It’s time I talked to you about another one of my passions in life - dog agility.
Admittedly, this isn’t the best photo relating to the topic, but it’s a lovely sunrise, and you can see some of the agility equipment standing on the frosty ground, and that’s what I really want you to see.
I started agility back in 1993 when I still lived in Finland. I was 11 years old, and I started with my family’s crossbreed, Joona, who went on to become a real champion. Had I started with another dog, who knows if I would have stuck with it. Joona was half German Shepherd, so he was a working dog and loved having something to do. He had a great jump, and he was fast and a quick a learner. That’s pretty much all you want in an agility dog.
When I moved to Ireland in 2002, I sorely missed agility. Four years later, I got my first dog in Ireland, and I quickly discovered that Benny, a Jack Russell, had what it took to excel in agility. The only problem was that there was no agility in Sligo or the surrounding areas.
I didn’t let that stop me, so I started looking for like-minded people and set up a club. Almost 12 years later, we’re still going. You can find the club at Run As One Dog Agility Club.
These days, I’m lucky enough to have our club’s equipment in my back garden where I can train my own dogs when it suits me and run the club’s classes. Benny is over 13 but happy and healthy except his deafness. He still does agility on his terms, with the jumps on the ground and at a gentle pace. He still enjoys it, so who am I to stop him?
Frosty morning on the agility course.