Lots of my friends are out of state enjoying the American Kennel Club Agility Nationals and in the spirit of good old competition my agility instructor decided we would have our own competition.

The course we ran was very difficult, we all had a case of nerves, we were timed, faulted and placed.  We sat silently watching our classmates navigate the course and ran over and over in our heads how we would handle our dogs.  Funny what a little competition will do to a person.  Usually we are chatting with each other, laughing and enjoying our friends and dogs while waiting for our turn to practice.  Anyway, it was great fun for all…..

By the way, Max got 2nd overall and Roxie earned 3rd overall.

YAHOO!!!!!!!

Have you ever seen dogs competing in agility, herding, flyball, water sports, frisbee freestyle, freestyle dancing or other dog sports and thought, “Boy that sure looks like fun?” Have you ever said “I think that looks like something I would like to do?” Well MARL just might have the perfect dog for you.

When I retired and decided that I could now spend more time on volunteer activities, MARL was the first place I thought of. I have German Wirehaired Pointers and compete in conformation, obedience, hunt tests, field trials, agility and a new sport, freestyle dancing, which is choreographed moves to music. Before I started volunteering I had to promise myself that I would not bring ANY animals home as I have many (4 dogs, 2 cats, 2 horses, 1 bird) of my own. Well, I did really well for a long time, but one morning I walked in and there was this little black and white puppy sitting in a crate staring at me. Normally I give the puppies a greeting and walk back to the kennel and spend my day with the big dogs. But there was something about that puppy!!!!! I held her and the rest is history. People want to know what made me pick her and I can only reply that I didn’t pick her, she picked me.