Agility with a mountain view

Yesterday we went to agility practice. We'll be happy for days now :)

Networks work

When I first started finding out about agility in Switzerland and Geneva area, I contacted the Commission technique  Agility Mobility Obedience (CTAMO) to find about local clubs, and licensing system, signing up for competitions (trials) etc. I got a very friendly response and have either an option to compete with our Finnish competition booklet (trialler's booklet), or get a Swiss one. My emails to local clubs (the ones I found on CTAMO website) did not get as friendly reply - the other replied they are full and the other did not reply.

A fellow agility lover from Singapore put me in touch with a lady in Switzerland (who competes in agility with her dogs, needless to say?), who then put me in touch with a few other people - one in Geneva region and another a Finn. These connections were like gold to me, as I learned more about the competitions and training opportunities in Geneva region. In addition another new friend showed me a blog of a Finn who used to live in the region, and had gone to Tempo Recrea for training .. and off we went.

Tempo Recrea

Plinio, the trainer at Tempo Recrea, speaks English, so attending training did not require me to start studying French (I really ought to start though!). To my surprise, when we joined the advance class yesterday, many others spoke English too, and everyone was super nice to the newbie :) We were six women and three men, with two shelties, two mix breeds from the shelter, a collie and other mix breeds / breeds I did not recognise (not one border collie!) - and of course Rekku the terrier, who was in his best behaviour, focusing on me and loving practicing like he had been coming to the training ground forever.

We did small drills, with maxi dogs on one side of the training ground, and mediums on the other. We did ok - which means I'm out of practice, not giving clear enough intructions to Rekku, and Rekku was a bit hasty at times, jumping too early or jumping off a contact. He also clearly had to work at jumping, because the height of bars and length of the broad jump are more than in Singapore. He actually landed on the broad jump once, falling down his right shoulder, but has not shown any signs of pain or stiffness luckily.

Here we go..

So, since we really liked the practice, people, ground, trainer and definitely the view (and the price at CHF 20 for 1,5-2 hours was not terrible either), we will be going back. And we will definitely join a few competitions too, naturally with the goal of getting at least one Swiss rosette for Rekku's collection! (if they give rosettes here..)

But, as you can see*, practice is needed:

R&R agility training Geneva_1

R&R agility training Geneva_2 

R&R agility training Geneva_3

* I hope you can, my first time uploading videos to YouTube (any hints on how to do it better are welcome)