Clean Run Magazine - July 2007 - 21

when I want it to. If someone else delivered the reward K.D. would run to them and have difﬁculty returning to me. With the help of my friends we now station people around the training area. They can either load a target when K.D. is not looking or toss a food container for a speciﬁc behavior. Although it took some trial and error to ﬁnd a container that I could open quickly, once we found one K.D.’s conﬁdence grew quickly. The most difﬁcult barrier that I have to face when running a course is making time. I have had to depend on K.D.’s ability to work at a distance so that I can get into position for the next sequence. By doing so K.D. actually compensates for my lack of speed. The front cross is one maneuver that I ﬁnd difﬁcult to execute. When I started agility, I never used it. With several years of practice, front crosses are becoming another handling skill, although I still only use them several times a year. AS: What type of courses do you like best and why? SNAPSHOT RH: Usually when I hear people commenting on how “tight” a course is, especially for the larger dogs, I know I’m going to like that course. One reason is K.D. can run this type of course very efﬁciently, now that she knows which body movement to pay attention to. Tight courses usually mean that I don’t have to run as much or as far. Another type of course that I like is one that will let me test K.D.’s distance training. These courses have sequences that contain pinwheels and sends to tunnels or contacts, and let me set a line for a series of obstacles. K.D. can complete these sequences independently, giving me the time I need to set up for the next sequence. AS: Do you find the agility community supportive of and accommodating to your special needs? © DOGHOUSE ARTS Handler: Ron Heller Home: Carlisle, Pennsylvania Age: 56 Occupation: Retired Information Technology Specialist for the federal government Dogs: Highlands Call of the Wild CDX, OA, AXJ, CGC/TDI, a.k.a. Bucky, 13-yearold Labrador Retriever Millstream’s Hide N Seek MX, AXJ, CGC/TDI, a.k.a. K.D., 6-year-old Golden Retriever. K.D. received Award of Canine Excellence (ACE) locally at the York County Dog Training club in Dillsburg, © ROXANNE FRANKLIN PH OTOGRAPHY Pennsylvania, on October 14, 2006, and nationally at the AKC Agility Championships in Long Beach, California, December 2 and 3, 2006. Most memorable agility moment: My ﬁrst qualifying run in Novice with Bucky Most forgettable agility moment: Letting my emotions dictate the way that I communicate with K.D. to the point that she thinks she is wrong and shuts down Favorite show or venue: AKC. Since a lot of talent and hard work goes into the running of agility trials, I can’t single one out as being my favorite. I had a good time at all of them. Best agility advice received: Focus on the accomplishments that you and your dog have made as a team on the agility ﬁeld and avoid dwelling on your mistakes. RH: Deﬁnitely. I know that if I need help with something, all I need to do is ask. I do have a core support group of friends with whom I train, who are always there to assist me. They help me get set up at the trial site, get K.D. excited before a run, and hand her off to me as we enter the ring; and they have a chair and K.D.’s buffet table ready at the end of our run. I do wish people would be more respectful of the needs of physically challenged competitors and spectators, and their need for handicapped parking. AS: What would you like to tell other folks with CP or other disabilities to encourage them to consider agility? RH: If people with disabilities think there is a remote possibility that they can do agility, I would most certainly encourage them to give it a shot. The friendships that can be made in this sport are wonderful. Also, the opportunity to participate and be successful in a physically demanding sport makes the agility experience an extremely satisfying goal to pursue. This type of experience is especially meaningful for handicapped individuals. AS: What does receiving the ACE award mean to you? RH: Receiving the ACE award means that K.D. has been recognized for taking my life in a direction that has given me more satisfaction than I ever thought possible. K.D. has become the bridge that has allowed me to cross the physical and social barriers that I have been trying to cross my whole life. D July 07 | Clean Run Amy Siegel, a retired IT professional, has three Aussies, Ray, Flirt, and Bodhi. She enjoys her dogs and agility in the Northeast. 21

Clean Run Magazine - July 2007

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run Magazine - July 2007