Clean Run Magazine - September 2008 - 13

Pool Resources at Home Rather than purchase an entire course worth of agility equipment just for you, pool resources with other handlers nearby (especially in remote areas). Huddle Up On the Road Find compatible handlers and dogs to drive and room with when you travel to trials, and don’t be afraid of hotel costs. Right now, with gas prices so high, an overnight stay might be cheaper than driving home and back. Space Your Dogs Out Rather than run two, three, or more dogs that are all about the same age, consider putting strategic gaps by age between your veteran and novice dogs. For some, that’s a gap of three years. For others, it might go as high as six years. This strategy puts some financial breathing room between your intensive training times and your intensive trialing times. “If you’re going to have a part-time job or start a small business, do something that’s really going to make some money.” Silvinia Bruera, a handler from Milpitas, California, started an agility video service (Agility in Motion) to give her husband something to do at trials. A computer programmer by training, Bruera estimates that she spends $6,500 a year on the sport.“As our service became more popular,” she says,“it took more of my time, until it became my full-time job.” Even with her success, Bruera warns others only to pursue new work opportunities they really enjoy.“You will be merging work with your hobby,” she says.“If your new job doesn’t give you back positive experiences, you will start to dread your hobby, too.” Financial expert Bolson warns to approach such moneymaking endeavors with your eyes open. Don’t kid yourself about expenses or how much you’re really making. She also points out that adding another responsibility can overload an already busy life, which might take a mental and physical health toll. Plus, she says, “If you’re going to have a part-time job or start a small business, do something that’s really going to make some money. Remember, when you’re in business for yourself, no one guarantees you a minimum wage.” If you want to keep things simple, Liz Pulliam Weston, author of Easy Money and personal finance columnist for MSN Money, suggests seeking a raise or promotion at your current job or finding a better paying job elsewhere. She says another source of one-time income is selling stuff you no longer need through yard sales, Craigslist, eBay, or consignment stores. Ways to Earn Some handlers prefer to earn more money, rather than scrimp elsewhere to afford their agility habits. While second jobs are certainly an option, many people start some sort of dog-related business or moonlight opportunity, be it treats, toys, photos, video, or equipment. Kelly Misegadis, a handler from Colorado Springs, Colorado, currently runs two Boston Terriers. Last year, she spent about $4,000 on agility. Most of that went to trialing and travel since her training expenses amount to just a few seminars. Misegadis’s on-the-side earning began with dog cookies about six years ago. She added tunnel sales four years ago. She opened a dog training school nearly two years ago, and now she even has a little retail store, which carries raw food, among other things. Currently,she still works as a project manager for a teleconferencing company, but she hopes to cut that loose by November 2009.“My goal is to live in Dog America instead of Corporate America,” she says.“There wasn’t anything I wanted to buy into (like a franchise), so I said what the heck and founded my own company.” The trick, she says, is not to assume just one thing is going to do it all.“The business can’t afford all my agility yet,” she admits,“but it’s just one stepping stone at a time. It’s not just one magical thing that pays for agility. Just take little steps, and over time, those little steps add up.” © Clean Run While researching agility spending, countless people cringed, shrugged, and turned red when asked what their total annual costs were. Some honestly had no idea, or flat out said they didn’t want to know. September 08 | Clean Run 13

Clean Run Magazine - September 2008

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run Magazine - September 2008