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 [...]
My field notes are almost all reflections because it was pretty much impossible to take notes and hold Belle.
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 [...]
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 [...]
When did you get in to agility and what interested you? What brought you to it? 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 [...]
Did you start agility by taking classes? What were they like and how long was it before your dog started showing confidence on the obstacles? 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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Did you start agility by taking classes? What were they like and how long was it before your dog started showing confidence on the obstacles? IF YOU DIDN'T TAKE CLASSES: How did you train your dog for agility? What was your dog's worst obstacle when s/he first started? What did s/he do? What [...]
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 [...]
