Nikki Collins & Harley (Hotshot Harlequin) 

Hi there everyone, my name is Harley and I am a 5 year old working sheep dog. 3 years ago my mum, Nikki picked me up from Lincolnshire Rescue Kennels and took me home with her. Before mum picked me up from the kennels I lived in a tool shed. I didn’t like it much in the tool shed so I used to escape and roam around the neighbourhood. People didn’t like me roaming around the neighbourhood so they used to ring the dog warden and I ended up in the rescue kennels loads of times. My old family used to come and collect me from the kennels or the dog warden would take me home as she knew where I lived. This time no-one came to get me and the nice dog warden didn’t take me home- everyone decided it was about time I got a nice home.

I went home with mum and she let me sleep in the house and even on her bed. I did not really like people much, don’t get me wrong I was not aggressive or anything I just had no interest in them. I did not want to bond with mum at all and just wanted to be out roaming. I used to climb over 7ft fences to escape and take myself off for a lovely long walk. Mum was never too happy about that and seemed to get upset with me. She even said she wanted to take me back to the kennels because I was a right handful and she couldn’t get me to stay in the garden. I knew she wouldn’t take me back because I knew she loved me to much.

Almost 2 years ago mum took me to a local agility club and we had a go at agility. I LOVED it! We went every week and realised that mum was good fun and I decided I wanted to be with her, so I stopped trying to run away and instead I like to spend all my time with my mum now. As for agility after about 8 months training we went out competing and I got a rosette at my first show. I really love agility and it has totally changed me. Mum says agility saved me. We have loads of fun competing nearly every weekend. Mum says I have got much more confident this season and at Supadogs I won grade 2 agility so now I am up to grade 3.

Anyway I better go now, maybe I will see some of you guys around at some shows. Have fun competing everyone and as mum says “pick ya feet up!”

Loads of Love

Harley