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Continued from the previous page thing she loves. Today, at 88 years old, PHOTOS BY ANITA SOLBERG
achieved her goals in obedience training, Beverly is slowly resuming Fancy Lady’s
Beverly was out for a new challenge and training with the assistance of Gerry Dog Agility Association.
began agility training with her Shetland Brown, an internationally recognized
Sheepdog named Fancy Lady. agility trainer and competitor in the Beverly says there is no reason why, even
Agility competition is fast-paced and American Kennel Club and United States in our golden years, dog owners cannot
exciting to watch as these canine athletes get involved with agility training. In fact,
whip through a complicated course of Beverly says, “it’s beneficial to both you
A-frames, planks, hoops, jumps, chutes, and your dog. Agility training provides
tunnels and weave poles within a exercise, improves the human-dog bond
specific time. Agility ranks second only and relationship and gets our butts off
to confirmation competition, also known the couch.” In specific, Beverly points out
as the “canine’s beauty pageant.” four main benefits:
Beverly began honing Fancy Lady’s
training for competition soon thereafter, – Agility fulfills your dog’s natural
but was abruptly forced to stop when instinct to move. Before being
both of her legs were broken in a serious domesticated, dogs had to navigate
automobile accident in January 2016. Not through a variety of obstacles and
even this dramatic accident, however, barriers in pursuit of their prey.
could keep Beverly from pursuing the Jumping over fallen logs, squeezing
through vegetation, crawling under
66 | SUNRAYS NOVEMBER 2016 heavy brush and climbing steep slopes
was a daily event.
– It strengthens muscles, improves
coordination, increases endurance
and stimulates the dog’s brain.
– Because you run alongside your dog,
this activity provides you with a heart
healthy cardiovascular workout!
– Agility training is an activity which
requires both dog and owner to work
together. This working partnership
reinforces basic obedience commands,
strengthens dog and owner
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