AKC Agility Invitational Winner – Height Category (24″): Hogan – Handler: Steve Basson

Interview with Steve Basson

How long have you competed in AKC Agility? How did you discover the sport?

Steve Basson: I’ve been competing in Agility since 2005, and with “Hogan” since Aug 2016.

Did you have a strategy for competing with “Hogan” at the AKC Agility Invitational this year?

Steve Basson: My strategy at the Invitational was “risk minimization.” Hogan is fast, so I do not have to push ground speed. If there was an off-course obstacle, I made sure that I was in a good position to keep it out of play. Also, I wanted to emphasize contacts. I felt that if he ran clean, time would not be an issue.

My strategy at the Invitational was “risk minimization.” Hogan is fast, so I do not have to push ground speed.

Do you compete in other dog sports? If so, which sports appeal to you and why?

Steve Basson: The “other” sport that appeals to me is Obedience, because Agility is all about teamwork—and this needs to start in Obedience. Most folks don’t do any serious Agility training until the dog is around a year old. With Obedience, you start on “day one” and get the teamwork part of the equation going. We’re also getting into Hunting Trials now.

If you Google “Hogan Agility” you will see an interview we did recently with WFSB in Hartford, Connecticut.