About Agility What the…

We have rescue dogs. Two who do agility, one who does not. This blog is about my forays into this new world and the broader paths that it has dovetailed into. Hopefully I can help decode some of the agility or general dog speak for other new kids. Eventually. Maybe.

I have been a lifelong animal person, starting with obsessive-compulsively drawing pictures of dancing cats at ages 4-5. Then I moved into my horse phase which lasted a good 10-15 years. Honestly the horse phase has never really ended, rather more my means and methods of supporting it has. I still take every opportunity I can to go hack around when the opportunity arises, which is less than I wish were the case.

Dogs have always been there, in some way shape or form. I was fortunate to have grown up in a very animal-centric environment, usually surrounded by a gaggle of large hunting-type dogs complimented by a smattering of child-tolerant cats. Rodents were weird, fish were too easy to forget about, birds flew out the window, we’ll stick with the standards, thank you. My grandparents were known for their power struggles, which were often waged both literally and figuratively by their token Labradors (Papa’s) and Standard Poodles (Nanie’s). Our household had Springers and Labs, then large mixed breed pound dogs, all sweet sweet sweet.

For the most part, I had the good sense to abstain from really having my own dog as an adult until about 4 years ago. I knew a dog was a massive commitment, and I wasnt ready until then. And since then things have gotten more and more intriguing and here is where I find myself.

After working in Sports Marketing for ten years, I recently made the leap to leave my first career and start over. I now train dogs and their people full time. Its thrilling, frustrating, amusing and occasionally even upsetting to become intimately involved with people’s relationships with their dogs. Most often though it is just fun. Especially the agility teaching parts.

I don’t really know exactly where this road is leading, but that’s often the best part. Onward.

You may contact me directly here.