A Simple Invitation
How one simple question at an agility class opened the door to field life, lifelong friendships, and a new way of seeing dogs.
There are people who come into our lives and quietly change our direction. For me, Poe was one of those people.
We met at an agility class. Kira was a spirited young Vizsla with plenty of talent and energy, and I was trying to figure out what I was doing. It was my first dog sport, and I spent most of my time learning my own footwork, timing, and body language. Agility was a great outlet for both of us. Kira loved it, and I loved watching her learn.
Kira and Bix, agility days, 2020.
One day, while we were waiting for class to start, Poe asked a simple question.
Would I like to come out to Hastings and let Kira explore what she had been bred to do?
I said yes without hesitation.
The following weekend, we drove out to Hastings and met Steve and Michelle. We didn’t really know what to expect. We were there to watch, learn, and give Kira an opportunity to explore something completely new.
What happened next was mesmerizing.
Kira seemed to understand a language neither of us spoke. She worked scent cones, located birds, and moved through the field with a purpose that felt both instinctive and natural. Steve asked whether we had done any bird dog training with her before.
We hadn’t.
Not a single lesson.
At the end of the day, Steve smiled and told us she was a special girl. If we wanted to continue, he suggested we stop by Tractor Supply on the way home, buy a pair of boots for ourselves, and the rest would fall into place.
As it turned out, the training wasn’t really for Kira.
It was for us.
The more we returned to Hastings, the more I realized how much I had to learn. Reading the wind. Watching body language. Understanding what the dog was telling me. Learning when to help and when to stay out of the way.
I often felt like I had two left feet.
But the people we met were patient. They welcomed us into a community that shared knowledge, encouraged beginners, and cared deeply about the dogs.
Looking back now, what began with a simple invitation grew into years of adventures, friendships, lessons, and experiences that I never could have imagined at the time.
Many of the paths that eventually led to Pointer Lane can be traced back to Poe’s generosity, encouragement, and willingness to share something she loved with someone new.
For that, I will always be grateful.
-Pat