Chicken Soup

101 agility stories to warm your cockles

Here is a selection of heart-warming and inspirational thoughts about agility, culled from the Internet and guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. With thanks to Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen for their inspirational real-life Chicken Soup for the Soul copy& series. Imitation is the best form of flattery!

If you have some thoughts to motivate to add to the agility broth, send them to Agilitynet.

I wanted to share this with others because it was something I had never seen before and decided then and there I wanted the same.

A dear friend of over 25 years died in an automobile accident last week. Yesterday we attended a lovely memorial service. When we stood for the family to enter the Chapel, my friends dearly loved and faithful dog, Ruger, was walking with his wife and the family. As tears filled my eyes I could only think how appropriate this was. Whenever possible Ruger was with him. When Ruger wasn't with him you would always hear wonderful stories about things he and his dog did together.

I had never seen this happen before but I know I would want my dogs to be there in my final farewell to this earth. I just wanted to share this with you because I know many of you would feel the same but might not have thought about the possibility.
Linda Michel

My family were all very anti-dog. It was only me, dreaming about having a dog, but they weren't too excited about that. So I was saving money for my very own dog... all my life I guess.

At age 11, I was finally able to buy a puppy from dog dealer. He brought me this Samoyed, very independent alpha puppy, so it wasn't a very promising combination. But this problematic puppy taught me to insist in whatever I'm doing. As soon as I saved enough money for agility lessons, I went for it, spending an hour on a bus twice a week to get to training grounds. For months I saw no improvement... and then he ended as National Champion. It really means a lot to me to succeed with such a dog. No World Champion title with any dog would mean so much for me as succeeding with Aiken, the crazy Samoyed I bought when I was 11 years old from my pocket money.
Sylvia Trkman (Slovenia)

Whoever said you can't buy happiness forgot about puppies.
Gene Hill

TRAINING

Lovies' dream has finally come through
-- he's got his own training place and club.
Eva Martin

Be kind, train with your mind!
Diana Hilliard

Stop yelling at your dog!
Bud Houston

Anyways, I think it boils down to dogs are lousy generalisers.
Allison Bryant

We prefer to run our dogs very quietly. It makes the commands we do use more meaningful.
Joan & Ebb Tide Kennels & Stables

Non-verbal commands: ?? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ?? !!!!!!!!
Guy Blancke (Belgium)

If agility really is a team sport, then maybe both members of the team should get a title.
Jay & Wanda Jennings

As the instructor at one seminar used to yell frequently at us - 'MOVE IT!'
So run fast but aim to progress slowly.#
Ian Pate (Canada)

If you aren't having fun, how can he have fun? Going into the ring with a green dog generates a lot of stress for the dog. Your only job is to make it a postive experience. Just my opinion.
Bud Houston

My philosophy is to train my dog knowing his abilities and potentials; realizing my short comings; and compensating for all this in how we are able to execute a course. Most of all both of us have fun.
Victoria Ford & her chocolate agility miniature pinscher

This is a game we play for fun, entertainment, and the joy of playing with our dogs.
Lisa Barrett & the Black & Tan Shelter Hounds

Train your dog. A canine mind is a terrible thing to waste.
Kathy & the Ravenwood Gang

...food motivated? Aren't we all!
Julia Lipsio

If you go out and over the next jump, through the tunnel,
we too shall meet on the dogwalk.
Jason & The Cosmic Samoyed Agility Crew

A little over a year ago, I thought that I would never be able to have this dog off leash in public, let alone compete.
She's my first competition dog and shows what hard work and patience and persistence can do. Never give up.
Carolyn in Indiana

You ought to see my 30" greyhound work the poles... the epitome of concentration and careful thinking. You can smell the burning rubber...
Di Hilliard

Make the jumps the most exciting thing in the world, even if you don't do all the other obstacles. Just make sure to finish on a good note.
Emma & Major 'The Wonder Dog'

My advice is to be patient and have fun. Love seeing the dog develop and run wild then finally have things click.
Victoria Ford

I think the difficulty of duplicating a show environment also encourages showing earlier in agility.
Part of the performance that needs to be put together is the dog dealing with the whole show scene,
and it is so hard to set up your agility ring in the grocery store parking lot.
Jill E. Hamilton

A dogwalk is a great place to overlook the garden from.
Guy Blancke (Belgium)

Why doesn't Mom smile when I fly so gracefully from the top of the A-frame?!!
Meredith Bullock

I can't help it Mum, agility is too exciting!
Emma & Major The Barking Wonder Dog (Western Australia)

There is nothing more beautiful than watching a big dog stretch out.
Pat & Cosmo the Leo

Don't make your dog spend his weekend on the couch!
Deb Locke

Train, don't complain.
Diane Sanders

Hey gang...it's not politics; it's freedom of choice. Each brand of agility requires a different set of skills, or at least a different emphasis of handling techniques.
Nancy Beach

The excitement of working so well with my best friend is awesome!
C. Collins

If you go out and over the next jump through the tunnel,
we too shall meet on the dogwalk!
Jason E. Loper

I can't help it Mum.
Agility is too exciting!
Emma & Major 'The Barking Wonder Dog'

COMPETITION & COMPETITIONS

I love agility!
I love to train where there is relatively low stress!
I love to trial where my dog takes it up a few notches and I play catch up!
I love ribbons (anyone who knows me knows that's true)
I'd love a trophy/plaque! but don't really see one in the near/distant future

Hhmmm...

