I became interested in agility in 1999. Early on, I learned alongside my Pomeranian, Buddy. In 2000 I brought a Sheltie into my home – Mikaela. She and I would go on to discover a deep passion for the sport. With Mikaela, there were many firsts. She has since passed, but she had a very successful career, with appearances in the final round of several agility national championships, including the 2006 AKC Agility National Championships.
In the ensuing years, I have trained and qualified other dogs for the AKC National Championships, again reaching the final round in 2013, this time with my Sheltie, Blister. We would proudly finish in third place that year, capping off a fun, and often entertaining career together.
I’m now running my Chihuahua, Cameron. Don’t let his size fool you. He thinks he’s a big dog and runs like it. It’s all or nothing with this boy, forcing me out of my box into learning a new handling style.
In 2008 I walked through another agility door when I enrolled in the AKC Agility Judges’ Seminar. It has proven to be another exciting, and challenging chapter in my agility journey. A bit of a ‘full circle’ experience, judging gives me perspective I had not previously experienced. It has also taken me all over our beautiful country, where I have been blessed to meet and make new friends along the way.