THE START

In 1996 when I watched a television program about dog training I became very enthusiast and decided to start agility- training with my dog Cindy, a female black Labrador Retriever, 5 years old then.
I already had some experience with Obedience training because I train my dogs myself to assist me with picking up things from the floor, opening/ closing doors, assisting me with shopping and accompany by taxi.

We have trained a lot in regular training programs and obtained various agility certificates which enabled us to enter agility competitions organized by Cynophilia, a Dutch organization for dog training. In these competitions I 'm the only handler using an electric wheelchair. I have always encountered complete acceptation and enthusiasm and support from the regular handlers.

Cindy on a fun-course with only tube-tunnels ( one with three together)
and flat- tunnels

Cindy obtained her first and last "excellent".
( K.C. Zoys 06-09-1998)

In 1999 Cindy was not able to compete anymore because of her state of health and start enjoying a well-deserved retirement.

She died on 13-07-2004 after a tumour. She had a wonderful doglive.
Till the last day she have worked very anthousiast as service-dog.

With her help I have started agility......Thanks very much Cindy!

With my dog Quita, also a female black Labrador Retriever, I started agility- training at an earlier age. Quita came with us the end of 1999.

In 2001 we entered our first agility competition and she has shown to be very capable for dog sports (training). She enjoys it very much, which is very important to be successful.

She obtained her three "Excellent" qualifications so she promoted to the second level B1( I must honestly say I never expected us to achieve this level).

Quita obtained her 3e "excellent "
( HSV W.I.K. 31-03-2002)

Demonstration of Quita on the WC workingdogs (Belgium 2003)

In 2002 we have take part into the 1e ParAgility World Cup in Hungary and came back as Champion of the group large dogs (8 total ).
That gives us a reward for all our training!

On 10-05-05 Quita was been operated on her knee and could not practise agility the rest of this year.She need a rehabilitation of 9 months.
In the begin of 2006 she have started again on agility-matches, but on the 5e PAWC 2006 in the Netherlands she had run for the last time in the category large, it was a wonderfull clear run!
She became the 3e place Total Results of the group 1!
On the 6e PAWC 2007 she was started in the category Veteran-classe and became champion group 1 Totall-Results. Also first place on the 7e PAWC in 2008 in Italy!

Quita also works very enthousiast as service-dog.

Training Joep dogshool K.C. Zaanstreek

In December 2004 came my third black Labrador Joep ( this time a male) and we started training agility.
On 26-02-2006 he took part into his first agility-match in the Expo Hal in Gent ( Belgium).
He was very enthousiast, so we have taking part into more matches.

Joep on the agilitymatch KC Zaanstreek e.o., Zaandam (20-05-06)

We have inscribe for the 5e PAWC 2006 in the Netherlands and he became the winner of the
Total Results of the group 1!
He's very enthousiast for agility.....sometimes to much ;-)

In the Dutch Agility Competiton he's running first level ( A-classe)..........we have to work hard to reach level 2!
But I believe we will have a good time of agility together!

Also Joep works very enthousiast as service-dog and since october 2008 he's registrated as International service-dog by the organisation: St. Personal Servicedogs.

I'm born with an illness of muscles ( A.M.C.) and since the age of 30 I 'm
dependent of an electric wheelchair.

Due to the fact that I am confined to a wheelchair my dogs and I have a few more obstacles to take compare to regular handlers.

A major problem we encountered is the speed of my wheelchair which is slower than most fast running handlers. Most competitions are held in open air on grass, which adds to my speed problem especially when it has rained a lot.Therefore is indoor competition for us much better.

My dogs are trained to obey my commands to help me, in other words they are allert and supposed to stay close to me. Agility training however requires a quick response to a command to move away from me to complete part of the course independently.

These conflicting commands are another disadvantage and require a lot of extra training. We experience it as an extra challenge!

Susan Rekveld

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