The Mitchell Agility Dog Club (MADC) held a fun day last month at the LB Davern Reserve in Wandong to celebrate their 20th anniversary.
Over the last 20 years, the Club has built a reputation for creating an athletic relationship between dogs and their owners. Just like people, dogs love to socialise, let off steam, and do something new.
In the Club’s early days, they met in a private paddock, but now meet at the Reserve, with their eight committee members managing a timetable of events.
All new members participate in their foundation class, where the trainer introduces and monitors social interactions and basic obedience between dogs.
All in good time, the Club hopes to integrate everyone into their advanced program. Vice President Bernie Melvaine said games help the dogs to learn to ignore distractions, and memberships had doubled over the last year.
“We are not a competitive club. If people choose to compete, our training leads them up to that. We are enjoying our dogs and giving them activities that stretch them and are interesting at the same time,” she said.
Thanks to financial support from the Mitchell Shire Grants Program and the Bendigo Bank, the Club has been able to purchase new and safer equipment.
Such equipment includes tunnels, jumps, planks, and an A-frame. Not forgetting the handlers, the Club has also purchased a trailer for storage, and a pop-up shop for members to buy recommended training aids.
The Club is open to all dogs, even those who aren’t as social as their excitable friends.
“We have a special scarf for [anti-social dogs] to wear, and the owner sets themselves apart from the group so the dog can see all the other dogs, but is not actually in the mix so they’re not getting upset with anything,” Ms Melvaine said.
Secretary Claudia Snowden said she enjoyed working with the dogs and encouraged interested owners to get in contact with the Club.
“We meet every Sunday around 8.15am, and we set up the equipment for agility and advanced sequence classes. I love working the dogs,” she said.
“Let us know if you are interested, and we’ll get you to come down and have a watch. All dogs must have up-to-date vaccinations, or the vet can do a titer test to check that antibiotics are up to date.”
The Review would like to wish the Mitchell Agility Dog Club a happy 20 year anniversary.
For more information, email mitchellagilitydogclub2016@hotmail.com.
