As I briefly noted in yesterday’s post, I was fortunate to volunteer at the Front Range Agility event over the weekend. For years, I’ve helped out the Colorado Old English Sheepdog Rescue group and enjoy helping them whenever I can and the group uses these volunteer events to help fund their outstanding rescue program. Normally I work the agility event that is coupled with a dog show around the same time as the AKC’s Westminster but this was a second smaller opportunity that I was happy to help them out with over the weekend. Here’s a very short video from the event.
According to AKA’s webpage, “Agility is a growing dog sport in the United States, with over 1 million entries to the AKC’s Agility Program each year. Dogs race against a clock as they navigate an obstacle course with strong concentration and speed.” These amazing dogs are incredibly athletic and you can’t help but get excited when they compete.
Agility is a sport where you direct your dog through a pre-set obstacle course within a certain time limit. With between 14-20 obstacles, including tunnels, weave poles, tire jumps, seesaws, and pause tables where the dog must stop for a set amount of time, dogs race through the courses designed for that day. The dog rely on cues and body language from their handler who directs them. All breeds, including mixed breeds, can participate in agility. Jumps vary from 4″ to 24″ and our ring mostly ran 12-24″ with a couple of dogs running at the shorter heights. There were multiple classes and levels including Novice, Regular, Jumpers With Weaves, and Master to name a few.
MACH stands for Master Agility Champion title and is awarded by the AKC . To achieve this title, dog and the handler compete as a team earning first Novice, Open, Excellent and then Master Titles. There are two games to achieve this title: Standard which includes the contact equipment (A-frame, bridge, teeter and table) and the Jumpers with Weaves. The Novice, Open and Excellent titles require three qualifying runs with progressively harder requirements and courses. The Master titles requires 10 perfect runs at the Masters Level. Qualifying runs at the Masters level also earn one speed point for each full second under course time (partial seconds are eliminated.). Once the team is competing with both runs in one day at the Master level they start to accumulate “Double Q’s”. A team earns a Double Q when they qualify 100% perfect on both runs in one day. To earn the MACH title, you must earn 20 double Q’s and 700 points, so no easy feat.
To my great surprise, I spotted one of our fellow pet therapists, Kai, who was competing in the ring I worked. Trust me when I say this beautiful Aussie is quite speedy and she had a perfect run. Being truly ignorant of the sport of agility, I could only stand back and watch as everyone whooped and hollered as an official brought out a MACH bar, signifying Miss Kai had won another title (her second I learned when I was able to personally congratulate Kai’s mom, Sue later that afternoon).
Here are a few photos I was able to capture when not working in the ring. Obviously there’s a lot of waiting until your event is up for that quick 25-40 second run. And there’s lots of barking by the competitors-they are so wound up to race. Most Shelties bark with enthusiasm as they clear each jump and race through the poles.
Running into this little girl upon arriving, I learned she was competing in her first event. She was young, sweet and totally devoted to her mom. Sorry for the blurry images, I only had my cell phone with me which isn’t very good with fast action shots.
She reminded me of Elsa though she was much smaller. I’m guessing this girl weighed in around 40 lbs. whereas Elsa hovers around 60. But she was pretty and seemed to enjoy agility.
In a big no-no, I snuck this image when I worked in the ring. Photos aren’t allowed from inside the ring at the time, and was unaware of the rule.
Even an OES competed. I’ve watched “Dallas” compete before and she is a total love. Dallas loves high flying, is a breeze to handle and is completed adored by her sweet mom, Meg who’s always gracious, warm and friendly, just like her cute panda-faced baby. Meg is a big supporter of the OES rescue group and always singles us out whenever she talks to people. Both her and her dog are favorites of competitors and spectators alike.
Here is Kai shortly after her winning run with the event official and ring judge.
Being part of the hospital pet therapy, I couldn’t be more proud of fellow therapist Miss Kai and her huMom, Sue who trained me and Sam when we joined the team.
Sue plans to continue racing Kai but at a lower height now that she’s earned two MACH titles. Kai is one of our top pet therapists whose love of people is evident whenever she encounters them at the hospital. I mean, just look at her face! How could anyone not want to hug this precious girl?
Hopefully future opportunities will present themselves so that I can continue volunteering for the OES rescue group and improving my knowledge about this fun and amazing sport. Have you ever considered participating in agility? What made you decide to get involved with it?
Tails Around the Ranch will be taking a few days off while we take time to visit with out of state family. Posts and comments will likely be infrequent but I’ll do my best getting around to seeing you as I can. Otherwise, we’ll see you next week.
Live, love, bark! 🐾
Wagnificent fun for both human & pups!
🐾💜🐾
Definitely a fun outing for both dogs and their uprights.
Meow meow even mee likess Kai…shee iss so purrty!!!
Doggiess sure like to have fun don’t they Miss Monika?
