To run, or not to run

This is a topic I am passionate about. I find some shows hard, because I see dog's running that I feel like are in significant discomfort, even pain. I see dog's that are stressed.

It's especially close to my heart considering I am planning Chace's retirement from agility. Not because her performance has deteriorated, or she has an injury. She's actually in the best physical form of her life. However she's had many years of agility being more stressful than being as fun as I had hoped for her. She loves the running, and doing stuff with me, but unfortunately, agility involves dogs (lots of them!) which she finds extremely scary. So we're starting nosework, and some other bits and pieces to keep her 'working' while we start winding down her agility. 

I know I'm lucky. I still have two other sound dogs that love agility to run. 

I urge NZ agility competitors to start treating their agility partners like that athlete that they are. Give them amazing nutrition. Clear consistent and highly reinforced training. Give them consistency between training and the ring. Have a specific fitness program supervised by an appropriately qualified person, and give their body the attention, checks, and treatments that high performing athletes require. Because they deserve it. 

Here's the article. I'll link to the PDF version on the Dog Agility site when it's available: