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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