Agility is a sport for any dog and any dog owner. It is a team sport in which the handler (owner) directs their dog, off-leash, through an obstacle course in a race for both time and accuracy. Both the owner and dog must work together in order to complete the course.

Any dog can be trained for agility (including my three-legged dog Serena), but training takes time and hard work. There are many people who take training classes and who have no interest in competing. Agility, even if you never want to compete, helps to form a stronger bond between you and your dog. If you have a high-energy dog, then agility is definitely for you. Agility teaches your dog how to focus and harness his energy in a productive manner. You will have a better well-behaved dog if you take agility classes.

How Can I Start?

First, your dog must be healthy. You should check with your veterinarian before starting any new dog sport. Your dog should be a healthy weight. Overweight dogs will have a more difficult time because the extra weight will add more pressure to their joints when they jump and run. If your dog is overweight, talk to your veterinarian about how to help him lose weight.

Once your pet has been given a clean bill of health by your veterinarian, then you should find agility classes in your area. Most agility classes will require that your pet knows basic obedience prior to starting agility. If your dog doesn’t know basic obedience commands (sit, down, stay, come) then you should take a class. To find a trainer in your area please visit the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. For most dogs, it takes about one to two years of training before they are ready to compete. Never fear! During training you and your dog are developing a team bond by learning how to work together. Your dog stops becoming just your pet…he is now your teammate.

How Do I Compete?

There are roughly 11 different agility organizations in this country (about 21 worldwide), and each of them offers something a little different. They all offer agility, but they may have slightly different rules, offer different agility games, or offer varying degrees of competitiveness. They all stress the importance of having fun. Some only allow purebred dogs, while others allow any breed, including mixed. It’s important to check to see if your dog is allowed to compete with that particular organization. Speak to your agility instructor about which organization is best for you and your dog. Once you decide on what organization is best suited for you, you will need to register with that organization before you can compete. You can register in multiple organizations. A list of agility organizations and their websites can be found at Cleanrun.com.

What Can I Expect During Competition?

All organizations and clubs provide a fun and friendly atmosphere. Everyone, at some point, was a beginner, and they are willing to help you. Most trials generally start very early in the morning, around 8am, and they last all day until about 5-6pm. You will want to bring plenty of food and water for both you and your dog. Be sure to bring chairs and your own shade if it’s outdoors (like a tent or umbrella). Most trials provide a running order for the day that lists the order the dogs will compete in. It’s up to you to make sure you don’t miss your run. When it’s your turn, you position your dog, remove all leashes and collars, and you’re off! Then it’s up to you and your dog to work as a team to complete the course. I can tell you that both the dog and owner can make mistakes. On more than one occasion I have been the cause of my dog making a mistake in the ring! The biggest thing to remember is to have fun!

For More Information On Agility:

www.cleanrun.com

www.petplace.com (search keyword: agility)

www.dogpatch.org/agility

www.wikepedia.org (search keyword: dog agility)

For More Information on Overweight Dogs:

www.petobesityprevention.com

vetmedicine.about.com (search keyword: obesity)

www.peteducation.com (search keyword: obesity)

www.petplace.com (search keyword: obesity)

Enjoy reading the Halo Purely For Pets blog? Subscribe to our RSS feed so you’ll never miss an update!

One month later, my tripod made her comeback in agility as a three-legged dog. She stole the show and proved to every four-legged dog that she was a force to be reckoned with. Three years later, she has one champion title and continues to earn points towards a second title.

If your pet just recently experienced an amputation, or if you are facing such a decision right now, you should know that having a pet with three legs doesn’t mean they will have a poor quality of life. From my own experience, the human has a harder time with the amputation then the pet.

Most diseases or injuries that require a pet to have a leg amputation are painful. By removing the painful limb, the animal can start to heal. Most pets will be up and walking on three legs about 8-12 hours after surgery. Although I work in a veterinary clinic and have dealt with many amputees, the initial shock of seeing my own dog as a three-legged dog is something I will never forget. Once Serena was fully recovered from surgery, I followed some simple steps to ensure that she would be as happy as any “normal-abled” pet.

1. Keep your tripod a healthy weight. This is one of the most important things you must do as an owner. If your tripod is overweight, even by a couple of pounds, it will mean more stress on the remaining three limbs. Many owners want to over-indulge their tripods with food because they feel bad for them, but don’t forget your tripod thinks having three legs is normal! Obesity is a serious problem for many four-legged pets, but it is even a bigger problem if they have three legs.

How do you know if your pet is overweight and what can you do about it? Check out these websites:

www.petobesityprevention.com

http://vetmedicine.about.com (search keyword: obesity)

www.peteducation.com (search keyword: obesity)

www.petplace.com (search keyword: obesity)

2. Once your tripod has recovered from surgery, start exercising! Be sure to talk to your veterinarian first to ask about what kind of physical activity and how much is appropriate for your pet. Tripods can still pounce, wrestle with their dog and cat friends and go for hikes in the woods. Too many owners think that their disabled pet isn’t allowed to exercise. This causes a decrease in muscle mass and makes it harder for these animals to get around.

