Clean Run - May 2017 - 52

The ideal chair. The typical wheelchair supported by Medicare tops out at 5 miles per hour. Judy Guillot recommends a
chair that can reach 12 miles per hour with decent torque and lithium batteries. Availability is slim and prices are high.
Philippa Armstrong has been fundraising for two years to purchase her current chair, which only goes 6 miles an hour,
but turns on a sixpence. "It was the price of a small car. And then I need a vehicle in which to transport it."
Cross training advantage. Dogs that run agility with wheelchair-bound handlers are also called on to assist their
handlers. Judy Guillot's dog is fast, and works well at a distance. He would prefer being a service dog around the house.
"He has such gusto no matter what he is doing, so it's just another shaping exercise."
It takes a village. Supportive family and friends. A trainer who is willing to think outside of the box. Someone to come
along to competitions to help move the chair, pick up poop, and other sundry tasks. Sponsors and patrons for financial
support. Patient judges, fellow competitors, and gate stewards.
On the plus side. One advantage in running from a wheelchair is not getting out of breath! Oh, and you can park right
next to the ring.
Surfaces. Handlers are limited to where they can compete by surfaces. Some wheelchairs do great on packed dirt, while
others can handle a sandy mix. Turf, however, is best for all mechanical chairs.

Jeanne Fogarty of Columbus, Ohio
Jeanne, a lifelong competitive athlete, began agility with her mixed breed dog after dealing with symptoms of her multiple sclerosis for 12 years. She could not run and was training in obedience, when she took an agility class. "I really wanted to do it. I got a personal
trainer, and worked to run again." As she had a better understanding of the sport, and her
mobility gradually worsened, IncrediPAWS trainer Susan Crank suggested she consider
a chair and learn the mechanics of handling in it while her dog was younger and her MS
was not so severe.

The chair she started with was insufficient. "I used it for walk-throughs, and to go
around the building, but I would get out of the chair to run the course." She recently
acquired a Segway fitted with a chair piece. It requires body motion to handle. "Susan
worked with me just to figure out how to move the Segway from place to place. You
have to learn to do that, and handle your dog. You have to have an independent desire
to do this, and people around you who want to help you figure it out."
She took a lot of lessons and did the best she could to do what they asked in the class.
"Now, with the chair, Susan and I do a lot of trial and error to see how we can make it
work." The rear cross is an example, "because you can't take a sidestep in a chair. You
have to have a vision of what you want the dog to do and figure out how to get there."
The Segway has been very freeing. "I'm not typical in that I could still walk when I got
my chair. I think it's important to give into the fact that the chair is not the end of your
world, but the beginning. I will take moving in a chair over anything. My dog is so
happy because we are going faster. She just wags her tail."
u A video of Jeanne competing is available. Watch at https://youtu.be/MQeXoglYiJ8 or
from the May 2017 play list on the Clean Run magazine YouTube channel. D

Sally Silverman is a freelance writer whose life has gone to the dogs. She and her husband share their hearts and their home with three Australian Shepherds. An avid
agility competitor, Sally is working on MACH3 with Bounce, who also has a PDCH, as well as many canine freestyle and herding titles. Java is now in AKC and USDAA
Masters and earned her PDP freestyle title. Sally is an active member of Y2K9s Dog Sports Club outside of Philadelphia, where she trains and teaches a variety of classes.
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Clean Run | May 17

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - May 2017