Agility helps save sofas

Reasons to do agility

Your dog will eat the sofa if you don't. Then the cat will roll in the shredded foam with a look on her face that says "I tried to stop him.

Where I train

I train with Training Troop at Wet Creek Stables in Balzac. We have several trials a year including two fund raisers for Breast Cancer Research and Dog Rescue. All of our trials are sanctioned by the Agility Association of Canada.

Where I teach

I train with K9 Express at Wet Creek Stables in Balzac. We offer 6 week classes for beginners to experts.

My agility Bio

I have been training and competing in agility for almost 12 years now. It was when I came home from work one day to find my dog had managed to eat his way through the back of the sofa to get a ball, that I decided he needed a job to do and we chose agility. No furniture has been harmed since we made the leap. We train in Calgary, and compete from BC to Saskatchewan. Sometimes it is just me and the dogs, others I am joined by my wife Jennifer. Together we will do anything for our 3 "kids" (dogs), Griffey, Elly Belly and Tater. I have competed in several Nationals (since 2005), and Judged in 2007 at Halton Hills.  

I started judging because my wife thought I would be good at it, so she signed me up. Every trial I have judged since I started has brought new experiences and friends. I have seen some of the best runs and some of the ones we wish to forget.

My most memorable agility moment was at the Nationals in Burnaby (2006). We were running a jumpers course , and there was a tunnel entry off a speed sequence. Elly Belly decided to go straight instead of turn, but there was a fence (ring barrier) in her way. No problem, she just jumped it. Unfortunately she also jumped the barrier into the standard ring. The dog in the standard ring had just finished so we didn't wreck anyones run. I called her back over the two fences and we finished like nothing happened. I would say my biggest challenge in agility would be trying to control Elly's speed. I have had fast dogs before, but my timing has to be right on the mark with Elly.