Karen Dillon

Karen writes about the people and places of Smith Mountain Lake in "Shorelines," published bi-weekly.

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From time to time, I get story ideas from Laker Weekly readers. This week's idea came from an e-mail I received recently that began: "Each time someone from church comes to get me, he or she comments about the dog corral with agility training equipment on Lakewood Forest Road. I just thought it would make an interesting story if you could catch a couple of dog owners there working with their dogs. Solve the mystery."

Well, solve it, I did.

That agility course belongs to lake residents Sherry and Artie Moore, owners of K-9 Kompany LLC, which specializes in teaching dog obedience and agility.

"We established K-9 Kompany to bring positive dog training to the lake area," said Sherry. "We really focus on telling dogs what they do correctly."

That positive training includes using operant conditioning. K-9 Kompany uses a method known as "clicker training."

Sherry demonstrated clicker training with Ike, a beautiful, brawny red Doberman pinscher, one of the couple's three "kids." First she told Ike to sit. When he obeyed, she quickly clicked her clicker and presented him with a treat.

"The clicker is a reward marker that lets the dog know he did the behavior right. The No. 1 rule is if you click it, you must reward it," said Sherry.

Since moving to the lake from Roanoke several years ago, Sherry has conducted numerous dog obedience classes and private one-on-one training. Dog owners seek out Sherry to help them co-exist with their canines.

"The biggest thing is [teaching dogs] manners," said Sherry. "Jumping is also a problem worth solving. Due to positive training methods, dogs no longer need to wait until 6 months of age for training. Dogs can start learning as soon as they arrive home, whether they are puppies or older dogs."

Once dogs have mastered their manners, they can continue training by taking agility classes. Sherry currently has six novice agility students. Roanoker Sarah Keffer and Arwen, her Doberman pinscher who also happens to be Ike's sister, come to K-9 Kompany for private lessons. Keffer and Arwen are working toward the top American Kennel Club agility title, the MACH, Master Agility Champion.

Keffer said her bond with Arwen has been strengthened since they began their training about five years ago.

"It's different than just the two of us sitting at home together. I feel like I have an emotional bond with my dog. We can't do all these things [on the agility course] together if we're not connected."

With Sherry leading the way, Ike demonstrated his prowess on the agility course. He sauntered onto a teeter-totter, then bobbed and weaved his way through a set of weaving poles. He cleared a series of bar jumps, ran through a tunnel and walked along a dog walk, completing each task with grace and ease.

"We started doing agility because we have dogs that need a job," said Sherry, who, with Ike, regularly competes in agility trials throughout the mid-Atlantic. "Agility gives dogs wings. It also builds a huge bond between owner and dog. It's almost spiritual for me."

The Moores built and designed their agility course according to the rules and regulations outlined by the American Kennel Club. As a side business, Artie Moore builds and sells agility equipment.

While she believes dogs of all shapes and sizes can participate in agility training, Sherry advised owners to wait until their dogs are fully grown before attempting full height jumps, weave poles or contact equipment. Sherry recommended agility participants seek out knowledgeable instructors to help them know when their dogs are ready to attempt the equipment.

"Safety is an issue and that's to protect you and your dog," she said.

And what about the cliche that you can't teach an old dog new tricks?

That's bunk, said Sherry. But, she added, it's essential to teach dogs in a way that's fun for them.

"It's important that anything you do with your dogs is done in a positive manner and without force," she said. "If it's done that way, they'll enjoy it too."

For more information about K-9 Kompany, contact Sherry or Artie Moore at (540) 721-9572 or e-mail articmoose@aol.com.