Teen Frisbee-dog champ is all-around amazing!

June 23, 6:51 AMAtlanta Dogs ExaminerSandy Weaver Carman

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Kate and Trick prepare to compete - R. Carignan pic

For the last five years, teenaged Kate Carignan has spent her non-school time with dogs.  She and her Dad, Richard, have traveled all over the southeast on the weekends to compete in agility trials with their dogs.  

About 3 years ago, Kate met Zak George, a local dog trainer who does Frisbee with his dog.  She took a Basics of Frisbee class from him, then some private lessons, and two years ago, entered her first Frisbee competition.  She placed third, and was hooked.

Last weekend, Kate and her young dog Trick were in Columbus, GA for the AFLAC Outdoor Games.  Not only did they compete, she and Trick placed first in Freestyle, meaning that they are the 2009 Georgia Disc Dog Open Freestyle Champions.

Not bad for a girl and her dog, but this isn't just any girl.  

Kate says that agility is still her passion, and that shows in her accomplishments.  Her dog Raven recently earned the highest title possible in USDAA Agility, the ADCH or Agility Dog Champion.  Raven's official name is ADCH Skyeland Raven, CGC, MAD, AX, AXJ, OAC-JH, OGC-JH, OJC-JH.  All of those letters represent titles earned, but even they don't tell the entire story.  For example, the "AX" in Raven's name represents the third level of excellence in AKC standard agility.  In order for her to have earned the AX, she had to earn the NA and the OA titles first, so just those two letters represent three levels of titles earned by Kate and Raven.

When asked which sport she likes better, Kate replies, "Agility is still my passion, but Frisbee does try my skills as a trainer in a different way. I love the fact that everything is different and challenging each time you step onto an agility course, but I love performing for a crowd which you don’t get to do often with agility."

Kate not only competes with the dogs, she also is responsible for their care.  She trains each dog daily, makes sure they're fed and watered and watches for injuries and illness.  Her charges are Raven, Trick, Smudge and Ekko.  Smudge has several agility titles to his name and Ekko is known as the "future agility dog" as she's not quite ready and old enough to safely compete.

In spite of the heat in Columbus over Father's Day weekend, Kate and Trick had a blast during the competition, wowing the crowd with their routines.  Asked what she likes best about Frisbee competition, she says it's the approval of the crowd.  At agility competitions, spectators just watch.  At Frisbee competitions, spectators get into it, applauding at really great tricks and showing their approval at the end of a routine.  Asked what she likes best about dog sports, Kate lights up.  For her, it's all about the teamwork with each dog, learning how to get the best out of them while keeping them happy and engaged.  

And the results of all of that training shows one thing:  Kate's great at what she does.

This is video of Kate and Raven, explaining about dog training and demonstrating a bit of agility and Frisbee work.

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