The 2010 SupaDog winner is
and the runner's up are
Nancarrow Breezer & Lady Zara Arth Coch
I would like to thank everyone for the entries and of course all of your dogs are 'winners'
Thank-you also to The Burgess team who had the very difficult task of choosing our trophy winner.
I will publish all of the stories in due course, as we all love a happy ending
SupaDog 2010 Award winner - Kirsty Horne & Maisie (Amazing Maisie Mouse)
When I met Maisie in Sept 2007, she was about 6 months old and was huddled in a puddle of her own wee. She had been carried into the RSPCA by a brave lady who snatched her from her evil ‘owners’ (who were drug dealers and idiots). Even the rescue staff said she was the most frightened dog they’d ever met. Her condition was pitiful - stained all over, terribly skinny, mangy, broken teeth, and she was completely mentally shut down. We wondered whether they may even have given her drugs – if not, she’d just suffered so much she had deeply given up, poor little sweetheart. There was a beautiful young dog in there though and of course she stole my heart within a beat and I had to take her home and try to make it all better for her. There was a hurdle – to be allowed to take her she first had to meet my boy, Billy Woof. Billy had come to me in the January – a worried, unsocialised boy – he was my first dog. I got him out to meet her and for the first time I’d seen it he wagged his big tail (very slightly!) at another dog. Maisie lifted her little nose and peered at him. Us humans blubbed….anyway she was our girl in that instant.
Within minutes of getting her home I’d lost her! I found a little puddle on the floor but no pup, then found her trembling and curled into a ball cowering in the back of a kitchen cupboard. She must have been beaten for toileting and she was so petrified she’d done “wrong” and was going to be punished again. It was heartbreaking to see her terror in her eyes.
To cut a long story short, we slowly got to know each other began working together through her fears. Toilet training took months and lots and lots of mopping(!) but we got there. And Maisie learnt it was all OK and fun to be a puppy! She quietly adored Billy, and though he was confused by this funny little thing, he became such a tolerant, gentle big bro. It was a very special experience for me to build a trusting bond with Maisie. She was so very “broken” but she’s never once showed an ounce of aggression (though who could’ve blamed her is she had.)
By 12-months-old Maisie had blossomed into a busy and much more confident girl, and it seemed like time for her first puppy agility class. She was so good and
proudly took her first steps – poles, sitting and being fussed on contacts, walking though open weaves, etc. And she totally loved it!!! We had to take things very, very slowly and introduce every new piece of equipment extra gently, but she loved to learn. Some things could’ve been very scary e.g. the cloth tunnel as she was still worried by anything touching her back, so we worked at it with a dining chair and curtain at home, and tonnes of praise and play, and this is now one of her fave things. Also the seesaw took a bit to master and again we built this up so gradually until she has become a seesaw demon!!!
To my surprise, Maisie told me she was ready to compete shortly after her 18-month “birthday”. At our first show (Yorkshire Bouncers BAA) to my delight she got a clear round a lovely judge’s special rosette too!!! Our super new agility friends were whooping and Maisie lapped it up and came dancing out of the ring and did a crazy wiggly giggly roll on the grass outside! That was such a special day.
We enjoyed a couple more independent shows and then entered her first KC one (Newton Heath at Myserscough). Little Maisie got a bit unhinged and we had a jittery first run. I worried I’d pushed her too much to run in that busy arena and so later took her back into the arena and just hung around for a while and she took everything in and she settled so much I decided to do her second run of the day after all – and this time she was much better – though E’d, she enjoyed it and did really well, and came home tired but very happy. We’d entered another show (Wyre) at the same venue soon after, and though in two minds whether to go, decided to. This time she was much more relaxed. Our runs were both first thing - first was tricky for grade one and included a brush jump and wall – neither of which she’d ever seen!! Oh well, all good experience ... I was overjoyed when she ran a tidy clear!!! Next class and … clear again!!! I was even more gobsmacked when the presentations came round and she’d got fifth place in the first class!!!!!!! Woweee!!! Another very special landmark day.
We’ve gone on together to enjoy lots of shows this year – so much fun – ups, downs, and several extreme comedy moments! The “polepicker’s chair jump” she invented at Wirral was especially hilarious and earned a big cheer and another ‘special’ rosette, ooops! We, of course, entered the Supa Darleague and it has been brill seeing her points steadily add up through the year. Maisie is not and never will be the fastest and she sits quite happily in grade 1, but she has earned a fine little collection of rosettes. She’s even not far off earning her Bronze Warrant, and this and the League are fantastic to work towards, especially with a dog that’s simply not designed to be a “winner” in the sense of coming first, moving up the grades, etc.
