Evelyn Price & Toddy
Toddy started life being called Alfie and he came to me at 5 months old. I had tried to get him few weeks earlier but I was too late and he was already was on his way to his 4th home.
Luckily for me his 4th home was heaven for Toddy as it was full of cats, as Toddy’s worse fault is his ‘eye’ for movement, chasing cats was great fun for him, but not for the cats or the fourth owners!
Still it was a blessing for me as I found out he was back in the kennels, so off I trotted to get him.
Originally I had met Toddy on my morning walk as the dog warden walks with me.
He adored Buzz my Border Collie, and kept chasing him and running away the whole time, as they had got on so well, when I heard he was back in Kennels I thought why not………..?
Toddy’s is now 5 yrs old and still very into movement, this was something I channelled into his agility training and his enthusiasm and speed is astounding, and he always try’s really hard for me.
Tell me again........ why exactly do I have to wait?
His infamous lack of wait on the line causes quite a laugh from other agility folk who know I’m an obedience handler. Watching him anticipating his start, can be quite funny for me too, but I refuse to be beaten so I continue to work on getting that wait, maybe one day............... then again maybe not, only time will tell!
Apart from agility and chasing Buzz his next most favourite hobby is watching TV. He gets up in the morning and sits watching himself in the blank screen until I turn it on for him.
He knows all the programmes and adverts with animals in them, and while the other dogs sleep Toddy sits watching his favorite programmes.
Crufts Star
So my cat chasing, Buzz chasing, TV watching, ‘no wait on the start line’ Toddy boy is at Crufts this year, see miracles can happen! We have qualified for the team event with the Tenterden agility team, and with Toddy anything could happen. Still it should be fun for Toddy, the spectators, and myself but not maybe as much fun for my team mates! Still I think everyone should have a Toddy.
THE REST OF THE FAMILY
Evelyn has been doing agility for about 14 yrs and works full time as a nursing auxiliary, she has 3 children and 2 grandchildren. Dog training started with her first rescue dog Honey, who was a xbreed whippet lab thingy, and they went to pet classes in someone’s garden, where the trainer had her own agility equipment so also taught little bits of agility. As Honey was always into titbits she was lovely to train, so Evelyn then joined Eastbourne DTC, where she and Honey excelled at obedience and agility, Honey was a star she wasn't brilliant, but as Evelyn was so keen, she thinks that was the key and Honey won the clubs obedience award 2 years running. Honey’s trophy’s still have pride of place in Evelyn’s house from all those years ago.
Evelyn then got her precious red and white collie KC who comes from Dalemain Red Rascal. KC was brilliant and won The NCDL Agility Starter Final, went to Crufts in obedience and came 9th and won with the obedience team the following year.
Buzzbee, Evelyn’s next dog works Advanced Agility, Ticket Obedience and Advanced Heelwork to Music, he is very full of attitude and he has quite a few children on the circuit, and has just had 15 grandchildren this xmas.
Evelyn’s youngster Dash is having a tough time at the moment with a soft tissue injury he has had since last July, although she did manage to qualify him for Olympia in the Novice Agility Stakes. He is Buzzbees son and his mother is from the Woodsorrel clan, so he is a mix of KC and Buzz, and really is a superb dog and she really hopes that he gets over this injury.
So Toddy really has quite a family reputation to keep up.
Evelyn is actually considering another rescue and in her own words;
I need a dog to train they keep me busy, Toddy knows his job, Buzz knows everyone’s job, and KC is retired, so wondered if I could have another one to get through this year so I won’t miss training and running Dash so much. I love my boys to bits and Honey bless, who passed away last year. I work all week and I’m out 4 nights with the dogs, I find that training my dog’s is a great form of relaxation after work and while some people think I’m mad, I consider myself a typical mad Border collie owner!
The best of luck to you both at Crufts, I know whatever happens you will both have fun!
Karen (Feb '06)