Who's counting?
Margaret
Goulden and her nine year old crossbreed Shani Patty Paws did 18 shows in 2009 with a total of 78 runs.
Out of this there were 66 clears (+ 1 out of time) which means a success rate of 85%. Not bad
for a dog who has never been impressed with full height! Having competed
for the last 7½ years, Margaret has decided to run Shani in Anysize / Veterans from now on so
Shani
can really enjoy herself without the worry about the height. This is Shani's story.
Shani was 14 weeks
old when I adopted her from Dogs Trust, then NCDL. She was an unwanted dog from a farm
and had had no socialisation at all. Poor puppy. She was frightened of the world!
Everything was scary.
One day you
could happily walk past a bench on the Downs. Then next time around she would charge at
it, barking. Walks were an uphill battle! You had to anticipate her every move.
Eventually with love and training, she has become a super dog.
She rules the
rest of the 'pack' at home - us included sometimes! She is definitely top dog over three year old Teddy, two year old Peggy and eight year old Coz.
We started
obedience training with Sue Stevens at Whitstone Village Hall on Wednesday
evenings. Shani was very quick to learn, especially as we did reward training. Food wins
most times! We had a great time and learned a lot.
A group of us then decided that Agility sounded fun
Oh, how naive we were! |
Shani's Impressive Year
This is how she finished 2009
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1 x 1st
-
1 x 3rd
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2 x 4th
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2 x 5th
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4 x 6th
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3 x 7th
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2 x 9th
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2 x 10th
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3 x 11th
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1 x 12th
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2 x 13th
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1 x 16th
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42 Clear Rounds
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From just doing
agility to help Shani gain confidence to being well 'n truly hooked on it did not take long.
Shani thought it was good fun and really showed off with the contact equipment. Usually when
learning these items two people were involved to help guide the dog safely over for the first
few time but not with Shani. As no-one could get near her, I just gave it a go and she did it
all as though she was born to it!
We then started
competing. The biggest battle was to get Shani passed the Judge and pole pickers in the ring.
She eventually decided that they were safe and that agility was good fu. She went on to get her first clear round. What a
superb feeling! That rosette was worth a fortune – not in money but pride.
Shani has wall hangings full of rosettes
She is so steady and responsive - although not fast - that there
have been very few times that she has not got a clear, a lot of times with a place.
One example of her
success was at Dashin' Dogs, Tattenhall in August 2009. In six days of competing, she had a total
of 19 runs with an impressive result of a 6th, a 7th, a 9th, a 10th,
an 11th place rosettes plus 13 clear rounds. On the last day of the show she
knocked a pole down. She was so surprised that she stopped and stared at it. It was not her
fault it fell off! On the Tuesday in an Agility round, Shani had 6th place and Teddy, my ‘new’ dog had 1st place, putting us into Grade 2 (at last!)
Shani
has been in the Supadog Agility Rescue League (DARL) for two years and was placed 7th in 2008
and 11th in Large Grade 1 in 2009. She has also
managed to get her Kennel Club Agility Warrant Bronze and Silver Awards.
Although we could have
gone up to Grade 2 on points, I had always hoped she would win out. In the end, she had to go
up as Teddy won out but at her last competition of 2009 - her last full height ever. She came away
with a 1st in Agility, a 4th in Jumping and a clear in Steeplechase. Not a bad way
to finish a superb career. Just watch out for her in Anysize!
We even found her older sister through agility
We were at a show when Margaret Sochon came rushing over, asking
why we had her dog. Only when she saw Shani did she realise it was not hers! Brynie is two
years older and another rescue dog from the same area. When you see the two of them together
they are like mirror images. Even their mannerisms and attitudes are the same. Brynie, now 11
is retired, but was another steady, clever dog.
I now have Teddy
Mavros Koda as my 'competing' dog. With Shani’s help he will go far.
Shani has taught me
such a lot in her nine years including patience, fun and above all the love of a faithful
companion!
About the
author...
Margaret Goulden, Shani's owner - she
thinks that’s the right way round - is 55 and lives in Bude, North Cornwall with her husband
Bob. Just over 24 years ago they moved from Birmingham to Cornwall where they run a small
passenger transport company. She has done the same school run for over 22 years.
Margaret started doing agility shortly
after she got Shani and now trains with Ginny Foley, nr. Holsworthy. Margaret thoroughly enjoy
their training sessions, especially if they have done well at a competition as cakes are
compulsory! She is also a member of Carn Brea, an agility club which was set up to put on shows
but does not offer training as a club.
Marhave four dogs. Shani and Teddy
(collie X) are her two while Coz (Border collie x) and Peggy (Collie X) are Bob’s dogs although
their loyalty usually lies with the person with the food.
Her other passion - other than food -
is her camera. She is so glad digital cameras were developed as she can click away.
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