Kerry Aldridge & Millie (My Millie on Air)
Millie chose me to be her new owner in July 2005 when I visited Battersea London where she had been picked up as a stray. She had only been in kennels a couple of days and I felt very privileged to be allowed to view her. I still remember that first glimpse of her, body wiggling and an “Elvis” impression with one side of her lip and nose wrinkled. I didn’t need a second look I was besotted. I had a terrible few days waiting to hear if she had been reclaimed by her previous owner. Thankfully for me she wasn’t. I learnt that Millie (or Rose as she had been named by the Kennel staff) had been in Battersea before but had been reclaimed on that occasion. I started agility training one night a week with Millie in September 2005 and she was really enthusiastic to begin with but then began to become afraid and I was very confused as to why this should have happened. In the meantime I started training with another club as well and then gradually realised that Millie didn’t like the venue we had originally started training at, although she did love the trainers (sorry Chris you are still the only one Millie has piddled on in excitement!). So reluctantly we cut our training down to just one night per week. It did take some time to rebuild Millie’s confidence, having to double handle her to get her to run at all on occasions. Gradually over a period of time Millie learned to love agility again and I now know that Millie is exceptionally sensitive. Not something many people would associate with Staffies!
Millie’s first class at an agility show is one I will never forget, I think she ran under all but one jump and I began to wonder if I should ever have started agility with her. However, her second run could not have been more different and I think she just missed the entry on the weaves but other than that it was a clear round and I was so proud of her. We ended our first full season in grade 2 having won out at our own club show.
2009 has been the most wonderful year Millie could ever give me. Going from Grade 2 to 4. Qualifying for and then winning the Agility Club Starters Final, coming 2nd at the DINAS final plus numerous places along the way, gaining enough points for her Silver Warrant and by winning Medium Grade 1 / 2 in the Burgess Supadog Rescue League. Most of all I love her for the wonderful times she has given me in the ring – mostly when we have been e’d! Having grown in confidence so much this year we have had our fair share of “naughtiness” in the ring (we were e’d in 5 out of 6 classes at Letchworth) but this has just made me love her more because I know that she is really enjoying herself. I have left the ring on more than one occasion in fits of laughter and with a stitch! I am so proud of Millie, she is the most wonderful ambassador for her breed. Millie freely and willingly shares her love and happiness with everyone she meets and certainly loves and lives life to the full.
Millie has funny little quirks like crawling on her belly with her back legs splayed out behind her (her slug impression according to my niece), licking and nibbling ears (she has been known to gently pull the odd earring out!). Millie often plays with her treats and flings them about and will then bury them under blankets or if she can under pillows for eating later on, but if she catches you watching she will unbury them and take them somewhere else. She has a totally infectious smile and if really happy will smile so much that she wrinkles her nose right up and will then sneeze.
Millie is a one off, one of a kind and anything she does in the ring is just fine with me. Its really me that is the Millionaire. Thank you Millie x
Kerry