There were big dogs, little dogs and a lot of dogs in-between but what was common was teamwork as the Moose Jaw Dog Club (formerly the Band City Dog Club) held their agility trials over the weekend in Moose Jaw.
The event brought out about 50 competitors and 75 dogs of various skill levels from Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The judges came from Alberta.
“It went really, really well…everything is ran pretty much by volunteers so everybody pitches in and does their little bit so it has been running good,” Tracey Cook trial secretary and president of the Moose Jaw Dog Club said about the three day event.
The event was an Agilities Association of Canada (AAC) accredited event. The AAC is one of the bodies who regulate how the agility events will be run through setting standards.
On Friday evening the three day event featured two steeplechase runs.
While on Saturday and Sunday there were four different runs - gamble, standard, jumper and snooker run - on three different levels. The levels are starters, advanced to masters with each dog and human having to qualify in so many runs to participate.
There were close to 200 individual runs both Saturday and Sunday.
“We have put through 200 runs per day so we have done pretty well,” Cook said.
The Club has both members and students and at the present time there is a waiting list of people wanting to bring their dog out to learn and participate.
“Our members are the ones who do most of the work. Taking care of our equipment, field, constructions and stuff like that. And then we have students that just come out to take part in our classes,’ she said.
Why Do People Join?
People participate “to do something with their dogs,” Cook said, adding “it stimulates their mind and it is good physical activity for them and it is good physical activity for the owner. It builds a good relationship with your dog.
It is a team sport. The dog and the handler have to work together. The handler tells the dog where they have to go and what they have to do. And the dog has to execute that.”
When Cook was asked if people joined in order to lose weight Cook said that was not happening.
“No, no they are here to have fun with the dog. The priority is to have fun with the dogs,” she replied.
“It is just about people coming out to have fun and spend some time with some great people and some great animals.”
Popularity
Asked how popular the dog sport of agility and obstacle courses Cook said it is popular not just locally but throughout the Prairies and beyond.
“We have got lots of classes and they are all full with dogs doing it recreationally or competitively…this trial was pretty much full. We just had a few spare runs and that is all we could do for people.”
The sport is growing with both regulars and new people getting involved. There is also a second and separate dog agility club in Moose Jaw - Forever Fun.
“We have had lots of new people out this weekend taking their dog for the first time in a trial. So it is for you to be aware there are people who have been involved for years but there are also new people coming along and stuff.”
How To Join
Anyone interested in training their dog may contact the Moose Jaw Dog Club through their Facebook page or their web-site. She said with a waiting list to be entered that if the Moose Jaw Dog Club was not able to make room that Forever Fun may be able to assist.
The monthly fee is $80 per dog. There is a rate reduction for a second entered into the program.
“People go onto a waiting list as we only have so much room.”
There is no required breed of dog required.
“We will take anything. Mixed breeds or purebreeds.. It is good if they are healthy and not over-weight. They are athletes basically. So you have to watch them the dogs don’t get too overweight and stay in good physical condition.”
