Some special four-legged visitors will showcase their moves and maneuvers at a show at The Village at Gleannloch Farms in Spring, Texas, Saturday, March 26. The senior living community is hosting a Dog Agility Show, bringing together a field of furry athletes and their trainers to show off the canines’ amazing agility ability. The show is FREE and open to the public. Wait until you see what these top dogs can do: They slalom through obstacle courses strewn with ramps, teeter-totters, tunnels, and tubes. They fly by at the speed of light. They jump through hoops and over hurdles in a veritable canine track meet. 
Agility dog competition is a relatively new sporting event, now recognized as an official sports category by national groups such as the American Kennel Club. The agility competition is open to all breeds from 15 months old and up. The younger dogs are allowed to compete as “Novices.” The more experienced dogs are in the “Elite” category and are expected to exhibit total course mastery. The Houston area boasts some of the top agility dog trainers and competitors in the world.
Patricia Horton, organizer of the event and an agility dog trainer in her own right, is bringing a field of 15-20 agility dog performers to The Village at Gleannloch Farms, where her dad and mom, Charlie and Lois Horton, reside. “Everyone who comes out will get a chance to see all levels of competitors, including a champion Sheltie named ‘Chase’ who has competed at the international level. We will also have several dogs who are tops in their breed, such as agility champion ‘Wilson T-Bone Wood’. Wilson is a White West Highland Terrier who has been ranked in the top five Westies in agility for the past two years.” Horton said. “But I have to say that many in the audience get the biggest kick out of watching the younger dogs give it a go—they’re so cute and conscientious.”
“Our community is totally dog friendly and many of our residents keep their own pets,” said Kathy Johanns, executive director of The Village at Gleannloch Farms, a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) operated by Lutheran Social Services. “They are just crazy about dogs and they’ve been looking forward to this program for weeks.”
Dog agility competition is a great spectator sport, so if you live in the Houston area, plan to come out to be entertained by this amazing display of doggy dexterity!
About the event:
FREE and open to the public
March 26, 2011
10 a.m. to noon
9505 Northpointe Boulevard
Spring, TX 77379
map and printable driving directions
Phone (877) 312-2140
Fax (281) 569-2998
www.gleannlochseniorliving.com
Tags: American Kennel Club, Dog Agility training, Lutheran Social Services, Senior Services, Village at Gleannloch Farms
