Cave Creek owner, dog earn invite to regional agility
competition

MARC BUCKHOUT ~ MANAGING EDITOR ~6/15/2011

As the temperatures find their way into the triple digits on a consistent basis it’s officially the dog days of summer.
Cave Creek resident Dave Harlan and his 5-year-old dog Bandit got out of the heat this past weekend to compete in the 14th annual Purina Incredible Dog Challenge in San Diego.
It was the furthest the two have traveled for the agility-based competitions , which include obstacles such as ramps, jumps and tunnels.
“It was an invite only event so I felt very honored that we were asked to participate,” Harlan said. “Someone has to nominate your dog. At that point a committee looks at your track record of results at other venues. Bandit was one of only eight dogs in the big dog category invited to compete in the event.”
Harlan, 48, decided to get his dog started in the sport at the age of 1 ½.
“I would recommend it to anybody that has an active dog,” he said. “It’s a great way to build your relationship with your dog. I really can’t promote the sport enough.”
Harlan said the introductory classes offer more involved training to the handler
than for the dog.
“The dogs figure it out in a big hurry,” he said. “They either like it or they don’t. For the handler you have to learn all sorts of body language. Your feet have to be pointed a certain way. It’s the same with your shoulders. You don’t have time to utter an entire word as quickly as the races go, but the dog reads your cues to determine which obstacle to go through next.”
In qualifying for the event Bandit, a 50-pound Australian Shepherd, posted a time of 41 seconds. That was approximately five seconds off the top ranked dog that made it through the 23 obstacles in 36 seconds.
“We ended up finishing fourth, but this is strictly for fun,” he said. “He doesn’t know any difference from winning or losing or even if it’s practicing or a real competition. He’s just excited about working.”
On competition days the dog handlers get a chance to walk the course prior to the race to decide how best to lead their dog through the course.
“You only get one chance at a course,” he said. “It’s all or nothing. You really never know if it will be a good run, or a train wreck. I never get upset with my dog though. If he takes the wrong path, or does the obstacles out of order it means I
didn’t do a good enough job helping him understand.”
Harlan said when he initially started training with Bandit he was working 30-60 minutes a day three or four times a week. These days he said it’s usually only two or three days a
week, but that they might work for up to an hour.
“There are enough competitions where you could do something every week from October through April, but it’s just a hobby for me so we probably only compete a couple times a month,” said the computer systems architect.
The next event Harlan plans to attend is one that takes place annually up in Williams in early July. After that things slow down for the summer.
“I think we’ll continue to do this as long as we’re both physically able,” he said. “I have to get myself stretched out so I’m loose enough to run the course. I’m usually breathing pretty heavy by the end of any event. Typically most dogs can run until they are 9 or 10 assuming they don’t get injured.”
When he isn’t training with Bandit, Harland teaches other dog owners how to lead their dogs in competitions.
The Cave Creek duo belong to the Jumping Chollas Agility Club, which has a training facility located off of Happy Valley Road and 15th Ave
with more than 200 active members and upwards of 250 dogs in training.
He said the sport draws a wide range of participants.
“We have one of the best junior programs in the country,” he said. “We really try to promote young people participating with their dogs. We have them probably as young as 7 years old and then we have ones
that are into their 70s. The common denominator is they all have fun.”
For information on the Jumping Chollas Agility Club go to jumpingchollas.com.