Lebanon - It catches the eye of people passing along on County Road 100 North. It looks like a playground made for dogs. Yes, the dogs do thoroughly enjoy it bit is also hard work for the dogs and their trainers.

The playground is actually an agility course run by K-9 Athletes, a small agility training and equipment business. K-9 Athletes is operated by husband and wife, Janet and Mike Wagner. THey have lived at their current location for two years and the agility course is on their property.

Janet Wagner mainly uses the course for her own Border Collies, but also lets friends bring their dogs to run the course. The couple also hosts about three shows a year, and that first weekend in August they will hold a seminar led by Karen Holik and her world team Sheltie named Sizzle. "Karen will be there to give a few pointers and help everyone improve," Janet Wagner said. "She will help makes sure we use the latest techniques."

Janet Wagner's techniques have appeared to work well so far. She has competed and placed will in both the American Kennel Club Nationals and the United States Dog Agility Association Nationals. AKC is for the betterment of pure bred dogs, ages one year old and up. USDAA is for dogs 18 months old and up. One of the dogs she is currently running is a 2 1/2 year old Border Collie named Ben. She thinks Ben has so much fun on the course and said how some of her dogs, when she opens the door, head straight for the agility field.

"My biggest accomplishment is having and bonding with my dogs," Janet Wagner said. "The dogs really enjoy it as well. THey don't chase rabbits or squirrels, they run straight for the course."

The Wagners have traveled all over the country for the agility competitions and have been doing agility runs with dogs for about ten or twelve years. This weekend, Janet, Mike, Ben and the rest of the dogs will be heading to Super Regionals where they will compete against some World Team dogs. She plans to compete for a chance to be on the world team but says she won't join the team because she won't fly the dogs overseas.


I won't make the travel that far, even though some people do," Janet Wagner said. "I just want to say I competed against them."

Her and her husband are currently running five dogs and have two retired dogs. Dogs usually race until there body can't take it anymore.

"One of the dogs retired is seven, we saw arthritis coming and decided to not destroy her early," Janet Wagner said. "Another we retired at nine, but she is now ten and still runs for people that have never run a dog or seen a dog run."

Janet Wagner used to show horses but grew interested in dog agility running because it was less expensive and gave her a chance to have a relationship with her dogs. She said that the agility running is something that has been great for her and for the dogs. "It is really a great confidence builder for the dogs and for the coaches, "Janet Wagner said.

The dog playground is enjoyable for the dogs but also a place to help keep dogs healthy and happy. And a great place for the Wagners to enjoy their Border Collies.