Turf Blues

[aardogs]

I've been trying to figure out a time to bring Panic back up here again. I miss him and he really does seem to love it here. My spring break is mid-March, and I don't think I'll be going home, so I'd like to try to get him up here.



After doing UKI in Portland, I was feeling the drive for agility again. I was searching for UKI trials and there is one 20 minutes from Wooster! How cool!

Then I looked up the facility, and it's on carpet-like mat turf. Sad. I won't run Panic on that. In general, I'm moving away from wanting to do agility on any type of turf with him. The rubber-infill stuff is nice, but he still has some amount of trouble. As he gets older and we practice so infrequently I don't feel like I can ask him to run on a surface that he isn't 100% comfortable with. That limits our potential trials even further. I understand that the trend is moving towards more turf, and that's ok. Turf has a ton of advantages, but it just happens to not be so good for Panic. Give me some dirt any day. 

Comments

[nosemovie.livejournal.com]

Boy, I totally hear that. Razor is best on dirt too. In fact, he's wonderful on it. Ok on grass (especially if it's not damp) but I can just "hear" him break even attempting mats or carpet-like stuff.

Rumble? No problem. In fact, he'll be doing a lot of running at a seminar in a few weeks on mats and I have no worries about it.
it's the WAY he runs. He's not one to dig in to turn, or power into stuff. He more "floats!" or bounces. if that makes sense.

Good for you for protecting your dog. I hope you find places to play SOON!

[aardogs.livejournal.com]

Every dirt place around here seems to be moving to soccer arenas. :( But it's ok, I miss agility but I'm not pining for it, and my bank account is better off for it. ;)