Winning out
isn't everything...
 Admittedly,
Rooby, a Staffie x Mastiff, was not built for agility, but her new owner Belle
McIntosh was looking for something to do with her rescue dog when she stumbled
across agility. At the time, she was more a yummy mummy than leggings and dog
T-shirts kind of person. Oh, how that has changed. After years of trying and
almost winning out, Belle is resigned to still being in G1. Or is she?
I
always try to
remember why I started agility. For me, it was the socialisation. Rooby was a street dog,
so I felt it was important to find a place where Rooby felt welcome. I very quickly found my
people and my team. There was a little gang of us - all ABCs who would meet up every
weekend, full of hope, watching our dogs go clear but ending up with a 4th or 5th
place.
Rooby was a very tiny Large with short legs and high withers. There was no such
thing as Intermediate at the time, so she jumped Large. We were thrown into the deep end with the 250mm Grade 1-2
Collies, all vying for a rosette.
Within a year we had
formed a proper partnership which was not always easy with a very foodie dog
that loved to visit the burger van. She was slow, but she was accurate and really
enjoying herself.
I think it was
probably about two years after she started competing that she started to win
consistently but always with faults.
Initially I watched as friends broke through to Grades 2 and 3. I was patient
and felt okay but, after about three years, I started to feel frustrated. We
were winning Combined G1-3 classes but always with faults especially time
faults. We literally couldn't run any faster and be accurate.
I knew she had the ability, and I kept my eyes on the prize, really wanting to
move up to G2, but whenever I tried to increase our speed, she would pick up a
refusal trying to catch up with me or pop a contact. She preferred staying with
me, and to be honest, we never quite mastered drive in the weaves.
Truthfully I was disappointed in my own ability. I had friends with Staffies who
were happily climbing the grades. At the time, however, I was setting up my
business and both Rooby and I loved going to shows. We barely had a weekend at
home from March to September, so there was always a potential winning out run.
 Fast forward to
the Derbyshire Agility show in August 2019.
My
friend Lindsay and I were desperate to get our girls to Grade 2 before the end
of the season. Both dogs were seven years old at the time. Rooby placed 1st and
her girl was 2nd when the results came in. Oh noooooo... we had time faults and that
was the last run Rooby ever did in Grade 1. It was to be our last chance to win out.
And then Covid
happened...
My dream was to come back from
Covid and climb up the grades. But Rooby ate too much pizza. When we came back
to agility we did a lot of Veterans and Anysize runs and she loved them. We ran
Small and it gave her a new lease of life and me some coveted 1st place
rosettes.
In the end I decided to retire her, not because of my ego or frustration. but
because she stopped enjoying it. Don't get me wrong. I am as competitive as
anyone. Looking back on our agility career, I am so proud of our partnership. If
both members of a team are happy and having fun, I'd say keep enjoying your
runs, rosettes or not.
I had started my trade stand, Furbaby Casting, when I was first training with
Rooby. I found it so hard not having a dog to run, but I supposed it compensated
for not moving up.
My next dog was Ned, another rescue Staffie. He was supposed to be a friend for
Rooby. He had the right physique for agility, trim and whippet-like. He was fast
but not the brightest. He would spend his lessons chasing birds or sunbathing. I
very quickly discovered CaniCross was his sport - and boy could he run!
Most
importantly the most wonderful friendship, a funny word to use when describing a
dog, but Rooby is my best friend. I learned to read my dog and listen and
not set her up to fail. Her soul purpose is to please me. It's not her fault if
it goes wrong. Now don't get me wrong. I am as competitive as the next person, but when that seven-
year old Staffie completes a course and smiles and then comes back to me for her tuggy,
it's is
the best feeling in the world.
Rooby was my entry
into the world of dog sports. From there, I met friends who introduced me to
CaniCross, and I am now a committee member of my club.
 Third
time lucky?
I was
still competing in CaniCross but running with friends' agility dogs as Ned had
retired due to illness. Rooby and Ned would come with me and snooze. It gave me
the time to really think about what would be my ideal family and competitive
dog. I would watch hours of runs from my stand, looking at the merits of each
breed and what I felt would fit with me and my lifestyle.
I was
then offered a working terrier. What was the worst that could happen?
On paper, my new girl Peggy, a Patterdale X (probably) has everything I was
missing with Rooby - speed and drive. Running her in Small would lengthen our
career.
I was also lucky enough to rescue her as a 12 week old puppy so she was my first
blank canvas. My aspirations are high. I would love to reach Grade 7 and be able
to enter classes for Champ finals. Rooby has taught me patience and to listen to
my dog. Peggy is teaching me to dream big, focus and have fun.
I am really looking forward to another season in G1 with my baby dog.
 About
the author...
Belle McIntosh is originally from New Zealand and she grew up with her first
rescue, a German Shepherd called Santos.
After much begging, Belle took her
15-year-old daughter to a local rescue centre hoping it would put her off. Of
course, they ended up coming home with a five month old Staffie x Mastiff pup
Thanks to Kate Truluck of CKT agility who at
the time was working with the rescue dogs at Appledown Rescue & Rehoming
Kennels, Rooby was enrolled in her first agility class.
Ned was rescued a year later and was a
CaniCross superstar. In December 2023, Ned ran over the rainbow bridge surround
by the humans who loved him.
Peggy (aka Peggasaurus) has continued with
agility, CaniCross and hoopers but playing ball is definitely her favourite.
 Furbaby
Casting has been the constant to Belle's agility and CaniCross career. It's a
small pink marquee where memories are made and where friends can come and
celebrate their triumphs and laugh about their epic failures, while Belle gets
get to cuddle their dogs and create beautiful castings to be cherished forever.
First published on 31st October 2024
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