So I spent a very enjoyable (though chilly) weekend at the Hand Equestrian Centre in Clevedon watching the UK Agility Grand Finals. And boy was it inspiring! I know competitive dog sports aren't for everyone, but watching the dogs and handlers work so smoothly together as a team to tackle a challenging course was like watching poetry in motion; the level of connection and communication between the partnerships was visible, and that's what I love most about these sports - it's all about building a relationship with your dog so that you can work together as one. And competitive ambitions or not, I think that's something that every dog owner can achieve with their dog given a little effort and patience, and who wouldn't want that deeper relationship with their doggy family members? Building that connection also helps make everyday life so much easier for the average pet dog - our relationships with our dogs need to be two-way, so if we want them to pay attention to us across the field or while walking down the street, we have to invest in building that connection and desire to work with us as well. So come and join a class to get started! ;-)
Personally speaking, I found the weekend so inspiring and now have aspirations of qualifying for one of the finals for next year with Whirligig once she starts competing. That may be a big dream, but we all need aspirations, something to strive towards to keep us going and push us forward, and that's mine for the next 12 months!
What's your aspiration for your dog for 2012? It might be qualifying for finals, achieving a certain level in a sport, or it may simply be building a reliable recall, reconnecting with your dog, or teaching it a few tricks. Let me know what you dream of achieving with your dog during the new year. Dream big!
(photo of Tug-E-Nuff Performance Challenge Standard Winners taken from UKA Facebook page, photo by Emma Elliot Photography)
First goal once we start competing in March.....getting round without Dazzle bogging off to the burger van! That means she needs to be so into the game that she can ignore such distractions....we're well on the way to that but who knows how strong the call of a bacon roll will be?! Big goal for next year....qualify for Beginners Steeplechase final, and above all have fun!!!!
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