Going to the Dogs

Today the Muskoka Agility Dogs were here, in the indoor arena. It worked out well for the group -- outside it was rainy and cold. Even the chickens gave today a 'wings down' and hung out in the stable most of the day. Inside it was temperate, bright, busy, and barking.

Dogs of all sizes, shapes, breeds and experience were there, from the Northern Rescue Dog from north of Mattawa to the aristocratic Gordon Setter, the "all ears" Papillon, to the "all eyes" tiny beagle cross who never once took her attention off her handler.

Dog agility is growing in popularity -- and it's easy to see why. Dogs need to be socialized, well trained, and active, just to be happy and popular in general life. Agility hands them all of that, keeps them active in mind and body, and allows their people to interact with their dogs at a whole new level from sedately parading once around the block. The dogs work from voice and hand signals, and learn how to negotiate series of obstacles that include teeter-totters, A-frame climbing walls, tire jumps, regular jumps, straight and curved tunnels, and weave poles. In competition it gets fast and furious... in training, it's all fun and games, repetition and rewards.

When Lance wanted to stop on top of the A-frame and survey the scene, or when Bandit the Tunnel specialist decided to put on a cheeky demonstration of how quickly he could avoid the tunnel today, nobody minded at all. When dogs of handlers 'got it tangled', they quietly went back and repeated the exercise, made it simpler, made it slower, sorted it out, and then stepped it up again.

The MAD plan to be here once a month this winter, allowing the enthusiasts the chance to keep their dogs working on the equipment. For some, it will be stepping stone to competition -- both Club Matches, Fun Matches and more serious high level competitions. For others, it's just for the fun of working with their dogs. For the dogs, it's all about the game.

The horses can relate to that!