On the way out to Phyllis and Jims this morning I was thinking a lot about the dogs that have come into my life. There was Max my first border collie mix he was the perfect first dog for me. He started agility late about 4 years old. After doing agility for a few years I wanted another dog to do agility with. I found Legend my first heart dog in Georgia. I was so excited to bring him home and start his career. I remember a friend of mine upon seeing my puppy saying that he walked a little bit funny. I didnt really think too much about it and I carried on. When Legend was a year old I began training him in agility. At first he did okay but after a few weeks he would come home stiff and lame after he worked. I took him to the vet and had him X rayed and checked. The vet couldnt find anything wrong with him. So we begin again and again had to stop when he came up lame. Again I had him checked and again they could not find much. A knee that was a bit loose, hips that were maybe a bit off, a back that was a bit stiff. All of that stuff lead to not being able to do agility. He was only a year old and I couldnt do agility with him. Of course I was devastated and I couldnt have another dog where I lived. Instead we found obedience and weve trained and participated in 5 DOCOFS. he never could do the long sit so we did not compete. We had a blast training together though. I gave up agility since I didnt have a dog and I got a job as a courier. We drove all over the state of Florida Legend and I he as my copilot. We saw incredible things together. when he was 9 years old I found NADAC tunnelers. It was the first time we were able to actually run together. We quite enjoyed having a few years playing this game. After a while I got another dog. His name was Leap of Faith and he came from a local breeder. I enjoyed 4 wonderful months with my puppy before on Christmas Eve he came down with parvo even though he had been inoculated. I raced him to the emergency vet and we tried so hard to save him but he died anyways. I dont think Ive been so devastated in all my life. I wondered why God had singled me out. I decided after losing Leap that I was going to rescue a dog. I picked out a great girl named Sophie. I just couldnt do another boy I was still too heartbroken. Sophie was wonderful at the rescue place but when I brought her home she was afraid of everyone everything and everything in my house. I thought how the heck am I going to do agility with this dog? I was ready to give her back but then I thought to myself what kind of trainer would I be if I gave up. After all I had been through I got another dog that might not do agility. It took me a year taking Sophie everywhere and getting her socialized. It was not easy but eventually she trusted me and grew to love the game of agility. She ended up holding 25 titles in AKC, USDAA and NADAC. She wasnt the fastest dog she wasnt going to take me to world team tryouts. Heck when she got her mad we celebrated like it was and ADCH. A few years after I got Sophie I got Alibi. Alibi was that dog I was looking for. She was a replacement for Leap from his breeder. She was one of my greatest teachers because she was so fast and I had to really look outside the box to try to handle her. I was blessed to have her for so long. I believe Epic my greatest gift for never giving up. I am going to count the blessings of the teachers that came before the dogs I have now. Without them I would not be the person I am today. Thank You Legend, Sophie, and Leap for teaching me so much, like getting through disappointment, horrendous heartbreak, and learning to never give up on a little dog that might be scared of everything.
Posted on: Sun, 18 May 2014 21:54:54 +0000