Approximately a year and a half ago (maybe closer to two?) Canon and I started agility lessons along with his sister Roxy and her "mom" Nancy. It was hard for us. The sport requires good body sense and spatial skills, visual memory, problem solving, as well as a bit of athleticism from the human. The dog needs to pay attention to his human, understand body language, and focus. I don't know if I have any of those qualities, and Canon is working on them.
Roxy, and our other classmates, Will and Grace, were doing great. A year ago Will and Grace were ready to compete. Roxy was ready. We were not. Last summer Canon and I were improving, but weren't there yet. I committed to agility trials in September. Then I broke my elbow at the end of August. No agility practice for four months. It was almost a relief, but a disappointment, as well.
Something happened during our "vacation." I got a bit better at reading courses and Canon got a lot better about following me, so I thought it was time. It was! On March 10th and 11th, we entered the ASCA (Australian Shepherd Cub of America) agility trials. We weren't perfect, but did well enough to earn a Novice Jumper's title, as well as qualifying in two standard runs. Eight runs, four first places. I love novice. We had no competition in our 24 inch height class, and it was easy. We only had to contend with a few missteps from me and a bit of craziness from Canon (related to my missteps.) We even had a visitor in the ring, an escaped putty, and had to run again.
A lot of sitting, those two days, but a lot of satisfaction as well.
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