I’m Lisa Barrett. I teach, judge, and write about dog agility. Truth be told, I am addicted to dog agility. I love the way the sport celebrates our bond with our dogs. It’s an emotionally stimulating sport. And USDAA is always mentally challenging –I always need to analyze the course and figure out the best way for me to show my dog the path to follow. Agility is an exquisite dance with our dogs, and it is always fun because it’s a game we play with our dogs.
Dog Agility is the MOST FUN you can have with your dog!!! I teach for fun and competition. Any dog can have fun with agility. All but one of the many organizations that sponsor agility in the U.S. welcome all dogs–short or tall, mixed breed or purebred. The only exception is AKC, which permits only purebred dogs.
Teaching: I teach private agility lessons in Huntington, VT and Williston, VT. You can reach me at mytmutts@yahoo.com, or 802 434-2744. I teach dogs and handlers of any age, any ability, and any goals.
I also teach the following group classes at The Dog School in Williston and Huntington:
Competition Agility
Preparing for Competition
Weave Poles
A-Frame Contacts
Jumping Skills
You can reach The Dog School at www.thedogschool.biz
And this winter I’m teaching a class for NOMAD on Distance Skills.
Judging: I’ve been judging Advanced and Starters classes at USDAA (US Dog Agility Association) trials since 2001. I enjoy judging because I like to set a relaxed, fun tone for the nervous handlers. And it’s always fun to watch the dogs, particularly in Starters and Advanced. The dogs are so honest and try so hard to do what their handlers ask.
Writing: I currently write a bimonthly column about Shelter Dogs who have become Champions for Clean Run Magazine. For several years I wrote a column analyzing Gamblers courses and about training dogs to work at a distance.
Competing: I’m currently running my little mixed breed, Fly. I refer to him as a “Teacup Mastiff” because that’s his personality. Fly runs in USDAA Masters, and he has earned his Bronze Snooker Championship and his Jumpers Championship. He has won two local Grand Prix classes. We are training through his extreme aversion to performing the table. Here’s Fly doing his favorite thing:
Fly Flies!
For many years, I ran Jenny, my Shelter Hound. Jenny earned her USDAA MAD and her Jumpers and Snooker Championship. Jenny was also a Semi-Finalist in 1998 and 1999 at the USDAA Grand Prix National Championships. She is now 14 or 15 years old, and was diagnosed with chronic kidney failure in March 2008. Thanks to advice from the on line advise from the K9 Kidney diets yahoo group, Jenny has a new lease on life. She is once again running and playing. She even throws her ball down the hill and runs after it. She gets 500 ml of subcutaneous fluids every other day, and is getting a nutritious high-protein, low phosphorus homemade diet. She also gets Chinese herbs every day and occasional acupuncture from Nate Heilman at Qi Vet Clinic. Here’s sweet Jenny:
Sweet Jenny