There have been loads of challenges along the way too, but that’s cool. One big one has been her feeling worried about Judges – especially if it’s a man, or wearing a hat, or a man wearing a hat, or running near the contacts, or with a rosette flapping in the wind, etc, etc. For ages she kept coming out of the weaves if she felt the Judge was looking at her, LOL! And the A-scale has always been her big challenge as again she gets worried at the Judge being near, and sometimes dithers on the top before feeling safe to come down. She’s getting better all the time though, and it’s so rewarding to see her confidence steadily build in agility as in life. Maybe one day in a ring we’ll meet a big man wearing a big hat and a flappy rosette, sprinting near the contacts, and she’ll just slap on her big grin and scamper on ….
Despite Maisie’s horrible early life, she is the sweetest, funniest girl. With people she can still be anxious, but mostly quickly comes round and everyone we’ve met in agility has been kind and patient with her.
We were joined this year by rescue dog number three – Welsh boy Tim (from Many Tears Rescue) He’s a super zany boy but had no manners at all and Maisie’s been brilliant with him – playing loads but also gently but firmly teaching him boundaries.
What breeds make up Maisie is anyone’s guess! She’s small collie sized but definitely has a good dollop of GSD, a dash of JRT, a splodge of whippety-ness and who knows what else?! I really don’t care as she’s so beautiful and perfect and she is my Amazing Maisie Mouse - AKA The Swamp Monster …
Right now three dogs are fast asleep by the fire, happy and safe and tired by another fun day, and they will bounce up in the morning full of joy with mad waggy tails, as they do every day. Rosettes and whatnot are lovely, agility is brilliant fun and a challenge, and for Maisie it’s been a healing activity, but really this is what rescuing dogs is all about.
Congratulations to everyone who has played agility and taken part in the Supa Darleague this year with their special rescue dog(s).
Kirsty x
Rogue's Story . . .
SupaDog 2010 - Runner up Anne Dunwell and Rogue (Nancarrow Breezer)
My dog family was very much complete - I would look around the front room in the evening and pretty much every available space was occupied by a dog! I had 5 (4 of 
which were rescues/ rehomes) Mishka, Lace, Brooke, Jack and Kai an interesting mix of characters and breeds. I adored them all. I was definitely not in the market for another dog - nope, no way 5 dogs was enough for me.
I was sat at work on a Thursday afternoon (not looking at schedules honest!) and an email dropped in titled: 'Please help with our Spaniel' now this is not your average NHS titled email! On opening it - I discovered it was from a rather distressed family who had found out that I would help out in situations where a dog had bitten. They had a 16mth old Cocker Spaniel he was lovely in everyway except had in their words ' become very possessive over anything in his mouth and had bitten her husband and both of her children whilst they were trying to retrieve things from him'. The bites were not serious but he had begun to snarl and had grazed the skin. They very much loved him and had hired out the services of a behaviourist (using the term loosely) who Rogue (then Kaiser) had proceeded to bite - they took him to the vet and he bit her aswell!
Both vet and the behaviourist advised he should be put to sleep as it was wrong to rehome a dog that bites.
So I sat looking at this email realising that if I replied dog number 6 would be on his way maybe I could foster him and find him a child free home? I could end up with trouble and a lot more work. My current dogs may not take to him, could i afford another? . . . . of course I hit reply and said I would take him.
3 days later I was on my way to collect him. When I arrived he was wearing a soft muzzle which they took off when he was in his crate as it was the only way to stop him picking up things and consequently biting. After a long discussion I realised that they could work through his problem with the right trainer helping them. Sadly they were of 
the view that a dog should not get treats for giving an item up and he should give it automatically because they were 'pack leaders'. Flogging a dead horse and all that - I bundled spaniel features into the van and headed for home. Muzzle went in wheelie bin on the way pass!
So Rogue had landed (renamed as we already had a Kai). He bounced in amongst the pack without a second thought: phew: The possessiveness never really became an issue here - we had pots of treats all around the house and he learnt the fun of swapping a pen for chicken, a sock for a schmacko . . . In fact he has learnt the swap game a little too well and will often bring us a piece of fluff or sad looking nylabone in the hope we will exchange it for some of our Sunday dinner!
