Faun's World - jumpin'n'climbin'

Jumpin'n'Climbin' ~ Fauni and Agility

I think I dare to reveal that my Mum is quite a weird human beeing. As if it isn't enough that she makes me pose in the show ring, she has this new obsession that I have to learn to jump over obstacles, climb and crawl. I have tried to show her that indeed I can by jumping over the fence at Grandma's and Grandpa's (what could it be, 120 cm, easy) or escaping the dog park from the smallest possible hole in the fence (you know, if it's big enough for your head, it's big enough for you). But it's not easy to please my Mum. Let me tell you how it all began.

Mum heard her friend planning to participate an agility course for beginners. This was about a year ago. Since she had spent so much time with Tuikku she thought that perhaps we should to something special together, just the two of us, and leave the youngster at home. This Agility sounded a good idea to her. So I was entered to the course, without even asking me!

Agility (photo Juha SIllanpää)

The first lesson came and I didn't find it too difficult, after all. All I had to do was to jump over a ridiculously low fence, and got tons of goodies just by doing it. I agreed to the other lesson. That was when the difficulties started. Climbing! I think I had never remembered to tell Mum that I have a massive fear for high places. I simply refused, time after time, for weeks. I just didn't see any good reason to climb. But finally I started to feel just a little ashamed of myself. You know, even the smallest Italian Greyhound seemed to think there's no trick in climbing. So one day I wathced very, very carefully how the others do - and then climbed! It was really easy and Mum got so glad :) After that climbing has been my favourite, you know, it gives you a nice adrenaline rush to do something you thought would bee too dangerous.

At first I didn't know that one can run quite fast in agility. It all revealed to me one day, when Mum let me loose in the field for the first time. You know me, it didn't take long to realize, that if this is all about being fast, I am certainly the fastest in my class! So every time Mum unleashed me, I rushed in a second to the other side of the field, under the fence and far away... Once again Mum showed her total lack of humor and kept telling me not to do so. But it wasn't untill she learned to leave a handfull of sausages to the other side of the obstacle that I finally agreed to listen to her. After all, you don't get sausages every day, better to enjoy while you can.

In Finland, there are some companion Salukis whose owners share this strange interest in agility. We even have a shared training once or twice a month. Mum's greatest idol is Riimu, who already competes successfully. I know Mum has a dream of competing one day, but I don't know if I'll ever agree to do that. Time will tell. At the moment I concentrate on having fun.

Photo on this page: Juha Sillanpää


	Jumpin'n'Climbin' ~ Fauni and Agility I think I dare to reveal that my Mum is quite a weird human beeing. As if it isn't enough that she makes me pose in the show ring, she has this new obsession that I have to learn to jump over obstacles, climb and crawl. I have tried to show her that indeed I can by jumping over the fence at Grandma's and Grandpa's (what could it be, 120 cm, easy) or escaping the dog park from the smallest possible hole in the fence (you know, if it's big enough for your head, it's big enough for you). But it's not easy to please my Mum. Let me tell you how it all began. Mum heard her friend planning to participate an agility course for beginners. This was about a year ago. Since she had spent so much time with Tuikku she thought that perhaps we should to something special together, just the two of us, and leave the youngster at home. This Agility sounded a good idea to her. So I was entered to the course, without even asking me! The first lesson came and I didn't find it too difficult, after all. All I had to do was to jump over a ridiculously low fence, and got tons of goodies just by doing it. I agreed to the other lesson. That was when the difficulties started. Climbing! I think I had never remembered to tell Mum that I have a massive fear for high places. I simply refused, time after time, for weeks. I just didn't see any good reason to climb. But finally I started to feel just a little ashamed of myself. You know, even the smallest Italian Greyhound seemed to think there's no trick in climbing. So one day I wathced very, very carefully how the others do - and then climbed! It was really easy and Mum got so glad :) After that climbing has been my favourite, you know, it gives you a nice adrenaline rush to do something you thought would bee too dangerous. At first I didn't know that one can run quite fast in agility. It all revealed to me one day, when Mum let me loose in the field for the first time. You know me, it didn't take long to realize, that if this is all about being fast, I am certainly the fastest in my class! So every time Mum unleashed me, I rushed in a second to the other side of the field, under the fence and far away... Once again Mum showed her total lack of humor and kept telling me not to do so. But it wasn't untill she learned to leave a handfull of sausages to the other side of the obstacle that I finally agreed to listen to her. After all, you don't get sausages every day, better to enjoy while you can. In Finland, there are some companion Salukis whose owners share this strange interest in agility. We even have a shared training once or twice a month. Mum's greatest idol is Riimu, who already competes successfully. I know Mum has a dream of competing one day, but I don't know if I'll ever agree to do that. Time will tell. At the moment I concentrate on having fun. Photo on this page: Juha Sillanpää Read Fauni's Guestbook ~ Sign Fauni's Guestbook
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