Adopting a high energy dog (especially one with separation anxiety) can be a daunting prospect, but if your story can turn out like mine it will open the door to one of the most fun and rewarding things you have ever done with your dog.
On Oct. 31, 2009 we brought our darling Mocha home from the Richmond SPCA. I was well aware of her high energy level from participating in the Running Buddies Program so I knew she would require some special attention. I welcomed the challenge, and a challenge is exactly what we got!
No matter how many times a day we walked or ran her she never seemed to tucker out enough. After some exasperating weeks, I evaluated her behavior traits and came up with the crazy (or so I thought!) notion of enrolling her in agility classes. On paper she seemed like a perfect candidate, she loved to jump, run and play. I was really counting on this being a good way to exercise her body and mind, and I hoped that it would help some of the issues we were having at home. Imagine my absolute delight when she took to agility her very first class! She bounded over the jumps, flew over the A-frame, dove through tunnels and even tackled the teeter totter, all of this with the biggest grin that I had ever seen! It did not take me long to see a difference in her at home as well; she stopped destroying things and became a calmer, happier dog. We set up some agility obstacles in our yard so that she could practice a couple of times a week. It seemed that all she needed was a physically and mentally challenging workout to keep her energy level in check and mind satisfied.
In agility the dog and handler have to work as a team, this working relationship opened the door for the two of us to really bond and learn to work together. Mocha and I now have a connection that we may have never had with traditional activities. We work as a team on the agility course, in our home and everywhere else we go.
Agility classes have been the best thing that I have ever done with any of my dogs. Not only does Mocha enjoy attending classes, but I have a blast too! We take class once a week and have jumps, tunnels and weave poles at home for practice. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing your dog’s happy exhausted grin after a good class! Mocha and I highly recommend agility classes for any high energy dog. But be forewarned, agility classes are like chips, you can’t take just one…
Allison Drezek is an adopter, agility student and all-around supporter of the Richmond SPCA. To read the biographies of our regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.
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The following classes have space for your dog to enroll now!
Agility A: Tuesday class starts Sept. 27 at 12:15 p.m.
Agility B: Thursday class starts Sept. 29 at 7:15 p.m.
Agility C: Tuesday class starts Sept. 27 at 11 a.m.
Agility D: Wednesday class starts Sept. 28 at 11 a.m.
Agility Weaves & Teeters: Tuesday class starts Oct. 4 at 6 p.m.
Rally Obedience: Thursday class starts Sept. 29 at 4:45 p.m.
Advanced Trickery: Thursday class starts Sept. 22 at 7:15 p.m.
Additional class times and offerings are available. See the full class registration calendar.
And she is a superstar! Go Mocha! I couldn't agree more with you Allison, agility has also helped change my Sundae (also an alum) from a completely reactive scaredy pup to a confident (yet still goofy) companion. It is such a fun teambuilding activity, and not bad excercise for the human half either :) Great article!....hope to see you guys at another playnight soon!
Posted by: Nancy Boylan | September 22, 2011 at 05:33 PM
That's my granddaughter!!! What a change in her since she came home from the SPCA two years ago. Thanks to the SPCA for all the wonderful classes and for the support of the Alumni!
Posted by: Dee Drezek | September 22, 2011 at 10:18 PM