Beginnings

We're at the start of something.  Something good, perhaps? An adventure, for sure.  And, having started this journey some ten months ago with puppy Henry, we know that there will be ups.  There will also be downs.  Figuratively.  And, literally.  

But....let me back up for a moment.  This time last year, I was struggling with the sudden death of my thirteen and a half year old Sheltie, Dylan, and my other thirteen and a half year old Sheltie, Buffy, had been diagnosed with nasal adenocarcinoma.  She's a story unto herself (oh the life we had!).  When I got the both of them (one from a backyard breeder; the other from the Maryland SPCA), I was at a place of new beginnings myself.  A budding law career occupied most -- if not all -- of my waking hours.  The other hours were devoted to my dogs.  We played; we travelled together; we mourned the loss of relationships together; and, we accepted another special person into our pack.  Life with my Shelties was good, but I didn't know that it could get amazing. 

The point is, a year ago I knew what agility was.  Or, so I thought.  Your dog runs around and jumps over things, right?  Sorta? Kinda? Maybe? Eh, well....something like that.  Through my Buffy's cancer, I met someone from a Sheltie group online (shout out to Facebook's The Wonderful Sheltie) who changed my life (and who remains an awesome friend to this day).  She'd responded to a post about dog cancer diets.   I didn't really think much about it at the time, but she was also experienced and accomplished in the sport of agility.  Organically, our friendship evolved from talking dog cancer, to her suggesting that we get a puppy when Dylan passed (Hello, Henry!), to talking puppy training (she's also an agility instructor), to her encouraging us in enrolling Henry into a "fun" agility class.  And through her, I met others, too.  Their dogs, with their royal blue ribbons, and MACHs (Speed Racer drove that, right?), and commemorative jump bars seemed foreign to me.  Yet, I was intrigued.  In those pictures with those vibrant ribbons and those decorated jump bars, their dogs -- they seemed to be smiling! Big, wide eyed, happy, toothy, tongue-out smiles.  And my friends, well, they were smiling too!  

"It's about the bond," my friend told me.  Agility teaches teamwork, but it also promotes the human/dog bond.  It promotes learning things together.  We learn to speak "dog" and they learn to understand what their humans are asking of them.  It promotes overcoming obstacles.  Physical ones -- as in jumps, dogs walks, tunnels and A-Frames.  And, it's about transcending the mental ones, too.   "Hmmm," I thought to myself, in Yoda-esque fashion,  "Was agility really JUST a sport?"  Maybe, maybe not.  Undeniably, the one thing agility is, is fun.

Last November, we went to observe our first AKC Agility trial.  In January, Henry accompanied us to a pet expo where he got to "watch" his first AKC Agility trial.  In February, Henry took part in his first "fun" agility class -- a 3 day "flash" session, which merely served as an introduction to the equipment.  Since then, Henry's come a long way.  But, his story is his own, and I'll chronicle it separately -- because he deserves an individual spotlight.  He's currently in a pre-novice class and has much to learn before he ever steps foot -- if he ever steps foot -- into a competition ring. 

Last night, six and one-half month old Gus had his first "Foundations for Agility" class.  Little Gus: my "bombproof" puppy.  Nothing seems to bother him, and it showed last night.  Happily obliging us, Gus excelled in sit and stays.  Perch work, no problem (I'll even sit on it because I can!).  Touch the hand, we got this!  All of these building blocks  -- these little games we're playing -- will, like Legos, connect and stack and translate someday into something colorfully bigger.  (Disclaimer:  Gus has had private lessons prior to this class and he has earned his novice trick dog title through Kyra Sundance's organization Do More With Your Dog).  

So, while walking "the boys" this morning, it occurred to me that now seems like the right time to invite you on this agility voyage with us...wherever this voyage takes us.  Will we compete? Will we get a MACH? Will I be stymied by my apparent lack of coordination and my ever-present two left feet?  Who knows the answer to any of these questions, really?  We're not guaranteeing a thing except that we spend each day trying to "live awesomely" with our dogs.   Laugh with us. Cry with us. Learn from us.  Celebrate with us as we encounter every triumph, and give us virtual hugs as we, undoubtedly, are forced embrace our defeats.  Have questions? Message us.  Want to get your dog into agility too? Got tips that might help us? Message us.  Share your stories with us (and if you want, we'll share them here, too), because the one thing I've unequivocally learned in my short foray into this agility world is that the community is amazing.  

We look forward to your joining us in this adventure!

Gus masters perch work in his first "Foundations for Agility" Class

Gus and Jen sharing a moment.