Local agility dog is tops in the nation

TROUT CREEK - A Trout Creek terrier was the top agility dog of her breed in the nation in 2013, according to recently released statistics from the American Kennel Club (AKC).

Lizzie, an eight-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier owned and trained by Jan Manning of Trout Creek, achieved her status based on scores she received in the 10 agility trials she and Manning attended during 2013 throughout Montana, Idaho and Washington.

Dog agility is a sport requiring humans to successfully guide their canine partners across a numbered obstacle course at top speed. The obstacles can include jumps, tunnels, fabric chutes, weave poles, seesaws, bridges and A-frames. A course typically has 15 to 20 obstacles and every course is different. The agility team never knows how the course will be laid out until they arrive at the trial venue that morning. The handlers are given eight minutes to familiarize themselves with the course by walking it without their dogs, after which they individually bring their dogs into the ring to run the course. A run typically takes 30 to 50 seconds to complete.

“It’s the ultimate in teamwork,” said Manning, who has been competing in agility for 17 years. Lizzie is her fourth agility dog; the first three were Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs which are known more for cart-pulling than agility. The sport is dominated by border collies, shetland sheepdogs (“shelties”) and other herding breeds who have natural ability for it but Manning enjoys owning and working with the atypical agility breeds. As a dog trainer, she has helped owners train every size dog for agility, from Mastiffs to tiny Yorkshire Terriers.

“Any dog can do agility, as long as he is sound and enjoys the activity,” Manning said. “The AKC encourages dogs of all breeds, and mixes, to compete in its trials. Dogs don’t all need to be lightning fast in order to succeed. They just need to be steady and dependable and to enjoy working closely with their handlers.”

Manning said Lizzie has always been dependable but is actually becoming faster as she ages.

“I wish I could say the same for myself,” Manning jokes. “We’d be even more successful if I were the fast, smooth handler she deserves.”

According to Manning, American Staffordshire Terriers, while not the true superstars of agility, are extremely athletic, trainable and they enjoy the social atmosphere of the sport.

“We see many of the same people at trials all year,” she explained. “Lizzie has her own little fan club. She’d probably actually rather just get petted by all her friends than run the course, but she does it for me.”

The team’s next goal is to earn a Preferred Agility Championship (PACH) title this spring. The championship requires an accumulation of points over the dog’s career competing at the “master” level. Lizzie began her agility career when she was a puppy and attained “master” status in 2012. She needs only a few more points to achieve the PACH.

Agility was the driving force behind the 2009 formation of the Huckleberry Hounds Agility Club. The club has since expanded its scope and been renamed Sanders County Dog Training Club, since it now offers obedience and specially classes as well as agility. The club is about 30 members strong. The agility faction still meets year-round most Sundays at Haven’s Arena in Trout Creek.

For information about the club and its classes, visit the club website at www.huckleberryhoundsagility.com.