Agility can become a real addiction.  It’s fun, friendly and keeps you and your dog in tip-top shape.  Here are the stories of just a couple of the thousands of people all over the UK addicted to Agility.

From first dog to World Championships in 2 years!

 Rachel Mowbray, a 29 year old vet from Cheltenham, bought her very first dog, a Border Terrier called Nutmeg, just 6 years ago.  She went along to general puppy training classes for a year or so until, one fateful evening, the trainer got out some agility equipment for the class to practice on.  Rachel and Nutmeg took to agility instantly and, just two short years and a lot of hard training later, were representing Great Britain at the World Agility Championships.

“When I first represented England at the 2004 World Championships I was a bag of nerves.  But the rest of the team were so supportive and helpful and really gave me confidence to get through such a big event.  That’s typical of Agility people – it’s such a fun and friendly sport.  Of course it can be very competitive at the top level, but everyone always makes time to put you at your ease no matter what level you are competing at”, Rachel explained.

2006 has been an outstanding year for Rachel and Meg.  They won the 2006 Superdogs Final, came second in the mini challenge and second in the circular knockout at Crufts, won the Nations Cup at the International Agility Festival, came third in the British Open at the International Agility Festival, represented Great Britain again in the World Championships in Switzerland (helping the Small Dog Team to a very respectable 11^th place) and also found time to win an Agility Certificate.

As a vet, Rachel firmly believes that agility is the key to a healthy and happy dog.  “Dogs love it.  The dog and the handler keep fit and it’s the most fun way to have an obedient and happy dog.  The most healthy dogs I see in my practice are all agility dogs.”

It’s never too late to start …

Priscilla Barrett, from Cambridgeshire, has owned dogs all her life, but it wasn’t until she was 56 years old that she came to the sport of Agility.  Six years ago her new Border Terrier puppy, Jem, was proving rather boisterous and Priscilla thought he would benefit from training classes.  One evening the class were introduced to agility equipment and Jem proceeded to fly over all the obstacles to the manner born.  The trainer was even convinced that they had done agility before.  With Jem showing so much natural talent, Priscilla signed them both up for specialist agility training classes at Ely & District Dog Training Club. 

Agility was love at first sight for both of them and since then they have gone from strength to strength to win mini agility at Crufts twice, represented Great Britain at the 2004 World Championships helping the Medium Dog Team to third place and won the British Open at the 2005 International Agility Festival.

“It’s never too late to give agility a go.  You might think you have a close relationship with your dog now, but it simply cannot compare with just how close and rewarding a relationship you can develop with your dog through agility training and competition.  I would recommend it to everyone”.

Now Priscilla and Jem have their sights set on Crufts 2007.  “I may be 62”, she laughs, “and Jem may be recovering from an injury, but we will be getting round that course with the best of them!” 

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