This is called “Sam’s Agility and Training Blog”, but it is really a general blog about my dog training experience and reflections. Sam (Fieldclass Willy Wagtail JD) is the only dog I am competing with at present, but I do have two other dogs, both retired from competition but not from learning in positive partnership with me.

Here is a picture of Sam eating hailstones after a freakish summer storm we recently experienced.

My dogs are pets first, which means I prioritize my social relationship with them ahead of “success” (whatever that means!). I enjoy their company and their personalities, but I also enjoy teaching them stuff, be it tricks, competition routines, or just good manners.

2007 looks like being a year in which I do more learning and teaching than competition. Sam and I are attending a couple of workshops in the early part of the year, but outside (paid) work commitments will probably keep us from showing in agility to any great extent.