This past weekend we competed at an agility trial – Hope (me) and Teddy, Fran and her boys, Tango and Booker.
Teddy is five years old now. He started in agility competition at 15 months old. He completed his Novice and Open titles in just a few tries (you have to “qualify” three times to get a title). And after that we’ve struggled. I’ll admit we haven’t competed very often in the last couple of years; time, money, and quite frankly, discouragement, have been factors. We’re not actually people that are used to great good fortune – we’re certainly not “lucky,” and everything achieved has been through hard work and persistence. But there comes a time when you have to assess the reward vs. investment.
Dog training – obedience, rally, and agility – are all things we do to have fun with our dogs. When it’s no longer fun, it’s probably time to evaluate your options. After we got home from the agility trial yesterday I was texting with a friend who also runs her French Bulldogs in agility. Unlike me, however, she’s achieved great things with her dogs, including several Agility Championships. She suggested I try running with Teddy in the “Preferred” class in agility – a class designed to be more user-friendly, allowing the dogs to jump four inches lower than their “Regular” class height. Teddy, who measures 11 1/2 inches at the withers, jumps at 12 inches in the “Regular” class. “Preferred” would allow him to jump at 8 inches.
It’s a logical choice to make. Should Teddy and I get into a regular rhythm and start performing well, we could go back to “Regular” class. My friend was quick to assure me that there’s “no shame” in “Preferred.” And I’ll probably try it and hope that we rediscover the joy in running agility. But somehow it feels like I’m giving up on our team.
