even heard of agility until we went to a “clicker training” class, and there was agility equipment in the room. We started very late in the agility training game. I think she was 4 years old - not exactly young for a Dane, but she liked it, so we continued.
No, we have not earned any of the BIG agility titles (MACH, ATCH, etc) but that was never my goal. I just wanted something fun that she and I could enjoy together. And agility certainly has been that!!
Tessa is one of those dogs that truly wants to give me whatever I want. She aims to please. She doesn’t get the “zoomies” and run circles in the ring. She doesn’t decide to take the A-frame when I’ve told her to take the tunnel. She is THERE, in the moment, working with ME! Always striving to do her best for me. She really loves it, and it shows!
She is getting older now, and slowing down significantly. Tunnels are pretty hard for her, and wrapping her large body around and through the weave poles is just too much. But she still LOVES jumping, and continues to compete in the Jumpers class.
What she lacks in speed, she certainly makes up for with enthusiasm and heart. You go my good girlie!!
(My upcoming agility dog will be a whole other story! Stay tuned!)
photo by Lunendogs Photography