3. Talk to your veterinarian about a formal physical therapy program. It’s important to build up muscle mass on the remaining three legs. If your dog was not an active dog prior to amputation, then it is very important that he becomes an active dog now. Physical therapy centers have trained individuals that use techniques and tools, such as underwater treadmills and exercise balls, to help keep your three-legged pet active.

4. Don’t overly baby your disabled pet. Immediately after surgery you can spoil your pet silly, but then you must take steps to make life as normal as it was prior to the amputation. Many owners will reinforce attention-seeking behaviors, causing the pet to act out for the owner’s attention. One example is a Labrador who, after an amputation, trained his owners to sleep on the floor with him. If they tried to sleep in a bed, he would start howling and crying until they came back to the floor. The owners had slept on an air mattress for over six months because they had overly spoiled their tripod!

5. Ask for help. Your pet isn’t the only tripod out there. It’s normal for your three-legged pet to be a little slower, but most everything they use to love doing they should be able to do. There are many joint supplements and pharmaceuticals available to help your pet be just as active as they were when they had four legs. Halo makes an all-natural hip and joint supplement that contains glucosamine and chondroitin, which builds collagen and helps maintain cartilage. If there’s something your pet use to enjoy, but seems to struggle with now, ask your veterinarian for advice. There are many support groups and tripod owners to help you!

It’s important to realize that an amputation doesn’t mean your pet will live a life of lying around doing nothing. On the contrary, most disabled pets go on to live very active lives. Just ask Faith. She is the famous two-legged dog that walks upright. Faith has led a very active life walking around on two legs. Check out her amazing pictures and video on her website: www.faiththedog.net.

For more information on amputations please check out:

www.petplace.com (search keyword: amputation)

Enjoy reading the Halo Purely For Pets blog? Subscribe to our RSS feed so you’ll never miss an update!

I am very excited to be part of the Halo blogging community! I look forward to providing you informative and entertaining articles about the animals in our lives, including vacationing with and without your pet, common dog behavior challenges and how to protect your pet during a disaster. You are likely wondering who am I and what, exactly, do I know.

Well, I always knew I wanted to work with animals. When I was 13 years old I sent away to the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School for an application. As I got older I realized that becoming a doctor wasn’t for me, but being a veterinary technician was. Now as an adult I can safely say I’ve “gone to the dogs,” as well as to the cats, birds, rats, fish, rabbits and so on and so forth.

My life has always been about animals. I grew up with a wonderful beagle named Molly. She was my best friend. Today I am surrounded by Matte, Meeko, George, Serena and a bowl of fish. Each one of them is amazing, and I am blessed to have them in my life. Both Meeko and Serena are accomplished agility dogs. However, Serena always steals the show since she is a three legged agility champion (and one of the only ones in the entire country). Matte is a fantastic fashion-savy, pink hoodie-wearing feline. George actually holds the Guinness Book of World Records as the Oldest Living Rabbit. And, well, the fish, they help to provide a sense of peaceful tranquility in my hectic life. I am equally as blessed to have a wonderful husband, Joe, in my life. He is so wonderful that I know he completely understands why he’s not included until after the pets.

You’re likely wondering exactly what do I do? Well, I am a veterinary technician (board certified in emergency and critical care). Technicians are the unsung heroes of the veterinary world, just like those human nurses. We are the ones who care for the pets after the diagnosis has been made, and that fact alone is why I decided not to become a doctor. I wanted to be the one to treat and care for the pet.

I also run my own behavior business: Citizen Canine. I specialize in dog behavior problems and one-on-one obedience for older dogs. Usually the behavior problem is just a misunderstanding between both parties. One of my greatest joys is being able to save the relationship between dog and owner.

About 9 years ago I learned of a group of veterinary professionals who were part of a federally deployed disaster team for animals. I knew right away this was something I wanted to be a part of. My first deployment was 9/11. I still wear the emotional scars from that deployment, but I am so proud of the support our team provided to the search and rescue dogs while we were there. Since then I have been deployed to an avian influenza disaster and Hurricane Katrina. My involvement with animals in disasters now includes a state organization where I have helped to organize the veterinary response for my state. From veterinary technician to dog behavior to disaster medicine, my life has taken many different twists and turns.

My life, as I am sure is the same for many of you, would be empty without my animals. They make me smile and laugh even on my most challenging days. They have taught me to wake up and take a moment to stretch, to stop and sniff the morning air, to enjoy a sun spot on the floor and to take a moment to say hello to a stranger walking by. I am smarter, happier, funnier and live a better life because of my pets, and that is what I definitely know.

