While the nation’s top agility dogs bolt through obstacles and spectators watch in awe, Ken Tatsch hustles behind the scenes, making sure the Cynosport Games, an annual canine performance sport roundup of competitions and demonstrations hosted by the United States Dog Agility Association, runs smoothly.
Tatsch, USDA president and founder, introduced dog agility to the United States, patterning the sport after The Kennel Club and the Agility Club of Great Britain standards. What started as a small organization in 1986 has grown into an association with 30,000 registered competitors and 150 affiliate groups throughout the world.
Working tirelessly to promote the sport in the United States and abroad, Tatsch (who has participated in agility and obedience himself) eats, breathes and lives dog agility. Taking a few minutes out of his busy schedule, Tatsch recounts his devotion to the sport and its supporters.
Q: Did you grow up with dogs? Do you have dogs now?
A: I never had a dog growing up, but I’ve owned six dogs during my adult life. Presently, I don’t have a dog; my last dog, a female Border Collie named Tika, passed away in 2007, and my wife and I had a newborn daughter shortly thereafter. We decided to wait a while before introducing a new dog to the home.
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