Featured Hound: Blaze, agile by design

Sometime about two years ago I was at an ASCA agility competition to watch my sister competing with her Corgi. My Greyhound, Venus, and I were currently in agility classes but not competing. Just up the hill was an AKC agility competition so we took a walk up there to see if Jen Bachelor or anyone else we knew were there. That is how it happened that not one but three Greyhound people interested in agility happened to end up coincidentally meeting. OK, one was technically not a Greyhound person yet. Kathy had adopted an NGA Greyhound puppy, the soon to be Blaze. He had not arrived in Georgia yet. Agility is one of the reasons she chose a Greyhound. Kathy was there because she was competing in the ASCA agility trial with her very cute mixed breed, Rio. I often tell people that Greyhounds are versatile and can be a lot of fun in a wide variety of venues. Blaze and Kathy are helping to prove that. I will let her take it from here.

________________________________

I decided to adopt a greyhound specifically as my next agility dog. I like having a dog that is my companion first and then my performance partner second. Most people typically do NOT think of greyhounds when they think of agility. This was before I had met Jen Bachelor (Never Say Never Greyhounds) or even knew anything about her. I was fortunate to get to meet her right before I drove to Ocala, FL to pick up Blaze as an 11 week old puppy from the rescue group Crone's Creatures Greyhound Adoptions. Jen has been a great inspiration and mentor to us.

Blaze is now a little over 2 years old and is in training for Agility, Rally Obedience, Dock Diving and Canine Musical Freestyle. We may even try tracking at some point in the future. He has competed in Rally Obedience and earned 2 legs towards his AKC Rally Novice Title. He also has his CKC Level 1 Obedience title. He plans to finally go for his CGC (Canine Good Citizen's) certification this year too.

Blaze poses after a Rally O competition

Kathy and Blaze in CKC obedience

Greyhounds - Masters of the Down

"My Greyhound makes your Border Collie look slow & ackward"

We've tried a few agility trials, but he's just not ready to compete yet. We still need to continue working on focus. His idea of competing in agility is to do 1 or 2 obstacles then run around the course and show off about how fast he can run :)

He participated in a dock dogs competition in 2009 and put on a great show on the dock, but was not ready to jump in the water :) He is quite an accomplished swimmer however.

Later this year, he will try his paw at his first Canine Musical Freestyle competition with CFF (Canine Freestyle Federation) in North Carolina. We also have a freestyle demo at the Elk's Aidmore Children's Center in Conyers we'll be doing this fall. 

 

Blaze loves doing community service, especially related to Greyhound Adoption awareness/promotion. He is quite the social butterfly. Last year he was a regular at the SEGA Cumming Meet and Greet before we moved.

This year he's done several Meet & Greets such as an RV Show, Texas Roadhouse in Hiram, Hooters in Canton (promoting the Hooters for Hounds Poker Run) as well as the actual Hooters for Hounds Poker Run in Kennesaw. 

He participated in the acupuncture training for veterinarians earlier this year that SEGA was involved with. He loves a parade as well and walked at the Fisher King Trail dedication in March.

Blaze is a wonderful ambassador for greyhounds because he is such a happy, loving, friendly, active and well adjusted greyhound.

________________________________________________________________________

Many thanks to Kathy Rakestraw for allowing me to include she and Blaze's story. Their household added another Greyhound this year. Cori, a young retired racer, is still learning the ropes but already making steps toward following in Blaze's versatile paw prints. You should be seeing her featured soon.

Cori, left, relaxing with Blaze, right.