Mustard & Pepper Winter 2022

Agility

the Dandie Dinmont was on display at the Royal Canin AKC National Dog show in Orlando this year, and the conformation ring wasn ’ t the only place you could find our breed. In Agility, Kim O ’ Neill and her 11½ - year - old Dandie, “ Alyx ” —also known as CH PACH2 Ando's Brandy Alyxandra BN RA NA NAJ MXP13 MXPB2 MJP11 MJPC PAX3 NFP T2BP SWE SCM SBM RATN— sparkled in the Agility ring, completing the jumps and

by Mary Downs Agility is a sport where you direct your dog through a pre - set obstacle course within a certain time limit. Courses typically have between 14 - 20 obstacles, which can include tunnels, weave poles, tire jumps, seesaws, and pause tables where the dog must stop for a set amount of time. At each trial you and your dog race around the unique courses designed for that day. All of this is done with your dog relying solely on the cues and

weaves on course to the delight of onlookers. Alyx is the first Dandie to achieve the coveted Master of Agility Champion title. AKC ranks the top dogs in each breed and Alyx has been the top Dandie repre- sentative in Agility for the last five years. Dandies are strong and tough terriers, and it is im- portant to keep their minds and bodies active as they age. When you see a veter- an dog run an agility course looking fit and

body language you use to direct them on course. Each dog competes in their appropriate height division, so they are never jumping obstacles too high to be safe for them. It is a challenging and fun game that requires con- sistent training and rein- forcement of skills learned. Agility dogs and their handlers must develop a strong bond centered around communication and the ability to read is to ensure dogs are ma- ture physically and men- tally, and hopefully have the foundation training needed to succeed. Watching any dog com- plete an agility course is impressive, but to see a senior dog doing it, and doing it at the level Alyx is at really makes you stop and appreciate how much love, care and time has gone into making that happen.

healthy, it is something that needs to be celebrated. As breeders or owners, we must remain committed to health testing as well as encouraging owners to get out there and do more with their dogs. Seeing our dogs par- ticipating and excelling in performance events is a great way to get them in the public eye and perhaps invite new people into the breed once they have seen what our charming little dogs are capable of doing. I would encourage every- one to take a moment to check out what types of performance events their local breed clubs are offer- ing and try out something new. Dandies can do well in performance sports and it keeps their bodies and minds fit. 

what the other is thinking at they navigate the course together. Dogs can not enter and compete in their first agility trial until they are 15 months of age or older. This

Long dominated by Border Collie, Parson Russell, Papil- lion and other leggy, fast breeds, the sport welcomes all breeds and is yet another opportunity for spectators and other competitors to meet our breed. The versatility of

Mustard & Pepper

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Winter 2022