"In order to really enjoy a dog, one doesn't merely try to train him to be semihuman. The point of it is to open oneself to the possibility of becoming partly a dog." - Edward Hoagland

It often seems like the modern world has lost sight of the important things in life: good naps in the middle of the day, walks in among the green of the trees, the importance of play, and the joy of riding in the car with your head out the window and your tongue hanging out. All right, maybe not that last one. Many folks will admit that there are benefits to having a best friend who has four paws and a wagging tail, but some forget that any relationship should be a two-way street. After all, is he really your best friend if he listens to all your problems, but you never listen to his? What you have there is a “good dog”, but if you let it happen, you could have the most loyal friend you will ever know, and the most reliable teammate.

My dogs have taught me the value of their friendship, and it is worth more than just a few milk bones and a halfhearted pat on the head. Admittedly, they had help. The took me to some classes in dog agility, and showed me that really, I’m just a big clumsy idiot who gets in the way a lot. They have shown me that over the years, when I was seeing a dog, instead of a being, I was missing a lot. We have learned, together, what being a team really means. I hope to never lose sight of that first instant when she ceased to be “the dog” and became “my best friend” and “my teammate”. If you can find that moment anywhere, it is here, while running together and working together in the sport of dog agility.