Jasper at agility
I also have now taken Jasper, our Border Collie, to an agility competition. I’ve been taking him to his classes most weeks, except when we went away. So by August he had learned everything except the “teeter totter” (see-saw) and we entered him into the Club’s fun competition.
The trainer said he should stop getting extra food as he was a bit tubby. So we have cut out all his snacks and put him on food for “Laid Back, Chilled out Dogs”. Now he is so desperate for a treat he would turn cartwheels if I asked him!
The competition was held in the Capilano River Park in a field. It was a very hot day and there were over 100 people with their dogs there. The dogs were entered into various competitions, and competed against dogs of the same size and ability.
Jasper was in “Specials” (beginners). I have a friend who was competing with 2 of her dogs, one a master champion and one a beginner. There are also Regulars, Veterans (over 7 years old) and a special category for dogs who compete in Agility competitions.
At the first competition – Jumpers – Jasper ran off the course, so my Mum had to come and stand at the start line. He did complete the course, barking his head off. We came last.
The second one, Standard (like mock competition course), was worse. He had noticed all the para-gliders who were launching themselves off Grouse Mountain and decided to bark at them. Half way round the course he stopped to bark at a guy who was swooping overhead to land in the park opposite. Next a fire truck came past and freaked him out. We came last again.
In the Team section, he was brilliant, did the course perfectly in 16 secs. We came 3rd. In the Gamblers section, we tied 3rd but the other dog was faster so we came 4th. A good first attempt! I bought him a bone to celebrate, I don’t think that will make him fat.