Run run Sprinty run run run Sprinty run run!
By Gina Spadafori
July 25, 2009
What I really, really love about Sprinty and T-Rod? I get to be related to the fastest agility dog in the world (Sprint is my McKenzie’s littermate), and I don’t have to spend hardly any time training my own dog to bask in the reflected glory.
This morning, the West Coast regionals of the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge were aired on ESPN (check listings for repeats). I can’t find the ESPN video, but I did find this amateur vid of their winning run.
T-Rod and Sprinty are all set for the nationals. Run, Sprinty, Run!
Gina, I actually got tears in my eyes watching this video. There’s nothing quite like watching a dog do what he or she just LOVES to do… and it is clear that Sprint LOVES what she is doing here.
The dedication is also unmistakable. Both of them working together… a thing of absolute beauty!
At first I thought “my, what a short course!” and then watched it back and realized it was simply the fact that she whizzed through it so effortlessly!
Sprint has just earned another fan!!
And of course, McCutie and Faith get props for being in the circle of fame! ;O)
Comment by Kim — July 25, 2009 @ 2:41 pm
Beautiful job! T-Rod is pure pleasure to watch handle her dog: no samuri sword swishing ( arm flailing), no butt handling ( bending at the waist to dog level and thrusting fanny at the audience), no clapping and cheering and shouting “weave, weave” ad nauseum, no call offs, no yelling, just a few well placed verbal commands, excellent use of shoulders and timely positioning! Very very pretty and smooth, the way an AG team should be and so often isn’t!
Comment by Anne T — July 25, 2009 @ 2:48 pm
My brother the football coach, who can see every inch of a defense develop and know how a play will end when it is just starting, knows nothing about canine agility. Or really, about dogs.
I dragged him to a trial to see T-Rod and Sprinty, because it was close and we were going to grab a bite afterward.
He watches them run, and he gets as charged up as when he sees a perfect defensive call play out. He notices everything T-Rod did, the subtle body positioning that no one but a top agility competitor would usually see.
He tells me three things Teresa did during the run that I didn’t even notice, and he said had no idea a dog was even capable of that incredibly high level of communication — while running, turning and jumping at full speed, no less.
Coach Joe was impressed, to say the least!
Comment by Gina Spadafori — July 25, 2009 @ 6:37 pm
What a great run, and a great team. My Fav part was the start line when she kissed her head. Great handling - she makes it look so easy! I can’t believe more people don’t want Flat Coats after reading your blogs about them, I know I do! Did she get one of your pups?
Comment by Nancy Freedman-Smith CPDT — July 26, 2009 @ 4:34 am
I have to comment again, as this is such a beautiful run. Love those running contacts and Teresa’s confidence in Sprint to let her do her job on hitting those yellow zones and nailing her pole entries.That’s training! No micro managing with this team. My fav spot though has to be when Sprinty barks at the start line, Teresa turns back at her and stops,reinforces the stay and as soon as Teresa turns her head & shoulders away, Sprinty hops forward while maintaining a sit. So much more canine creativity than the BC ‘creep’!Lol!
I love it when ABCs ( All But Collies) reach this level of competition!
Comment by Anne T — July 26, 2009 @ 5:42 am
No, she didn’t take one of Sprinty’s nieces. She came up from SoCal to evaluate the litter, but she specifically wanted a girl, and one of the boys was the only one that showed the high-end intensity, focus and drive she was looking for. All the puppies went into homes as family pets and companion/competitionhunting dogs — with the notable exception of my Faith — but none of the three girls said, “I’m the ONE!” to T-Rod.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — July 26, 2009 @ 6:30 am
Wow - I’m blushing at all the awesome comments. Thank you all! And, as far as Gina’s puppies are concerned - there was a girl that caught my eye as well, but if I took her, Gina wouldn’t have her Faith today. It was more important for Gina to get to keep that little one!
Comment by Teresa Rodney — July 26, 2009 @ 9:45 am
I had never seen Sprint and Theresa run until I watched them on ESPN. All I have to say is WOW!!! They are an amazing team. Great communication and so well connected. Sprint knows exactly where she is going and what to do every step of the way. No misunderstandings there!
Comment by CLynch — July 26, 2009 @ 10:55 am
Wow!
Comment by Verde — July 27, 2009 @ 11:22 am
Just amazing! Beautiful to watch. And you can tell how much Sprint loves it!
Comment by Original Lori — July 27, 2009 @ 1:18 pm
That is just truly awesome. I’m “allergic” to agility (preferring competitive obedience), but it’s mostly because I don’t have the opportunity to see agility done at that level. So many agility competitors seem to prefer to do things on the fly instead of training and preparing. That was a thing of beauty. They made it look so easy. Only the best-trained, hardest-working and most-prepared can make something like that look that easy.
Comment by Deanna — July 28, 2009 @ 5:20 pm
I do have to say nephew Dooley is taking to his puppy agility class like a duck to water. Long bendy tunnels, no problem, tippy boards, teeters slamming on the floor, NO SWEAT! As soon as he figures out what gets him, Click, treat, He’s got it! Now the trainer has to be smarter than the dog. Talk about a challenge.
Comment by Verde — October 7, 2009 @ 6:14 am