When you think of the sport of agility, you might picture a dog and their handler navigating turns, jumps, and tunnels with energy and precision. Behind this incredible display of athleticism is a lot of practice and a dedicated team of handlers, coaches, and instructors. Soon-to-be 14-year-old Andrew Konior of Des Moines, Iowa, knows about the value of teamwork. He and his 10-year-old Golden Retriever, “Charlotte,” will compete at the 2024 AKC Agility League Championship in Gray Summit, Missouri.
Andrew and his mom, Jenny Konior, are honored to be part of the AKC Agility League program. Last year, they competed in the Championship, and are delighted to be returning this year. They have a lot to look forward to at the event, from the corn dogs to the team shirt competition. “I love running the course and the lines are so nice,” Andrew says. “You really get to challenge yourself in ways you didn’t expect.”
“It is a blast to run,” Jenny adds. “The team aspect is phenomenal because normally, it’s just you running individually, and this way, you’re cheering on your team.” She and Andrew give “huge kudos” to AKC for creating the program and supporting junior handlers.
Dog Agility Is in Andrew’s Genes
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Technically, Andrew got his start in agility when he was in his mom’s belly, he says. His mom, Jenny, is a legal assistant at a law firm and has been teaching agility for 16 years. Before that, she worked as an obedience instructor. When the family moved to Des Moines, she started doing agility and “got hooked on it,” she says.
Initially, Jenny was the one running their Golden Retriever, “Gabe,” who was 2 years old when Andrew was born. In 2017, Gabe received his PACH (PACH Advent Grandmaster Funk RA OA OAJ MXPB MXP3 MJPB MJP3 NFP PAX CGC TDI). After Gabe’s second PACH, Andrew took over handling duties from his mom and began running Gabe at the Master level. “Just my mom being an instructor and knowing so much inspired me to take up dog agility,” Andrew says.
During Andrew’s first time in the ring, he got his Novice FAST Preferred title. “Andrew earned the first leg in 2016 when he had just turned 6 and earned many legs towards Gabe’s later titles up to and including Master Standard Preferred 3 (MXP3) and Master Jumpers Preferred 3 (MJP3) as he ran him about 50% of the time, if not more,” Jenny says.
Unlike his proud mom, Andrew doesn’t remember it this way. Instead, he recalls experiencing some struggles when he and Gabe started competing together. “It was hard,” he says. “My mom had to hide because Gabe would always try to find her. So, it was rough because I couldn’t really do much with him. Gabe didn’t know what I was trying to do, and I think we made it over one jump, and that was it.”
Taking a Step Back to Build a Solid Foundation
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Konior family decided to retire Gabe. “That’s when Andrew looked at me and said, ‘Now, he didn’t have a dog to run,’ so I gave him Charlotte,” Jenny says. She encouraged Andrew to take obedience and AKC Rally classes to strengthen his relationship with Charlotte.
Both Andrew and Charlotte had been running Master level courses in agility, but they hadn’t done it together. Jenny had them start back at Novice Preferred. Then, they had to earn their way back up to the Excellent/Master level before moving back to regular height and working towards their MACH.
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This year, Andrew moved Charlotte to preferred jump height to make her more comfortable and put less stress on her body. The team was at 14 double qualifying (2Q) scores and more than 500 points when they decided to make the switch. Since they can’t transfer 2Q scores and points from the MACH to the PACH level, he and Charlotte are starting over. “Andrew helped complete Charlotte’s Master titles and has put on all of her Preferred titles and will now start working towards their PACH,” Jenny says.
Even at 10 years old, Charlotte is full of energy. “She’s definitely crazy, and once she gets going [on] the course, she absolutely loves it and has a pretty good drive,” he says. Recently, they added another Golden Retriever to the family, named “Sonic,” who is 4 months old. “Hopefully, in two and a half years, Sonic will be competing,” he says.
Fun and Friendship Are a Big Draw for Them
Aside from the thrill of competition, Andrew and his mom love the friendships they’ve made and seeing the dogs having fun. “The titles are nice, but the connection I have with my dog is better,” Andrew says. “We have a great community that has always been so supportive of Andrew, and that makes me love the sport even more to see that camaraderie of all the people who want to have fun with their dogs and support a junior the way they do,” Jenny adds.
Andrew trains every Tuesday and competes seven or eight times a year. He competes in the Golden Retriever Club in April and September. Whenever possible, he tries to attend the agility trial offered by the Cyclone Country Kennel Club of Ames and the trial in Davenport, Iowa.
Sometimes, Andrew can get in his head when he’s competing. That’s when he reminds himself that it’s not all about winning. “It’s for the fun you’re giving to your dog and the connection you’re building,” he says. “What I like most about agility is that the dogs seem to love it. At least Charlotte does.”
He also values his mom’s advice. “Luckily, my mom is a great instructor,” he says. “She can show me what I did wrong or what I did right, and what to keep and what to work on. And it’s just evolved into getting higher and higher in competition and difficulty on the courses.”
Their Advice for Newcomers to Agility
Becoming a junior handler takes time and effort, but Andrew notes it’s also a lot of fun. “You never know if you’re going to like it till you do it,” he says. “I highly recommend going out and trying it.” When parents see other kids competing, they might think about getting their child into the sport. “Then it just grows agility all together,” he says.
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For someone new to agility, he thinks Golden Retrievers are a good starter dog. “They’re very forgiving and are a great all-around dog,” he says. “If you want a faster [breed], a Border Collie would definitely be your pick. If you want something calmer, Golden Retrievers have a great drive and learn really quickly.”
In working with junior and adult handlers, sometimes the kids pick up on things faster than the adults and can also move around the course more quickly, Jenny says. She’s a big proponent of parents bringing their kids to agility classes and letting them give the sport a try. “It builds so many important skills that everybody needs to learn, not just kids, like patience and humility,” she says.
If you’re just getting started, her advice is to spend time watching others compete and find an instructor you trust. “Just like with any sport, you have to make a commitment to it,” she says. “And that means the parents also have to make a commitment to it.”
New Beginnings Mean New Memories
Sadly, Gabe passed away a year ago at the age of 15. “Gabe was always there in my life, so it was kind of hard when he passed,” Andrew says. “Charlotte was always there for the highs and lows. My parents and Charlotte really helped me get past Gabe’s loss.”
For Andrew, agility has been a real bonding experience with all three of his dogs. “What I love is the connection I share with my dogs throughout their whole life and my life,” he says. “It just feels right to me.”
As for what’s next, Andrew is heading into his freshman year of high school. Besides agility, his favorite activities are basketball and video games. “I’m hoping to be part of the basketball team, so I’m practicing for that on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and then I play video games,” he says. “It’s just a break, I guess, from reality.”
On the agility front, Andrew hopes to make the US Junior Open Agility World Championship team next year. “It would be kind of like the Olympics of dog agility for me,” he says. “I think it would be a really fun experience for both me and Charlotte or Sonic, and I have a great coach who helps me along the way.”