Training dogs isn’t just a hobby for sixteen-year-old Sam Georger, who uses they/them pronouns — it’s a lifestyle. Georger first saw dog sports on television, and dreamed of getting involved ever since. Georger’s family wasn’t previously involved in dog sports, but local training clubs near their hometown, Lancaster, NY, have supported their journey. They’re now an active competitor, competing with their Standard Poodle “Spyro (Shyre’s All Fired Up!), Labrador Retriever “Ruby” (Professor Rubeus Hagrid), and All-American Dog “Elliott” in a variety of dog sports. Georger, a person with disabilities, says that training dogs for dog sports has also helped them train Spyro as their service dog.
Connecting Dog Sports with Their Special Interest
Georger, who is autistic, has considered dogs to be their special interest since they were young. They first gained an interest in dog sports by watching dog shows on TV, and even more so when their family got their Poodle, Ruby. “In the past, I tried lots of different sports and activities, and none of them really appealed to me,” Georger says. “However, when I discovered the world of dog sports, I immediately knew that this was what I wanted to spend my time doing.”
Dog sports aren’t just an important part of Georger’s life, they’re also an important part of Ruby’s. “I knew that Ruby needed an outlet for her energy, so I decided agility would be something that we would have a blast with,” they said. Luckily for Georger, a new dog sports facility, Premier Dog Sports, had just opened nearby. They signed up for foundation classes with trainer Lisa Bates, and the experience they gained there helped to set Ruby and them up for training success moving forward.
Georger now trains and competes in Agility, Conformation, AKC Rally, Dock Diving, Fast CAT, and Internationale Gebrauchshund Pruefung (IGP), also known as Schutzhund, with their dogs. In addition to the instruction and encouragement from their trainers, Georger credits their parents. Georger says that they are their biggest supporters, encouraging and making it possible for them to get involved with dog sports. “They’ve sacrificed their time and money for this hobby of mine,” Georger says. “I’ll forever be grateful to them for that.”
While Georger loves all the dog sports they are involved with, they say agility has become their favorite sport. “It’s given me a fun and exciting way to exercise and connect with my dogs and I always look forward to class every week with my amazing instructor, Maggie Ohol,” says Georger. “Not only is the sport fun for me, but my dogs love it as well!” Georger and Ruby had their competitive Agility debut in December 2022, and one of their proudest moments was the team qualifying in all four runs at their first trial. “It was an Agility Course Test, set up like an agility trial, and that day she ended up getting both her ACT1 title and her ACT1J title,” they explained.
This isn’t the only impressive start in a dog sport that Georger’s had with their dogs. In conformation, their Poodle Spyro took Best of Winners in his breed at his second show, which Georger
Navigating Life With a Service Dog
In addition to being a canine athlete, Spyro is also Georger’s service dog. Service dogs are task-trained to work with people who have a disability. Spyro accompanies Georger almost everywhere and supports them to help mitigate their anxiety, migraines, and vasovagal syncope. This is a condition that causes fainting due to sudden drop of blood pressure and heart rate. Some of Spyro’s tasks include picking up dropped items, providing deep pressure therapy by laying over their legs to slow down their heart rate, and giving Georger a “nudge me alert” in response to changes in their body language when they’re feeling anxious.
Working service dogs require tremendous amounts of training to effectively support their handler and properly navigate public spaces. Other than the puppy classes they took, most of Spyro’s training was done by Georger directly. “Since he was born, his breeder set him up for success with early neurological stimulation, early scent introduction, and early socialization,” says Georger. Once Georger got Spyro, they started training him themselves. “Since he came home at 9 weeks, I have been socializing him with the outside world and training him in basic obedience and tasks,” they say. Training is always a work in progress. Georger noted that while there have been some bumps in the road, and they still don’t consider Spyro fully-trained, he has already helped him in significant ways. “Our bond is forever growing,” says Georger.
Working with a service dog can bring unwanted attention for anyone, especially teenage handlers. Georger says that being homeschooled has allowed them time to focus on their passion for dog training, and also makes it easier for them to be a service dog handler. “It can be a bit stressful when going out in public, especially when I know other kids my age will be there,” says Georger. “A lot of the times kids will make unwanted comments or take pictures of us without asking, which tends to make me a little uncomfortable.”
Georger says it’s important for everyone to remember that service dogs have important jobs to do: supporting their handlers. The best thing you can do if you see a service dog is ignore them. Though it is sometimes stressful for Georger to deal with other people’s responses to their service dog, the bond they have with Spyro makes it worthwhile. “I know Spyro has my back and when I look down at him by my side, it’s a reminder that everything is okay,” they say.
Establishing Routines and Overcoming Training Challenges
When people see Junior Handlers successfully competing with their dogs, most of what they see is the titles and rosettes, not the hard work it takes to get there. Georger has a strong bond with their dogs, and maintains a regular training schedule with them. They have training classes every Wednesday and Sunday. On other days of the week, they train with breakfast and dinner, sometimes even between if they can find time.
Georger says training and competing in dog sports is a special challenge because your teammate is a dog, who has their own wants, desires, and feelings. Reactivity is a common issue that dog owners can face, and a challenge that Ruby specifically faced ever since she was a puppy. Overcoming Ruby’s reactivity has been their biggest challenge as a team, but with training, Georger says she’s come a long way.
“With Ruby, management has been my best friend. Whenever we’re out, I always make sure to be aware of my surroundings and keep distance from potential triggers,” Georger explains. They note that while this can be hard in a trial setting where there are a lot of other dogs and people, focusing on Ruby’s strengths and relying on their training has been the best way to keep her attention. “Engagement games before going into the ring are super helpful. Simple behaviors like position changes, spins, and having her bump my hand with her nose have all been life-savers when waiting for our turn to go into the ring,” they said. Being able to keep Ruby’s focus has allowed them to work through her reactivity and allow the team to compete together.
Building Community in Dog Sports
For Georger, getting involved in dog sports and training has been life changing. They have always struggled with being social, especially with people that they don’t know, but say that dog sports have allowed them to open up and communicate with others more. “Working with people while doing something I love has really helped me to step out of my comfort zone,” Georger says. This has led to them forming meaningful connections and gaining an increased confidence in connecting with new people.
Georger encourages any kids and teens interested in dog sports to get involved. If you’re wanting to get involved, Georger advises going to local shows near you and just go to watch. Once at the show, Georger recommends trying to step out of your comfort zone and talking with the handlers, as well as breeders and trainers. “This will not only help you get more familiar with trial and show settings, but you may even make some new friends!” Georger explains.
At sixteen, Georger only has a couple of years left as a Junior Handler and wants to make those years count. “I plan to keep doing dog sports and doing the most that I can before I age out,” Georger says. “My current goal is to get Spyro’s open agility titles and compete with him in the Junior Open Agility World Championship on Team USA in 2025.” Georger is also looking towards their future and plans to build a career that will center working with dogs. “After I finish high school, my plan is to go to college and major in canine training and management,” they said, citing the dog experience they are gaining now as helping to prepare them for a successful training career.