Lois Morkassel

My focus is on the handler’s communication with their dog. Whether running with the dog or working distance, handling is the key. Each team is different and needs customized information to make clear and timely cues using body and voice. Distance work has become a focus for me as I have aged and have less ability to run with my Poms. I share what my Poms have shown me and what I have learned from watching others who do distance handling. I use my off arm to help me use my body to better show my Poms what I want. It has translated well for others to help make cues clearer. My goal is for handlers and their dogs to have a long and healthy career. I look for ways to be kind to the team’s bodies. I welcome questions. I haven’t run into a dumb question in all the years I have taught agility. Class input is wonderful because it shows the handler’s interest and focus. Seeing what causes an off course helps so that the handler can understand what happened when the results are not planned or desired. It makes it easier to fix and to recognize where areas on course need more care.
I started in conformation and obedience with my Novice A Pom, Dande. Obedience became my focus. I was asked to teach and started in 1986. In 1989, Marvin Roth, a FMKC member, asked if the club had any interest in a new, upcoming sport called agility. I was one of the members who was interested. Marvin built some equipment and found another club member to construct more. Nothing like the equipment of today. He taught 2 sessions of agility classes and then wanted to move on to other dog sports. If I wanted to continue, I would have to teach, so I did. All this was before the internet. I read a lot, and most classes were what I tried with Dande right before I taught the class. I learned by watching other handlers at out-of-town trials and later at seminars and workshops. We were all learning together.

Dande was the 1st dog in the FMKC and ND to earn an agility title: USDAA’s AD. She was the first dog in the FMKC and ND to earn AKC’s NA in 1995. The Pomeranian Club of America acknowledged her as the 1st Pomeranian to earn the NA. Dande was also the first in FMKC and ND to earn the United Kennel Club’s UAGI and UAGII titles and NADAC’s NAC-V.
Her daughter Katie ran agility and titled in AKC and UKC.
Flitter ran in AKC and UKC and was the first Pom to earn some of her titles.
Iri ran in AKC and UKC. She earned FMKC’s 2nd MACH in 2009, PACH in 2012 and PACH2 in 2014. Iri also took us to Nationals.
Shimmer ran in AKC and UKC. She earned MACH in 2013 and PACH in 2017.
Tangi ran in AKC and UKC. We are waiting for AKC to open the MACH to PACH titling program.
RuBee is my current competitor in AKC. We keep on learning from each other.