.In the summer of 1996, a small
group of members from another agility club branched off to form the now Kruisin'
Kanines of Perkasie. It was their belief that all handlers should be given the
chance to use the sport of dog agility to foster their relationship with their
dogs, whether it was in competition or fun. Though competition was encouraged,
it certainly was not a requirement. No handler was ever turned down for the
reason of just wanting to having fun or to learn what his or her dog could do
in this great sport. Those ideals are still the basis of our existence today.
Training started out in the backyard of one of the founding members and classes
were limited to Beginners, Novice and Coursing levels of classes. Interest and
enrollment grew from the initial twelve members, to close to thirty, by the
fall of 1996. Three of every four handlers that enrolled in beginners became
members; the majority of those members were competing in one of more agility
venues within six months to a year after their first class. Demand for training
became so great that in November of 1996 the club signed their first lease for
an indoor training facility. We were now training five days a week and expanding
our classes to four levels. In March of 1999, four short years from it's inception,
the Kruisin' Kanines signed a five-year lease at their present location. This
9,600 square foot indoor facility is fully lighted and large enough to set up
complete agility courses with room to spare. In addition to indoor training,
a 100' x 100' lighted, outdoor ring was added in the summer of 2000 as part
of our facility. With over two complete sets of quality agility equipment and
indoor-outdoor training there is enough here to satisfy the most demanding agility
enthusiast. Our facility holds seven classes, six days a week with five instructors
and seven assistants who attend to all our training needs.
In July of 2001, the Kruisin' Kanines will have celebrated its fifth year as an agility club. In a given year, the club volunteers its' time and equipment to promote and demonstrate dog agility at a number of pet fairs and community events. In addition, the club sponsors two agility trials a year, AKC in the spring and NADAC in the fall. With a club picnic in the summer, and an awards banquet in the winter, this little group of twelve has grown to close to seventy members. They train and participate in the activities of the club almost every day of the year and carry on the dream that agility is fun for all!