Dog on a mission - 2009 American Kennel Club Number One agility Beagle Abby Smith runs an agility trial with the speed, poise and training that has been nurtured by her owner, Paso resident Elise Smith.

When it comes to top dogs, Paso Robles has one of the best Beagles in the nation.

Paso Robles resident Elise Smith is the proud owner of that pooch, who ranked as the American Kennel Club's number one agility Beagle in the country for the 2009 calendar year.

Smith, who won the award with the help of her fun-loving Beagle Abby, is scheduled to receive the top honor at the 2010 AKC Agility Invitational slated for December 2010 in Long Beach.

For those not in the know, agility is a fast-paced dog sport that involves concentration from both the dog and its handler, who directs the dog through an obstacle course in a race for both time and accuracy.

Dogs run off-leash without food or toys as incentives. The handler is not allowed to touch the dog or the obstacles. Handlers must give the dog cues through voice and body signals, requiring that both handler and dog train and bond together.

Smith said her first taste of the sport came in 2005, when she signed up for a weekly agility class. The Paso Robles resident currently owns four Beagles. But Abby - the smallest, at approximately 11 inches tall - has always shown the best potential for the activity, according to her owner.

"I chose Abby [for agility] because she likes to jump, she likes to play and she's energetic and agile," Smith said. "I liked that you bond with your dog, and it's fun."

That fun became a true passion once Smith realized that Abby enjoyed the sport, which includes bobbing through plastic pillars, running up and down dog-sized teeter-totters and over jumps - as much as she did.

One year into the informal classes, Smith decided to go for her first real competition, which she said was nothing less than a nerve-racking experience.

Smith traveled from her then home in Southern California to Bloomington, Indi. where about 60 people and as many dogs showed up for the two-day weekend agility competition.

"I had nerves," Smith said. "The first time out doing what you've been training for - it's a whole different world from your structured class. Then you have to go out and memorize 18 to 20 obstacles."

During agility competitions, handlers are provided with a map detailing different obstacles that the dog will have to traverse over, under, through and around during the timed event. Competitors have only about one hour to come up with a strategy and plan to ensure the dog understands the ins-and-outs of the course.

"I wanted to dry heave – it was crazy," Smith said. "[The dog] goes off your body movement. If you make a wrong slight move, your dog is going to make an error because you made an error."

Regardless of Smith's first-timer butterflies, the duo won an amazing four first-place awards that first weekend – which got the ball rolling for future success.

"[After the wins] I was hooked. I was addicted; I was a junky," said Smith, who added that Abby seemed to love the sport, too. The pair traveled as far away as Colorado to various weekend competitions and quickly climbed up the ranks as they racked up win after win on the agility course.

For the complete article see the 02-26-2010 issue.

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