**purrsss** to Sam an Elsa an you… BellaDharma
All that running around wears everyone out, but it’s fun to watch from the sidelines. 😊
We love to see the doggies and their owners having so much fun together, that’s always a win-win for everyone <3 Enjoy your time off, Sam, Elsa and Monika! Pawkisses for a Happy Thursday🐾😽💞
Agilty is so much fun to watch, especially the Master level dogs!
hugs
Mabel & Hilda
I should have talked to you about agility. You know what’s happening. 😊
Aw, I love Miss Kai. What a beauty, and what a multi-talented girl! It sounds like you had lots and lots of fun there!
It was great fun watching and getting caught up in all the high flying. These dogs are amazing and Kai is a real sweetheart-both on and off the course.
Kai is so pretty!! Very cool that you got to help with the event. Those dogs have more agility than I do! LOL! Enjoy your vacation with family!
OMD, OES’s??!!!! You gots Ma all excited!!!! It’s always kinda weird for Ma to see the OES’s without the long furs ~ she usually has to do a double take! BOL! She looks pawsome, and you and her Ma have Ma’s Thanks for doin’ such FABulous work for the puppers!!!
I see there were no Airedales!!! sigh. Wells, Ma says we’re too goofy ☺
Anyhu, I hopes you made tons of green papers for the CO OES rescue!!!
Kisses,
Ruby ♥
I’ve seen a couple of OES’s at these events but not many-more Beardies than OES’s. And Dallas is ALWAYS spiffed up with a fresh ‘short do.’ You know, I don’t think I’ve ever seen an Airedale of these things, but there are lots of breeds that don’t show up either so tell your mum it’s not because you’re too goofy-you guys probably have better things to do than running and jumping around.
The rescue group is one of the finest I’ve ever worked with; they are such advocates for the breed and we’d happily help them out. I’m donating several items from the shop that they can auction off at the annual picnic in addition to working the agility shows.
Kai is gorgeous and she’s talented! And a therapy dog to boot! At first, I thought this might be good for Elsa to get her to focus – but then I remembered she doesn’t exactly keep her attention anywhere for very long 🙂
Her attention is probably better than Sam’s but think it would be too stressful for her and trigger seizures for her to be a good therapy dog. She needs less chaos with medical equipment, hospital noises, stuff like that. She can be my personal therapy dog-she loves to snuggle.
Shelties and Border Collies are naturals at agility. My biggest regret years ago was I had my husband take Dakota to an agility class. I trusted him when he said Dakota hated it. Wish I didn’t believe that for years. I should have taken Dakota myself, I wasn’t thinking or was so busy with the blogs in those days I didn’t want to take the time. I deeply regret that. I think if I had taken Dakota he would have thrived in agility (my husband is a quiet type that likes to be in the background and I am more outgoing)………I so regret it. Have a wonderful time visiting with your family! xoxo
Looks like everyone was having fun!
Enjoy your family time!
Thank you for the exposure to the agility competition.
My pleasure. This group of competitors were most patient with all my questions about the in’s and out’s for which I’m grateful. I knew next to nothing about agility competition.
The video was super.
I could fly through that course.
You’d definitely be a high flyer, Kismet!
Agility dogs are so stylish, I might try it some day.
Your crew would be great at it!
Great pics and video, Kai is gorgeous! I love when I come across agility trials at parks here in San Diego. When I lived in NJ many moons ago, I used to attend an annual sheepdog herding trial (mostly Border Collies), which was so fun!
She is really pretty and as sweet as they come. Watching the Shelties, Aussies and Border Collies, one can’t help but be impressed.
Indeed!!
I would enjoy watching a match, especially if you are there.
Have a fabulous day and week. ♥
😍
looks like the dogs are having fun, but I wonder how it feels on their shoulder joints. Kai is so pretty, bet she really helps to calm people in stress. Nice experience for you.
It was a wonderful experience, made personal by someone I know who was a competitor. 🥰
What a great event – and cheers to another volunteer effort on your part! … Clink – it’s noon somewhere. Gotta love the last picture – oh those eyes! Enjoy your family time!
Thank you, Frank. Yes, she is a real sweetheart. Luckily I stocked up on the Corona for the family in case the manufactured ‘crisis’ didn’t get resolved. Cheers 🍺
Those dogs have jumps! I’m always super impressed when I see the synergy that can be achieved between two legged humans and four legged humans. Gives me hope that maybe we’re not doomed after all.
It’s a pretty neat event but reminds me that the movie “Best in Show” was probably not so much of a parody. 😈The dogs are fine, some of the handlers can get kind of frothed up.
I’ve noticed that.
I went up to an event at the Farm Show in Harrisburg because I knew a woman who raised Westies. They were great, but some of the peeps get a little much.
Is that code for insane? 🤣
That would be a fair appraisal.
{snarf!}
LOL!
what a super event… and yes Elsa was in my mind immediately too ;O)
She’d be good at it, if a squirrel were released on the course with her. Bwahaha!