Founding member: Rover

OAC, OJC, TN-O, TG-N, NAC-V, NJC-V, NCC

Rover was the classic unneutered stray country dog with mange.  I came home from work one day to find this mongrel inside the chain link fence with my other dogs.  None of them seemed perturbed by his presence.  Having never seen this dog before, I ushered him out of the gate in hopes he’d go home.  He came back in.  I put him out.  He came back in.  I put him out again.  He was coming under the fence in a low spot I discovered.  That was it for the night.  He had dinner with the other dogs and slept on the porch.  

No one on our road had ever seen this dog before.  An assumed “drop-off.”  So we decided this clown could stay as he was the first dog our middle aged Border collie actually liked and played with.  

We treated his mange (which he also shared with the other dogs) and neutered him.  Named him Rover, because, well, he’s a Rover.  There’s never been a more Rover-esque dog.  It fits perfectly.   

No sooner had Rover worked his way into the pack and into my heart, he started leaving.  We had fixed the low spot in the fence, so now he was climbing it.  We’d spot him in the field across the road, or the field behind us, or even worse, chasing the school bus.  He could be gone in a flash.  Always return, always smiling.  He also started killing our chickens – a deed that almost ended his stay here.  (Now he just steals their eggs given the opportunity.)  Rover needed a job and soon!  In desperation I found an agility class on Sunday afternoons that I could get to in spite of my work schedule.  

And that was the beginning of Go Rover Go.  From the first class, Rover was a star – my bud with a smiling clown face.  He was mentally exhausted at the end of the hour.  It was great!  We were hooked.  (Thank you Leo Clem.)

Since then, this fence climbing, bus chasing, egg stealing, chicken killing canine delinquent has become an icon among his friends and endeared to his people. 

Rover is the best brown dog ever.  - PH

Alex the Greyhound, MX, MXJ

Alex is a “rescue” greyhound, but not in the traditional sense.  He was acquired at 9 weeks of age from an Iowa breeding kennel of racing greyhounds, the result of a mismating.  I picked him up from a veterinary student in Missouri who was attempting to place the litter.  I already lived with an older retired racing GH, and loved his sweet mellow personality.  What could be better than a chance to raise a pup just the way I wanted!   

Hah!  What a mistake!  The pup was wild, obstinate, and destructive.  He had an extraordinary fear of kennels and crates that frustrated our attempts at housebreaking.  He destroyed every object imaginable.  He scaled fences.  He ran away when called.  He drove us absolutely crazy and almost threatened my marriage.   

But there was a great streak of the clown in Alex; he adored kids and loved to play on playground equipment.  Up and down slides, across bridges, through the tunnels.  He was utterly fearless!   

I didn’t know much about agility, but after observing Rover and Piper in class one day, I knew Alex could do all that stuff.  After the first few classes I realized I had found the key to Alex’s heart and mind.  He loved it!  How fantastic to connect with a dog who seemed hopeless.  I was elated!  Our bond grew, and our instructor suggested trying him out in competition. 

Luckily, I was clueless.  About the stress of competition, and particularly about sighthounds.  No one ever told me “greyhounds don’t do agility”.  Our first trial was a disaster; he ran away!  I spent many more trials watching Alex zoom around the ring perimeter, and occasionally even leaving the ring entirely.  But there was the occasional qualifying run, and I was hooked!  And as long as Alex is having a good time, what the heck.   

Currently Alex ranks number three greyhound pointed in AKC agility, all time.  Sounds great until you realize there are only about 9 dogs on that list.  He was also one of only three greyhounds extended the honor by the AKC to compete in the Inaugural 2006 Agility Invitational at Long Beach California.  He was somewhat miffed that mom chose not to drive that distance just for a silly Greyhound.  Poor Alex! -KS

Diablo,
NA NAJ

I got Diablo as a puppy. I shut him in a door not meaning too, and I have had him ever since.  He will be seven in December of this year.  He has been through a lot with me. We moved 3 hours away from everything we ever knew; he did very well with the move.  I started agility with him because I wanted to do more fun things with him.  We loved it!!! He now has both AKC novice titles. However something frightened him at the Louisville cluster trial 2 years ago, so now we concentrate on fun things only, like NADAC tunnelers.  He loves the tunnels and it make him feel like a puppy, but he is just as happy to be at a show just to be around people!  -KR

Bailey the Brittany,
AX, OAJ, NAC, NJC

 Bailey is another rescue.  Found running scared in a field with a large wound on her face.  She originally lived with a friend, but circumstances brought her to me.  She started agility not because she needed a job, but because I was addicted and wanted to do more. 

Bailey is very easily stressed; crowds, noise, uncertainty.    In class she became known as a marshmallow.  Everyone would say “poor Bailey” as she laid down and rolled over amid the equipment, conflicted as to what to do.  She was afraid of weave poles and A-frames she didn’t know.  It appeared she would never be able to trial. 

