Mike Adams

 

What is your name and how long have you been participating in the sport of dog agility?
Mike Adams, 11 years

 

What are your dog(s) names, breed and ages?
Sporty (12-years old) and Rocky (11-years old), both Shelties

 

How many titles have you and your doggie partner(s) earned? What are they?
Sporty AAD and several master Q's. Rocky AAD and several master Q's

 

How long have you been an instructor for LCDA and what class(s) do you teach?
11 years, all levels of agility, CGC, and some specialty classes.

 

With whom have you trained during your dog agility career and what qualifications/certifications do you have?
I have trained with Greg Derrett, Jen Pender, Stuart Mah, Barb DeMasco, Lynn Stephens, Susan Salo, Bud Houston,and several others that I just can't recall. I was a high level training "junkie." I've trained with local high level competitors, Sherrie Wilkes, and Darrell Stover. The best week of my life to date, was the 6 days I spent at Clean Run Camp in Lexington Va., where I got to work with Nancy Gyes, Susan Garrett and many other top level trainers.

 

What skills do you think are the most important for the dog agility team to master in order to be successful?
Positive attitude, and the ability to have fun with your dog. The dog is always right, he is just doing what you have trained him to do, whether that is what you meant to train or not!

 

What words of advice would you give to starting dog agility teams?
Agility is a game you play with your dog. Play, have fun, and no matter what the outcome...be deserving of the love and devotion they show you!

 

Why did you become involved in the sport of dog agility?
My wife and daughter wanted to get a dog, and in our research of different breeds, we discovered the sport of agility from a TV show called Alpha Dog Challenge. I figured that if they lost interest, I could compete with the little guy. When I started training our first dog, it was all over with...they had to get another one of their own.

 

Describe the most memorable experience you and your doggie teammate have had during your dog agility career.
Winning first place in Master Standard, 22 inch in a field of 22 dogs, and being one of the only two non-Border Collies. Also, finishing ahead of Stuart Mah, getting a first place, and Super Q in Master snookers in one of the last trials we ran.

 

And for fun.....if your dog had a theme song, what would it be?
"I Can't Drive 55."

 

 

 

Return to Previous Page