It was May 2002 when my mum received a phone call from the landlady of our local pub asking whether we 
would be interested in a mad, black Border collie pup who lived on the chicken farm in the next village and now desperately needed a new home. At the time we weren’t looking for a dog so my mum had strong reservations about whether to even go and have a look, however she knew I was desperate to do well in agility so she decided to ‘just have a look’. I was only just 12 at the time so my mum didn’t tell me about the dog until after she had seen him. When she did eventually break the news we went and saw him together. The reason for him being rehomed was simply a family had gone on holiday to Wales saw this litter of pups picked one and taken it home without thinking about the consequences. The family consisted of 4 children, two of which were under two years old and a mother who didn’t even like dogs! His exuberance and need of exercise along with the stress of bringing up four kids led to the mother on the verge of a breakdown so she decided the dog had to go. I walked into the house and around the corner zoomed this 10month old collie, very black, very hairy but mainly very adorable I just had to have him.
So two days later he was back at our house and so the journey began. To think my mum had doubts about whether to get him haunts me, as he defiantly is the best thing that has ever happened to me. From day one he has been completely bonkers and being my first agility dog this probably wasn’t the best combination, which is why I believe he has had so many problems however you can’t have everything. His name was originally Doodles, after the dog in the tweenies, however I couldn’t cope with shouting Doodles across the exercise area and so we shortened it to just Dude.
His love for agility is unbelievable and his drive is fantastic his major fault is his inconsistency but this is getting better now, or I could say my inconsistency! He is so focused on me that anything I do that’s slightly abnormal means his brain goes and bang that’s the round over! He has been extremely difficult to train, probably more my lack of experience than anything but I wouldn’t change him for the world and everyday he steps that inch closer fulfilling his potential. He has had other problems not linked with agility such as his hatred of strange men. Any male that he doesn’t know gets barked at and occasionally even chased down our drive (a poor delivery boy met him round the corner) but at least we wont ever get burgled I guess!
Despite his quirks he really is a dog in a million and I can’t imagine life without him. All he ever wants to do is please me, not always succeeding I have to say (only joking) which is why he is so special.
I still can’t believe that I was lucky enough to get Dude; he gives back more than I could possibly ask for and for that im forever grateful.
It just goes to show that rescues are also a force to be reckoned with!
Achievements:
Competing senior level
Qualified for Novice Olympia, DIN final,
Lucy O’Neill
