For my Core 2: Research Methods for Writers project at Rowan University, I am researching AKC Agility trials. I’m focusing on the training and the bond with my own dog, Belle, who is a Labrador/ St.Bernard mix. I will be documenting not only information about competition, such as rules and obstacle regulations, but also about the experience over all through multimedia based blogs.
Hi everyone, WonderDogs, the place where Belle and I take our agility classes, is in need of some financial help. I really love this place and I’m really upset that I might lose it. I understand that not everyone can afford to donate, but every little bit helps. If you can’t help financially you can at least share the campaign. Click here for the GoFundMe campaign -Jessica Advertisements Continue reading WonderDogs
My field notes are almost all reflections because it was pretty much impossible to take notes and hold Belle. Continue reading “Field Notes”
I had been thinking about how I was supposed to look at the Wonder Dogs ring with new eyes. I mean it was new to me when I got there so I looked at with new eyes then, but I kind of didn’t.
The first thing I noticed when I stepped into class was the padded floor. I have been involved in a lot of sports in my life time (softball, soccer, karate, dance, color guard, tennis, track, field, and archery) and all I could see when I first got there was a weight/fitness room adapted for dogs. The obstacles were like weight machines, the floors like padding, it even had a mirror (which Belle constantly stared into).
I wondered how I was going to get my lookings done, observing a space with fresh eyes, when I had so much imprinted on this space already. Enter the GoPro. Continue reading “Lookings: My PoV and the GoPro”
During this last class we worked with dogs off leash–a little. And to my surprise, it will always be a surprise, Belle did not run away from me.
We only worked off leash with the weave poles. But let’s back up to the beginning of class.
We started with the teeter-totter/see-saw. Belle did not care one itty-bitty-bit that this thing moved. Our instructor placed a pause table under each end of the teeter-totter/see-saw so that it only moved a few inches while we got the dogs used to the obstacle. She also placed some rugs beneath each end so that it did not make a loud noise as each end came down. When it was 
Belle’s turn, she jumped up on the table, ran across the teeter-totter/see-saw, not caring at all that it moved, but didn’t stop in the contact zone. Instead, she ran to the other pause table and sat down. Continue reading “The Final Class And My Final Project”
Ok, I’ve been doing agility for about 21 years. What happened was, I had gotten this dog because I wanted an obedience trial champion and also I wanted to go into the breed ring with him–but he was very young–and very interested in all of the female dogs and he wasn’t paying attention to me.
Agility was very new at that time, so I decided I’d take up agility until he grew up a little bit–and I got hooked. Continue reading “Interview: Sally Gichner (agility instructor)”
I started agility at a local AKC club and then moved to a private instructor. I then moved to a different private instructor after a falling out with the first instructor.
The dog I’m running now refuses to do the “[pause] table” at trials. We are still working on this.
I was very nervous at my first competition and felt pushed into competing by my first instructor. With my current dog, I was very confident at her first trial. Continue reading “Interview: Lori Lednick”
I didn’t post for class #5 and we couldn’t go to class #6 because Belle was in heat but lemme tell you about class #7.
We were a small class this week and one of my instructors was not there. We had an addition to our class this week, a corgi named Max.
We started with the chute (closed tunnel) which Belle notoriously does not like. But we made some big progress tonight. At first she went half way in, backed out, then followed me around the tunnel. So my instructor folded up the chute and fed her treats while she went in the tunnel, but after every treat Belle backed out. She did eventually go through the whole chute but only once I was at the end.
I am beginning to wonder how long it will take her to run through the tunnel without me at the end of it. Continue reading “Class #7”
Finding scholarly articles for my topic was difficult, I imagine because Agility is actually pretty new, since it’s only been in America since the 1970’s. Most of the sources I found were about the experience, which is also what I’ve been focusing on in my own project.
I did find some Veterinary articles but they were so full of jargon that I was overwhelmed and couldn’t finish them. But I eventually found this article on VetStreet.com.
The article details seven common injuries for dogs and their treatments, but in laymen’s terms so that they are understandable for those of us without a medical degree. The article discusses: Continue reading “Drilling Down the Sources”
My GoPro came in last week and I immediately strapped it onto Belle. Just for the record: She hates the GoPro Fetch harness. But she’s getting more used to it each time I put it on her. I almost always have Belle on a leash so I mount the camera on her front so that it’s not constantly getting smacked by the leash. Without further ado: I give you Belle-O-Vision (BTV) Continue reading Who’s Ready for Some Belle-O-Vision!?
