It’s just me (and the dogs).
Figuring out agility one fault at a time, Brutally honest and probably a bit scruffy.
I always meant to get Bertie, my first dog. But throwing us into agility wasn’t part of the plan. He’s a Maltipoo, but not your usual lapdog type — he’s got drive, brains, and a knack for making life difficult if you don’t keep him busy. Before I knew it, he was launching himself onto tables, over gates, anything he could get a run at. That’s when I thought, sod it, let’s see what this agility thing’s about. I’m not a pro, we didn’t start until he was 18 months but I truly think we’re on the road to getting him up the grades!
This blog’s just me keeping track of the journey. The wins, the mistakes, the kit I try, and the lessons I usually learn the hard way. Most of the dogs in my classes will never compete, and that’s fine — their owners just want a fun way to bond with their dogs and tire them out. But the thing is, once you get a taste for it, agility has a way of pulling you in.
I’ve got another dog, Frankie, and he’s not interested in agility at all. And that’s fine — not all dogs are. The whole point of agility is that it should be fun for your dog. If your dog’s not enjoying it, then what’s the point? They don’t clock in for a 9-5, so why force it.
That said, I got fascinated watching the cockers in my classes, so I decided to bring one home myself. Enter Ralphie — a red working cocker puppy. His journey will be tracked here too. On one side, I’ve got the “unnatural” Maltipoo flying through courses like he was born for it. On the other, Ralphie, a dog bred for drive and work, who’ll show us what a proper working dog does with agility.
For now, Ralphie’s doing a bit of both — gundog training and agility. Whichever he thrives at most will probably take the lead, but agility will always be part of his life. He’s already showing great promise at just 14 weeks old. Plus, who doesn’t love a chubby little wild puppy causing chaos?