Clean Run - July 2017 - 5

I Quit! Maybe...
By Brenna Fender

Agility can be an all-encompassing sport: train the dog,
train the human, condition the dog, condition the human,
get the team working together... You know how it goes.
And all of these things (plus competing) take a lot of time,
money, and energy.
What happens if you stop having so much spare time and/
or money? What if you suffer an injury, or, God forbid, get
older and can no longer run very fast (or at all) or compete
in every class on every weekend?
"I can't run anymore. My knees are shot.
I'm going to quit agility."
"The sport has gotten too expensive..."
"I can't compete with all these younger handlers..."
"I can't do all this international handling..."
If you can't compete at the same levels in the same organizations as often, or in the same way, do you stop playing in
agility altogether? Do you have to give up a sport you and
your dog love because you can't compete in the same way
that you have in the past?
Of course you don't.
Agility-and especially American agility-is an amazingly versatile sport. Each agility organization has different
course designs, rules, and even costs per run, so there is
something available for almost everyone. You just have to
be willing to adjust your expectations.
I started competing in agility more than 20 years ago. I
was young and in reasonably good shape. I competed
three weekends out of every month (that's all that was
available or I would have done four!). I trained at my dog
club several nights a week. I worked and I did agility. That
was pretty much it.
Because I love training and competing with dogs in agility,
I've kept it in my life all these years, but my take on it sure

has changed. I've done agility while pregnant (twice-and
I've made some judges pretty nervous while doing it!). I've
competed without being able to run at all due to injury.
I've modified my frequency of participation and chosen
my organizations/trials carefully to make ends meet.
And I've adjusted my expectations to meet my reality. A
45-year-old mom of two busy children who take up most
of her time and money cannot attack the sport in the same
way her 25-year-old self could.
But she can still enjoy it.
In fact, with the benefit of perspective and life experience,
I can tell you with complete honesty that I enjoy agility
now even more than before. I'm glad I didn't quit because
my lifestyle/body/discretionary income level changed the
way I play the game. I would have missed out on so much
fun, so many interesting people, and all kinds of new
things to learn.
I know some people feel like they need to be able to be
good enough to place and win at trials to enjoy the sport.
They enjoy that thrill, that push that competitiveness can
bring. But there are many opportunities to introduce satisfying challenges, and even competition, into agility, even
if you aren't angling for a spot on a world team. Creating
and pursuing goals that interest you is the key.
So if and when you reach a time in your life when you realize that you can't play the game the way you once could,
don't assume that means you have to give it up altogether.
If you are tired of the sport or just want to try something
different, that's one thing. But if you truly love agility and
are crushed to think you have to stop playing, remember
that you don't. There are lots of ways to keep playing-and
enjoying-the game.
May the course be with you-for as long as you want it
to be.

Brenna Fender

Brenna Fender is a freelance writer and editor who works for Clean Run. She lives in Florida with her husband, two children, a Papillon (Spark), a Beagle (Wrigley), a
Border Collie (Tessa), her daughter's Chihuahua (Chase), and a variety of other creatures. Tessa has agility titles, UpDog Challenge disc achievements, and a Trick Dog
Champion Title. Over the years, Brenna's dogs have been titled in conformation, agility, Junior Hunter, Junior Courser, rally, obedience, and Canine Good Citizen. Brenna
can be reached at brennafender@gmail.com and you can visit her website at brennafender.com.
July 17 | Clean Run

http://www.brennafender.com

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