Enjoy reading the Halo Purely For Pets blog? Subscribe to our RSS feed so you’ll never miss an update!

Dancing with dogs is actually not a new phenomenon, as the dog sport of musical canine freestyle has existed since the late ‘80s. Emphasizing training and teamwork, canine freestyle competitions are held throughout the world to recognize extraordinary dog/human dance partners.

Enjoy reading the Halo Purely For Pets blog? Subscribe to our RSS feed so you’ll never miss an update!

• The Adventures of Spencer: A Mascot Dog’s Blog
Spencer, a 10-year-old golden retriever, is the focus of this journal. Though originally trained for film work, Spencer has since retired from the biz and is now chronicling his life as the mascot for a Los Angeles video production company.

• Mary-Margaret’s Diary
The daily diary of an adorable Yorkie, this blog features lots of photos and video of Mary-Margaret. She is soon to make her acting debut in the upcoming WE series F.L.I.P. Mysteries — check her out before she skyrockets to fame!

• To Aire is Divine
If you like Airedale Terriers, this is the blog for you! The journal of Bogart Handsome Devil is loaded with photos of the Airdale pup and his four feline companions. A very web-savvy pooch, Bogart even has his own MySpace page!

• The Days of Johann, an Agility Dog
Rescued by an animal shelter as a puppy, Johann has been training in agility for the past three years. Check out this blog to read about the life of this 2007 Cynosport World Games Dog Agility Grand Prix finalist.

• Too Cute Pugs
Check here for the life and times of pugs Pearl and Daisy. Features include “Pug Thoughts Monday,” where readers are encouraged to write captions for photos of the pups. They even allow their human mommy to show off her pug-related crafts in this blog.

Cat lovers, don’t think we’ve forgotten about you! Check back in upcoming weeks for a feature on the most entertaining kitty blogs!

Enjoy reading the Halo Purely For Pets blog? Subscribe to our RSS feed so you’ll never miss an update!

Getting a dog is easy for some people, but it wasn’t easy for me because my parents didn’t allow one. That’s why it took me 20 years to get my first dog — a beagle, not an easy breed to work with. I have been told many times that working with a dog like Xsara was simply not possible, and that I shouldn’t have high expectations. Luckily, I didn’t listen to any of them, and I really wanted to try working with her anyway.

I admit that training her wasn’t easy and it’s still hard work, but I am proud to say that at four years old she can do pretty much anything a border collie could do – she can run practically any agility course without faults, do hundreds of tricks and impress any obedience judge. We compete on practically every agility trial in our country and sometimes abroad, and she never lets me down; every mistake that happens on course is always my fault.

Xsara is the reason why I believe that any dog can do pretty much anything their handler wants, as long as they are willing to train and work for it. In addition, I strongly believe that work is good for dogs. After all, that is what they were bred for. And I am always amazed by how much dogs actually love to work with us, if the methods of training are dog friendly. Of course, some dogs need more motivation than others, but if the handler can make work interesting enough, there are practically no limitations.

There are so many canine disciplines to choose from, so anyone can find something that suits their personality and that the dog will enjoy. And anybody who has ever seen the enthusiastic look on a working dog’s face will tell you that the training will eventually pay off – big time!

Watch Xsara in action and read more about her at Agility Beagle Xsara.

Enjoy reading the Halo Purely For Pets blog? Subscribe to our RSS feed so you’ll never miss an update!

Flyball: These races involve teams of four dogs competing in relay fashion to complete a 51-foot long course. The course consists of a series of jumps, which lead to an automatic tennis ball launcher that the dogs must trigger and then retrieve the ball. There are over 375 active flyball clubs registered in North America, so there is likely to be a local team that your dog can compete with.

Agility: A good way to promote both dog health and obedience, agility is a sport that involves completing a timed obstacle course. Dog agility courses are commonly made up of hurdles, ramps, tunnels, see-saws, and tire jumps.

Canine Freestyle: Does your dog have a flair for musical interpretation? If so, canine freestyle might be right for your dancing dogs. In this competition, training and teamwork are emphasized as dog and handler work together in a choreographed performance set to music.

Disc Dog: If your dog enjoys playing frisbee, disc dog is likely to be an enjoyable event for him. Events include distance catching, which is your basic game of toss and fetch, as well as freestyle catching, where dogs are rewarded for canine athleticism and showmanship.

Rally: In this sport, dogs and their handlers complete a 10-20 station course. Instructions are placed at each station explaining the skill that must be performed. Although similar to obedience courses, canine rally is a good choice for beginners, as it is not scored as strictly as traditional obedience competition.

Enjoy reading the Halo Purely For Pets blog? Subscribe to our RSS feed so you’ll never miss an update!