To this day he has never ever bitten anyone here.
So lets see what he makes of agility - my hopes were not high as control off lead was non -existent (and still is!!). As far as Rogue was concerned he is a spaniel - spaniels run - spaniels hunt - spaniels only need to return to owner twice a walk to check they are still there. He took to agiltiy like nothing i have ever seen it was as if he had read the handbook!
To this day we have never been to a show without getting a rosette. He started competing in Nov 08 and by July 09 he had qualified for Crufts in the Carn Brea medium team. It was one of the best days of my life I was so proud of him. He is not always totally focused on the job in hand and has been know to abandon the ring and be retrieved from the back of the burger van!
He is the happiest little chap I have met and everyday for Rogue is designed to be lived to the full. I thank my lucky stars I replied to that email as he is one in a million.
I love him to bits. x
Anne Dunwell and Rogue
Zara's Story . . .
SupaDog 2010 - Runner up Gillian Vann & Zara (Lady Zara Arth Coch)
Around about March 2007 a gorgeous young shepherd called Lady, appeared on Battersea’s website, I immediately phoned to get some information on this 
Mali (Malinois) pup, and was told she was not a
One week later we returned to Battersea to pick up Lady, who had forgotten me, and gave me a good show of aggression in her kennel again, however once out she was fine being exercised, although we did muzzle her to be microchipped for safety, but once the muzzle had to come off everyone moved out of the way and left me to it! I removed the muzzle, stroked her head and talked to her and she looked at me and wagged her tail, from that time on she was fine with me. We took her home and she travelled well in our crate, and allowed me to get her out of it at the services to exercise her. Once home we introduced her to Bob and Mawgan, and she was great with them. We had worried about how she would be with another bitch but her and Mawgan became friends straight away.
At home Lady never showed any aggression, as she didn’t feel the need to guard, but it took 6 weeks before Simon could put a lead on her, she would go for walks with him but I had to attach the lead. I took Lady to agility classes to watch and socialise, she was so scared, and she wouldn’t go near anyone but played nicely with the other dogs. We asked Battersea to look for a Heelwork to Music home for her, as Simon was adamant that she wasn’t staying. In September we lost Bob, and Mawgan was fine as she had Lady to play with, so I think that was the turning point when the decision was made to keep our little foster dog, as she was now a part of the family.
Next step was for Lady to start agility and she was not particularly good at it, the Belgian Shepherd in her said it was better to alight the contacts halfway down, contacts are for wimps! Poles are for knocking down, and the seesaw was very scary. She had 2 months off to be spayed and when she returned to agility she really started to enjoy it, which was great for me as I had thought I may had to give it up. To see her now go round a course is amazing as she is really keen, although she still thinks poles are better on the ground.
Lady is now called Zara, full title being Lady Zara Arth Coch (Welsh for red bear), we believe that she is a Tervueren x GSD, she has progressed from a frightened puppy showing nervous aggression to a loving and affectionate adult. I knew we were progressing with her when she ran up to someone I trained with and jumped on him covering his clean coat with mud, at a winter show, I couldn’t tell her off as I so pleased that she did this and the handler said “I am so glad she did that, I still remember the frightened little puppy, who wouldn’t even look at me”. Zara is a pleasure to have around and it’s sad to think that she may have been pts. This year she ran in the Rescue Dog Agility at Crufts, and had a clear round, she also took part in a Rescue Dog Agility display at the CLA Game Fair, (both times representing Battersea Dogs and Cats Home) she has qualified for the Starters Cup
next year at Severnside and won out of Grade 1 at Dashin’ Dogs this September.
She doesn’t go clear very often (due to poles) but when she does she usually gets placed, but more importantly she is a happy dog who is happy to greet you in the morning and will happily curl up and sleep on your knee. She is also a good stooge dog at training classes as she does not react to aggressive dogs and has helped us socialise a few dogs, with problems. She is still wary of strangers, and is really funny when my father in law stays, she loves him, but he goes out every morning to get his paper and when he returns with his hat on, she barks at him because she doesn’t recognise him, as his head is a funny shape, she is fine once he speaks. She still steals food every now and again, last week I walked into the kitchen just as she was about to tuck into my sandwiches, funniest thing was she was in Mawgan’s bed, so guess who would have had the blame, had I not caught her red pawed.
Gillian