Agility is defined as being deft, rapid light and nimble at the performance of a skill or act.
In this case, agility equally applies to photographer and ASMP-NJ Treasurer - Linda Bohm - and her inimitable dog (a seven year-old, Pyrenean Shepherd) named Whoopee!
The beginning of December 2007, Linda Bohm and Whoopee (who by the way, earned the distinction of MACH - Master Agility Champion July 2007) headed West again to Long Beach, California for yet another shot (their second) at the highly televised, annual American Kennel Club Agility Invitational. Agility, is AKC's fastest growing canine sport, which features dogs and their handlers moving through a challenging course of varying obstacles such as tunnels, weave poles, assorted jumps and seesaws.
Linda and Whoopee (whose full name is LaBrise Wild Whoopee, now one of the top five Pyrenean Shepherds competing nationwide in agility) rose fairly rapidly to MACH level in about a year and a half. This is exceptional because most other handlers take anywhere from about three to four years to achieve this level of proficiency.
Diane L. Bauman (a Wantage, NJ based leading dog trainer and author of numerous books on the subject) originally raised Whoopee and commented that Linda and Whoopee's success is a direct result of their special, one-on-one dog owner relationship.
No stranger herself to animal and dog photography, Linda Bohm previously contributed both the front and back cover photographs to Diane L. Bauman's BEYOND BASIC DOG TRAINING (Howell Book House, Copyright 1991). She and business partner Gerard Marrazzo have most recently shot over 150 images for Diane's long-awaited book DOG AGILITY FROM START TO FINISH. Instructing dog owners how to train their dogs for competition, and for the sheer fun and sport of agility, Diane with Jessica Ajoux, promise that this is one book everyone will have to read. The book is being published by Alpine Publications and hits the bookstore shelves this March 2008! So check it out, and enjoy!
