Move over, here comes Rover

[bigdoglover]

Canada.com

Shelley Bindon, The Edmonton Journal
EDMONTON - They might not hide behind your skirts or run screaming from strangers, but believe it or not, some dogs are shy and could use a little sporting confidence to bolster their egos.

Gayle Grant, co-owner and chief agility instructor at Grand Paws Doggie Daycare and Training Centre, has just the right prescription for bashful barkers -- a good dose of self-esteem from agility training.

With the guidance of their handlers, nervous Nellies can gain confidence, a sense of purpose and pride by learning to navigate an obstacle course full of hurdles, tire jumps, see-saws, tunnels, weave poles and A-frames.

"It's a big confidence-building sport for the dog, and your relationship with your dog goes to the next level. Your dog looks to you as a definite leader," says Grant.

Agility sports originated in Great Britain in the early 1980s. The sport -- and it is a sport -- caught like wild fire and has since spread across Europe. Canada's national association took form in 1988 and today has over 5,000 dogs registered to compete. Dog-friendly Edmonton has several clubs, and on most weekends dog agility trials take place on city sports fields, in horse arenas and hockey rinks.

Grant started training dogs for agility trials 12 years ago. She now has five dogs that compete, but her winningest pooch is a border collie named Andy, who lives with Cheryl and Jay Baranecki.

Andy has earned a trip to national trials every year that he has competed, and even though he's a bit past his prime at the age of nine-and-a-half years, he's a regional champion again this season and will compete in his sixth national trials Aug. 19 and 20 in Burnaby, B.C.

When the two began training, Grant spent five or more hours a week working with Andy to teach him basic obedience, how to work courses and to respond to her commands and hand signals. Now that he's a pro, Andy trains about two hours a week to stay sharp.

"He really knows his job, so right now it's just maintenance."

The extra time that Grant now has goes to her other dogs and the handlers and dogs that she teaches. Grant says that without a doubt, handlers benefit as much as their dogs from time well spent together.

"We try to encourage people to get interactive with their dogs. It's good because you're both out there running, and it's an activity that the whole family can take part in. Competitions are very family-oriented; there's always lots of children around."

Though most agility trainers will suggest you start working with young dogs, even old dogs can learn new tricks.

"The sport is open to all dogs," Grant says. "Most disciplines allow all dogs to compete; the course height is just adjusted for different breeds."

Owners typically enrol their dogs in basic obedience training to ensure that their pup is willing and able to follow simple commands.

Fido usually bounds in a heathen and strides out a gentleman, while more subtle is the change in the human handler from bumbler to consistent, authoritative leader.

Next comes an introduction to agility courses and once dog and owner develop a knack for the sport, the duo can high-tail it through six levels of agility training.

Shelley Bindon, The Edmonton Journal
EDMONTON - They might not hide behind your skirts or run screaming from strangers, but believe it or not, some dogs are shy and could use a little sporting confidence to bolster their egos.

Gayle Grant, co-owner and chief agility instructor at Grand Paws Doggie Daycare and Training Centre, has just the right prescription for bashful barkers -- a good dose of self-esteem from agility training.

With the guidance of their handlers, nervous Nellies can gain confidence, a sense of purpose and pride by learning to navigate an obstacle course full of hurdles, tire jumps, see-saws, tunnels, weave poles and A-frames.

"It's a big confidence-building sport for the dog, and your relationship with your dog goes to the next level. Your dog looks to you as a definite leader," says Grant.

Agility sports originated in Great Britain in the early 1980s. The sport -- and it is a sport -- caught like wild fire and has since spread across Europe. Canada's national association took form in 1988 and today has over 5,000 dogs registered to compete. Dog-friendly Edmonton has several clubs, and on most weekends dog agility trials take place on city sports fields, in horse arenas and hockey rinks.

Grant started training dogs for agility trials 12 years ago. She now has five dogs that compete, but her winningest pooch is a border collie named Andy, who lives with Cheryl and Jay Baranecki.

Andy has earned a trip to national trials every year that he has competed, and even though he's a bit past his prime at the age of nine-and-a-half years, he's a regional champion again this season and will compete in his sixth national trials Aug. 19 and 20 in Burnaby, B.C.

When the two began training, Grant spent five or more hours a week working with Andy to teach him basic obedience, how to work courses and to respond to her commands and hand signals. Now that he's a pro, Andy trains about two hours a week to stay sharp.

"He really knows his job, so right now it's just maintenance."

The extra time that Grant now has goes to her other dogs and the handlers and dogs that she teaches. Grant says that without a doubt, handlers benefit as much as their dogs from time well spent together.

"We try to encourage people to get interactive with their dogs. It's good because you're both out there running, and it's an activity that the whole family can take part in. Competitions are very family-oriented; there's always lots of children around."

Though most agility trainers will suggest you start working with young dogs, even old dogs can learn new tricks.

"The sport is open to all dogs," Grant says. "Most disciplines allow all dogs to compete; the course height is just adjusted for different breeds."

Owners typically enrol their dogs in basic obedience training to ensure that their pup is willing and able to follow simple commands.

Fido usually bounds in a heathen and strides out a gentleman, while more subtle is the change in the human handler from bumbler to consistent, authoritative leader.

Next comes an introduction to agility courses and once dog and owner develop a knack for the sport, the duo can high-tail it through six levels of agility training.