Stepping Into the Unknown
This past weekend, Lupin, my youngest son Max, and I went to our very first dog agility event. Honestly, I had no idea what to expect. Would dogs be running loose? What’s the community like—competitive, casual, welcoming? Could Lupin try the course? And since we brought Doggo Discs and set up a tent, would anyone even want to buy our treats?
What Is Dog Agility?
For those who haven’t seen it before, dog agility is a sport where a dog and handler run an obstacle course together. The dog races through jumps, tunnels, A-frames, teeter-totters, and weave poles, while the handler guides them with voice and hand signals. Runs are timed, but it’s not just about speed—it’s about precision, teamwork, and the trust between dog and human.
At its best, it looks like a choreographed dance. At its funniest, it looks like a dog joyfully ignoring the course to sniff the grass or chase a shadow. Both are equally celebrated by the community.
The Agility Community
The event, hosted by Happy Dog Agility, had around 20 dogs and their handlers, plus families and spectators. The vibe was warm and encouraging—handlers clapped for each other’s runs, traded training tips, and laughed off mistakes. Sandy and her team had set up a full course, which is a serious amount of work.
What struck me most was how supportive and welcoming the community was. Whether someone was running their 50th trial or just starting out, everyone shared the same love of working with their dogs.
Doggo Discs in Action
Max and I set up our tent with treats, waiting to see what would happen. At first, we were invisible. But soon, curiosity pulled people over to check out the bright tubes of Doggo Discs.
Max—our natural promoter—walked around as a “hook” (nothing beats a cute kid pitching his family dog treat business). I explained the science and simplicity behind the treats, handed out samples (always the true test), and watched dogs crunch happily. One barrel sold, then another, then another.
The most surprising insight? Banana and sweet potato sold as well as, or better than, beef. Some of that came down to dietary needs. But I also learned about the idea of foods producing different levels of “heat” when metabolized—beef is medium, banana and sweet potato are low. On a hot day, that mattered. More on this soon in a future post.
A Crash Course in Photography
Alongside selling, I brought my camera. I’m still pretty new to photography, and agility was trial by fire. Dogs explode out of tunnels, pivot on a dime, leap hurdles, and weave like lightning. Capturing sharp images in that chaos was tough.
But I dove in headfirst—adjusting shutter speeds, tracking fast movement, missing plenty of shots but landing some great ones. By the end, I had a memory card full of moments that felt alive: dogs mid-air, handlers mid-command, joy everywhere.
Takeaways
Walking away, I realized a few things:
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Agility isn’t just a sport; it’s a community of people who love bonding with their dogs through training and play.
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Doggo Discs fit naturally here—healthy, portable, and designed for exactly this kind of on-the-go training.
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I re-caught the photography bug—I love freezing a dog in action – the athletic movements, wild eyes, and tongues flapping like a cape in the wind!
We’ll be back at the next event. With more treats. And maybe, just maybe, with Lupin giving the course a try.