AKC Agility Nationals

Last week, I journeyed up to North Carolina for AKC Nationals. Tess & I did not qualify –  so I made the trek on my own.  I had a few roomies in my RV who were great company;  Carrie Jones, Jive, Twisty, & Tango. 

 The 4 days consisted of offering massage  from sun up to sun down.  I am very pleased to say all of my clients did well. 

In my opinion, after observing and maintaining dogs, the following is the key for success in such an environment as nationals. 

First, a good canine massage upon arrival followed by warm ups and cool downs,and light stretching before and after runs.

Second, keeping the dog hydrated, cool and happy with favorite treats & toys to help with a positive motivational mindset for the dog.

The third factor is the ability of the handler to cope with the stress of a nationals event.

My observation was first and foremost for the participant to enjoy the moment, take it all in and smile.

 I witnessed this through Oatsy with her wonderful lab Spring. She smiles before the run, during the run and after the run. “She gets it”.  I believe Oatsy was 5 for 5 for clean runs at her first nationals, congratulations!

Having the ability to keep calm and relaxed helps to overcome the stress challenge.  Controlled abdominal breathing appeared to help some competitors relax.

Competitors who stayed  energized and balanced by drinking  lots of fluids and eating small amounts of food throughout the day seemed to do well.

I did not get to observe many runs but I did see the finals run up close. The course was challenging but good fun for the dogs and competitors.

Congratulations to all the participants and particularly to my good friend Carrie Jones and Jive who came in 2nd in the 24″ division.

Next year, AKC Agility Nationals will be in Oklahoma. Tess and I have lots of work to do to earn a spot there. I’ll keep you posted on our progress…