Agility Overcomes Even Severe Fearfulness

      After rescuing a 7-month old Sheltie who as abandoned in the New Mexico desert, and taking him into my home, it became obvious that his first owners (who lost or abandoned him in the desert) had been overly harsh/punitive or even abusive with him.  This cruel treatment combined with the natural timidity of the breed created a fearful dog who could hardly function outside the safety of his home.

      In an effort to get "Magnum" involved in something that would enhance the quality of his life and improve his socialization skills, I enrolled him in agility class with Meldona Sauer our first year in Colorado Springs.  The attempt seemed hopeless, after the first two weeks when he couldn't even begin to participate in the classes because I couldn't get him away from the wall, where he cowered behind my chair and refused to move.  But as the weeks progressed, he began responding to the positive reinforcement and enjoyment of succeeding at the challenges set forth for him on the agility course.  Within 2 months, we not only saw miraculous changes in his self-confidence on the agility course - where he runs the obstacles with the happiest Sheltie grin you've ever seen.  But his fear of strangers, new situations, and everything else in life (including car-sickness) began to improve.

      He hasn't turned into an outgoing Lab personality by any means, but the change in his attitude about leaving the house, and the sheer joy he shows when he's "playing" at agility class (he doesn't see it as "work) are remarkable.  My primary goal of getting him out of the house and giving him something in life that brings him joy and satisfaction of work well done have been met beyond any hopes or expectations.

      I don't believe that any other type of training could have provided this level of improvement in Magnum's attitude and self-confidence.  The positive-only interaction between handler and dog on the agility field ensures that he looks forward to class as the most exciting event of his week.  "NO" isn't a permitted word in agility -- so even when he doesn't do what I expected him to do, the awareness that the fault was mine by giving incorrect instructions, not his for failing to obey, ensures that he always feels that he is successful.

      I was so concerned that the trainer would tell me he was just too traumatized by his unfortunate early-puppyhood experiences to be able to succeed at agility, especially when he inevitably snapped at other dogs which was a common fear response I'd never been able to resolve.  But Meldona's willingness to stick with him until he could overcome his fear and see how fun this activity could be for him has provided an activity that brings him real joy, and even helped him overcome (for the most part) the car-sickness that he'd suffered from since I first rescued him from the desert.  And the fear-induced snapping at other dogs problem rarely if ever occurs.

      Agility Rules!  We're both truly grateful to Meldona for her patience, understanding, and skill at turning a terrified once-abused bundle of nerves into a joyful skilled agility dog who must surely experience fatigued cheek muscles from the amount of grinning he does during the hour of running through agility obstacles during every class.