Clean Run - June 2019 - 22

The author's husband giving a swim
lesson to foster dog Skye, who became a
professional trainer's star demo dog.

Interview the Dog's Caretaker
The caretaker may be the owner, a foster,
or a shelter worker who knows the dog.
Asking the right questions and knowing
where you're willing to compromise can
help reduce ambivalence. Ask all of the
questions below, select a few, or let them
inspire some of your own:
*

How long has the dog been
homeless? Pamela O'Day, AKC
Agility judge and an agility coach
since 1997, has achieved over 100
AKC titles in various sports, many
with rescues. She says, "Ask how
long the dog's been in rescue. Is the
dog mentally traumatized? How
long has he lived with noise, social
deprivation, constraint?" Disturbing answers aren't necessarily deal
breakers.You're just getting all the
history you can so you can make
wise accommodations and concessions.You're offering your heart and
home, and you want the dog to
thrive.
How long has the dog been in
his present situation? The longer
the dog has been in one place, the
more likely you'll see his true character. Ami Sheffield has volunteered
for Mini Aussie Rescue and Support
(MARS) for thirteen years, and her
dog Pixel is a four-time World Team
dog, a two-time European Open
dog, and two-time multi-ribbon winner at the IFCS Agility World Championships. "If I'm fostering," she says,
"I give the dog at least a week to
see if he comes out of his shell."
Other people say longer, up to and

courtesy of author

Monica Percival uses a toy on a rope
to test out young Dot's prey drive.

The author with her foster dog Chevy the
night before he went to his new home.

beyond a month. If the dog's been there a day and won't tug or take treats, he may
just be frightened. However, if the dog's been there months and won't engage, he
may not be the right dog.
*

Has the dog been spayed or neutered, and if so, when? You're scouting
for an athlete, so have this conversation. Ami Sheffield says, "Dogs who've been
spayed or neutered early may develop ridiculously long legs," making them prone
to injury and also affecting what height class they eventually have to compete in.
Her rescue "allows puppies to develop normally and wait until their growth plates
are closed, and we get a spay/neuter contract that includes that stipulation." If you
like the dog and can't find when or if the dog has been fixed, have a veterinarian
do an exam.

How old is the dog? Karen Holik prefers a rescue "closer to seven weeks."
Owner and trainer at On Course Agility, eleven-time World Team member, fivetime national champion, gold and silver medalist at the World Agility Open, silver
medalist at the FCI Agility World Championships, and bronze medalist at the IFCS
World Championships, Holik says, "I know a lot of older dogs turn out fine, but I
love to train puppies and want to be there every second." Ami Sheffield, however,
believes "an older dog can be perfect. Maybe there's a five-year-old who loves to
tug and is jumping over baby gates. If he's over two, you can go right into training;
his growth plates are closed, and he's potty-trained." Andrea Rigler targets six to
eighteen months, the earliest you can observe environmental confidence, size,
structure, and sound sensitivity. "You can see if the dog stays focused during high
distractions," Rigler says, "and has enough drive to push through those distractions." Diane Bauman says, "Even a well-bred puppy can be a gamble.You invest a
lot of time into the puppy before you discover poor structure or poor drive and
focus. With an older dog, what you see is what you get."

What records can you share? Everyone agrees, get all possible paperwork-
pedigree, relinquishment documents, veterinary records. Have them scanned and
emailed.

How big is the dog? Most interviewees agree you want a medium-sized dog for
agility. "Even within a breed like a Corgi, the dogs that do the best are mediumsized-larger small dogs and smaller large dogs," says Diane Bauman. "There are
always exceptions to the rule, but in general, the medium size tends to have the
easiest time with agility courses." The heavier the dog, the harder the landing.
Christina Cornwell Curtis, trainer at Carmel Dog Zone, Elite Performance K9s, a
rescue-to-service-dog program, prefers dogs under forty pounds.

Is the dog ever aggressive? Aggression can be a deal breaker. For some trainers, reactivity is manageable, and they even relish the challenge. Ami Sheffield
recommends asking, "Does he get along with other dogs? Exhibit food aggression?
Resource guard?" Know what you're willing and able to deal with and get this
Clean Run | June 19

Clean Run - June 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - June 2019