Fortunately, I am a stubborn and patient person.  I bought a set of Weave-O-Matic weave poles, a bunch of Greenies® and started her as if she had never known weave poles.  She learned.  She got fast.  She has even learned off-side weaves which we all thought was impossible for her.  We went only to NADAC trials for a while, so that if she melted on the course, I could help her.  I taught her to spin as a stress breaker and after a while I could spin her mid-course when she was starting to melt and she’d shoot up the A-frame or hit the weaves.  Bailey has recently retired from AKC events.  At her final trial she qualified in BOTH her standard runs, got 3^rd place both times and finished her Excellent A title.  What a great way to wind up.  She did this for me.  Wow Bailey.  -PH

  MACH Andrew

 Andrew is another rescue story.  He survived a broken front leg and heartworm disease, but after multiple homes, was afflicted with a questionable temperament.  He mistrusted most people, and lacked self confidence.  He was cage aggressive and food aggressive. 

He grew to trust me, (I do control the food!) but continued to be wary of strangers, and developed into a co-dependant “Velcro” dog.  He was suspicious of agility at first, and often refused to work, backing away from equipment or situations he didn’t understand.  And most disheartening, he refused to play, running away from balls and tug toys.   

It’s amazing what time and patience can do.  More often than not there are no ground-breaking discoveries, just a gradual growth in trust and understanding.   

Given enough time, Andrew has turned into one of the most accurate, consistent, self-confident dogs I have ever owned.  He tugs aggressively, flies away to obstacles, retrieves balls, and has a great time!  He is still has issues, but his love for the game and respect for our relationship demonstrates tremendous growth.  

Andrew participated in his first AKC Agility Nationals in 2005 in Tampa, Florida and earned his MACH on March 17, 2006 at the Greater Louisville Training Club Agility Trial.  He placed 25th in the 20 inch division with three clean runs at the AKC Agility Nationals held in Sunbury, Ohio in 2007.  He is one incredible doggie! -KS

 Lark, 
MX, MXJ, OAC, OJC, TN-O, OCC, TG-N, WV-N

Lark, aliases Bark, Hokey Pokey or Freckle Nose, is a rescue BC.   She came to me at about 9 weeks old as a stray.  Black and white, sweet, floppy ears and freckles – who could resist?  We had lost a 13 year old Border a year or so earlier and I had been thinking I was ready for another.  I am a believer that if you wait long enough, the dog you’re looking for will turn up.  A few weeks passed and in comes this pup looking for a home.

Lark is not one of those crazy fast borders, but she can do distance work and can be sent ahead.  Her strength is consistency (as long as I give her proper instructions.)  She does those fun raise your opposite arm to push away moves.  Not sure how we figured that out, it just happened.  And she always has those freckles ready for kisses.  We are slowly working towards a MACH.  We will have our double Q’s long before we have enough speed points.  We’re aiming for March 2008 or 2009 or 2010…  What’s the hurry? -PH

 Ace, 
AX, AXJ

My husband bought me Ace because I wanted a dog who really wanted to be out on the agility field with me. So he got me an Aussie, not knowing that I would become a crazy woman!  Ha! J    

Now I’m addicted and want to go to every trial around!  I started him at the March Louisville cluster in 2004. He now has his Excellent A standard title, and is working on his Excellent jumpers title.  -KR

 Peta, 
OA, OAJ

I picked Peta out for my husband because he wanted a little dog.  Oops! Unfortunately, Peta wanted nothing to do with my husband, and first bonded with me. He was nine months old when he came to our home, around the same time as Ace. I started him in agility to boost his confidence because he was scared of everything. But now he is a monster!! He is very brave for the most part, but he still gets scared when a man comes up to him for the first time. He has his Open standard and jumpers titles, and is currently competing at the Excellent level in AKC. -KR

 Tag, 
NA, NAJ, NAC, TG-N

Tag is a twice re-homed Cairn terrier.  He has the typical terrier traits which either endear him to you or make you absolutely batty.    We have made it out of the novice level and are taking a break for a bit.  He was showing ring stress so we are working on a new start line procedure and attention skills.  I hope he will be back in the ring soon.  -PH

Basil the Borzoi 

What can I say?  I'm crazy about these sight hounds.  But all Basil's breeder knows is that I'm crazy.  Basil's AKC debut netted him no ribbons, but a chance to show off his excellent weaving skills!  Who knows what the future may bring.  -KS

Ember

Yes another dog!!! She is the only female dog I have. She was born last fall, and yes she is a Border Collie. I would have to say that so far she is the easiest puppy I have ever had to raise.  She will also do agility if she would like to, but I would like try some herding with her as well. -KR

Aidan the Whippet

Aidan was our 'unplanned' furry child. Cute and quick, he is already showing signs of becoming one of the outstanding whippets in agility. From an early age, he has yet to find a counter or table he cannot attain in a single bound. He also has a great singing voice! -CB