A Call To Action!

Catch some air at Action Paws Dog Agility Training Center!

Come one, Come all, Come big, Come small!

No, it isn't the opening lines of a Dr. Seuss book! At Dublin Animal Hospital, we are issuing a call to action - and challenging you to get out and do something fun with your dog this summer!

Not only will you have a very thankful four legged buddy, but we are willing to bet you'll catch yourself having a great time, too!

Maybe you're burned out on trips to the dog park? Getting tired of the same old sights and sounds on your daily walks? Action Paws Dog Agility Training has the cure for the status quo! If your faithful friend doesn't happen to be of the Border Collie variety, don't count yourselves out. From Golden Retrievers to Chihuahuas, any healthy dog can do agility. Meldona, owner and trainer at Action Paws, teaches agility classes from Beginner to Advanced experience levels to dogs and their handlers. And while she does have students who compete - it is not a requirement to take a class. She encourages agility as not only a fantastic way to get active with your dog, but also as a very unique bonding experience.

When Donette was bitten by the agility bug and began bringing her Chihuahua mix, Fiona, to Action Paws, she knew that it would be a great way to build Fiona's confidence up.
What she did not anticipate was that her son, Andrew, would want to get involved with his dog Winston. Now agility lessons are a family affair, with Andrew and Winston always striving to outdo Mom and Fiona!

Now Donette enjoys the unexpected benefit of bonding time with her pre-teen son as well! Andrew isn't the only kid who has fallen hard for agility. Sisters Teri and Jackie, with their buddies Snickers and Bolt, love coming to Meldona's classes each week.

In order for kids to take part in agility classes with their dogs, they must be able to follow instructions, stay focused in class, and be committed to putting in the work. Children are permitted to take agility classes with their dogs at Meldona's discretion.

 Still think agility isn't for you? Maybe you're afraid your dog is too shy - or even too outgoing to focus on agility! In Meldona's class, the dogs' dispositions are as varied as their size. For the shy dog, agility can be a confidence booster. For the social butterfly, a tool to build obedience and focus skills.




No cheating, Jack!



Shy guy "Jack" decides that he wants the treat more than he dreads the heights!



Every dog starts out at the Beginner Level, and positive reinforcement in the form of treats is used to encourage dogs to try out some of the more forboding equipment. At the Advanced Levels, dogs are darting in and out of weave poles, through tunnels, and over obstacles like they were born to it. And one would even swear they were smiling all the way through!

Agility really is a "contact" sport!

We've established that agility is for small dogs, big dogs, shy dogs, and loud dogs. It's for people who want to compete, and for people who want to share a special bond with their four legged friend. Agility is for adults, and agility is for kids. Is agility for you?

Do you have fun ideas for getting active with your pet this summer? We'd love to feature them on our blog!
Email: jenn.dublinanimalhospital@gmail.com