What can be achieved with persistence...
 Jean
Hollick couldn't believe that, at the age of eight, her feisty little rescue
terrier had won from Grade 1 to Grade 5 in a year. She had been training him for
six years and always thought they would stay in Grade 1 forever. He is still as
argumentative as ever and barks so much he doesn't listen half the time. Then
occasionally he has flashes of brilliance and pulls out some great runs. He's a
real character! Jean loves him to bits and wouldn't have him any other way.
Hello everybody.
My name is Hector and this is my story.
I don’t know where I was born but I lived with my first mummy and
two little humans for about a year. I used to get so excited they decided I had
to go! I was very worried but a new mummy and daddy came and took me home with
them in their car. I wasn't used to cars. It was very frightening and made me
sick. After a year, I learnt that the car was actually okay as we always drove
slowly especially around corners so that I wasn't sick.
We went to puppy classes, but I was still too excited and they
kept putting me in the naughty corner. They didn’t understand. They wanted me to
learn how to sit but I knew that already. I sat on my mat and wagged my tail
harder and harder, but they took no notice so I ran around barking and then I
got told off.
My mummy said maybe agility would be better. We were both
complete beginners but we loved it. It was so much fun running over all the
equipment. They said something about contacts. That meant you got a treat if you
stopped. I soon found out that other dogs were also getting treats. If I was
quick and leapt off the top of the dog walk, I could pinch their treat before
they even realised!
 Fast forward three years!
I just loved agility but everybody said I am a very difficult dog.
How rude! I can’t help getting excited and I can’t get the hang of these
contacts. I am a very fast runner so why would I want to stop. Leaping off is so
much more fun. If I’m going really, really fast I can even pretend the seesaw is
a ski jump!
A lady called a trainer said we should enter a competition. We
were both very scared but we decided to have a go. Well, that is even more
exciting than training. There are so many dogs and people and such exciting
smells. I especially love horse poo. Sometimes it was so delicious I just had to
have a quick sniff before I carried on, even if it meant jumping the wrong way
over a jump. My mummy told me not to worry. She said it doesn’t matter if we stay at
Grade 1 forever - at least we are having fun.
We kept on entering competitions. Apparently mummy had got the
bug! From what I hear it appears I am an all or nothing dog. Most times I am
eliminated but sometimes I go really fast and listen carefully and then I win.
Mummy says we must persist. I think that means I must try harder!
Then last year I had some great runs although I was often still
making mistakes. Mummy was absolutely amazed and delighted that I went up from
Grade 1 to Grade 5 a week before my eighth birthday. I got lots of hugs and
kisses and extra treats.
I’d better tell you about my behavior at
a show
I’m usually calm in the queue but, if another dog gets too close, I
snap at it.
Once in the ring, though, I am very bad. I get soooo excited.
I just can’t stop barking. I am meant to sit but somehow my bottom just won't
stay on the floor. I even start off sometimes before my mummy tells me to. I run
very fast but she is not as fast as me so I have to swizzle round to see where
she is. Then I bark even more and jump up. I just want her to get a move on. If
I keep on barking, I forget to listen and then I go wrong. At the end, mummy
tells me I was rubbish. I think that means I was extra good because she says it
in such a kind voice. I wag my tail even harder and I get more treats.
One thing I am very good at is weaves. It took me ages to learn
and I hardly ever miss them now but used to be called a decimal dog because I
always came out at number ten! I am pleased that I am, at least, good at
something.
Anyway I just wanted to say that you too can be like me. I’m
still rubbish a lot of the time. I’m still very naughty most of the time but,
just sometimes, I’m brilliant although I say so myself. My mummy says I will
never change but she loves me for what I am!
 About the author
Jean Hollick was brought up with dogs. When she left hone and
got married, she quickly acquired a scruffy rescue terrier called Cindy who was
the first of an eclectic mix of rehomed and rescued mutts, mostly Collie Xs.
She was looking for another Collie X when
she came across Hector and fell in love with him!
Jean is now retired and lives in Norfolk
with her husband, Hector and Gap, a little Collie X stray from Ireland.
First published 6th March 2018
| 