I love hanging with my dog in overpriced motel rooms where no one from work can call me on the phone! (Cable is nice, too.)

Oh ya. I love the titles we've gotten!
Bekka Borg & Blue

Qualifying and winning is great, but the real rewards in this sport are the small things, the things you don't get ribbons for! Arlyn Sigeti

Words of wisdom for your first show. Repeat after me.

Agility is fun.
Agility is fun.
Agility is fun.

If you want more than this, go to another sport. You and your dog are not going to be world champions. Neither are we. Neither are 99% of agility competitors. So just get that out of your mind right away, and have fun.
Betsy Hyde

So when you're out there waiting for the 'start when ready' command,
and you're knees start to quake, just look around you,
and know that every person watching is a friend, and wishes you the best.
Deb Locke

The first piece of advice I have to offer to anyone heading to their first trial is SMILE and concentrate on making the day fun for you both!
Bonny Georgia Griffith

Asking my Shih-tzu to bark on command greatly increases her drive. I try to do this at the start line right before we run. It's quite the crowd pleaser - especially the howls.
Linda Sponsler

Just sign up for the weekend, have a great time with your dog,
and if the courses end up being really easy for you,
that will give you less time to stress and more time to volunteer to help at the show!
Jennifer & Maggie Mae

The amount of sleep required by the average dog owner is about five minutes more.
Terry Woods

Never has a little dog had so much fun, nor received more kisses.
Linda Renfer

So, we no longer count points! We take pride in good runs... And, we're all enjoying agility a lot more.
Terry Wright

For pete's sake, it's still all about having fun with your dog, I hope. And the highest honours need to be reserved for the best... else, what have we to strive for?
Lynn Sigman

The Babar Pairs is a pairs class for performance dogs only. It is named after England's prestigious Barbour Pairs, and Babar, the Bay Teams' resident french bulldog.
Jim Basic

If ribbons are easy to get, they don't mean as much.
Ally Bryant

Don't worry. Your dog will get over your knocked down jump disasters... mine have.
Elaine Newman & the Gang

I have a fast big dog but I can still go over course time if there are bobbles.
Keep the challenge I say. Work toward excellence.
Joyce Angell

JUDGES, STEWARDS & OTHER OFFICIALS

I'm sure that God has a special place in heaven reserved for all trial secretaries.
One can only wonder where He'll put 50% of the competitors!
Karen Patton

Remember. Judges are human... just like us.
Judy Reilly

I think the 'bible' says it's the judge's ultimate responsiblity - like everything else in his ring,
but it works out best if EVERYONE takes the time to be sure!
Vonnie Taylor

Treat them Like dogs!
Philip N. Jurus

AGILITY CLUBS

Every little bit that you were able to contribute helps a lot... in fact,
if a lot did a little, few would be burdened down with too much.
Elinda & the American Wild Bunch

But remember, if a number of people volunteer a small amount of time,
a lot of jobs can get done!!
Amy Suggars

If, however, I were actually required to be an active club member in order to participate,
then I would drop out of agility.
Bea Page

The people who bug me are the people who sit on the sidelines,
complaining, instead of helping.
Jane & the Alamos Animate

Someone once said, 'If you want to kill of a good idea form a committee to discuss it.'
Gary Archer

DOGS & PHILOSOPHY

Within a pitifully small handful of years, at very most, he will be gone. That is the way of dogs. All of them die too soon; though so many humans live too long.
Beth Elliott

This Friday is the first annual 'Take Your Dog to Work Day.' My employer would probably agree if they thought it'd keep me from reading email all day.
Lori Fruth

She is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are her life, her love, her leader. She will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of her heart. You owe it to her to be worthy of such devotion.
Sherryl Robinson

Give a Rescue a place in your home and they will steal your heart!
Ann McQuillen

More is not always better, it's simply more. (from the movie Sabrina)
Penny Winegartner

Stay true to yourself and others will see that truth.
Denise P.

A day without sunshine is like, well, night.
Lynn Sigman

Howl be thy name.
Kim Collins

The problem with the gene pool is that there is no life guard.
Maureen Scott Robinson

If you breed, rescue. If you don't breed, rescue anyway.
Carla & the Spotty-Dotties

Qui me amat, amet et canem meum.
Deb Locke

This list was compiled from emails on the AGILE list. If you have any deep philosphical thoughts or observations about agility, you can add them to this list by emailing them to:- Ellen Rocco at Agilitynet.

Chicken Soup

101 agility stories to warm your cockles

If you have some thoughts to motivate to add to the agility broth, send them to Agilitynet.

This list was compiled from emails on the AGILE list. If you have any deep philosphical thoughts or observations about agility, you can add them to this list by emailing them to:- Ellen Rocco at Agilitynet.

Editor's note: Illustrations: Katherine McEwen in New Covent Garden Soup Company's Book of Soups (1996), Boxtree Ltd

Editor's note:
Illustrations: Katherine McEwen in New Covent Garden Soup Company's Book of Soups (1996), Boxtree Ltd