John and Pauline Verity are still over the moon after their 4 year old Border Collie Wisp beat all comers at the British Agility Association Grand 2009 finals held at Ashfordby in Leicstershire to become British Clever Dogs Champion 2009.
The sport of Clever Dogs has been around in the United Kingdom for about 10 years and consists of the dogs having to complete an agility course and then run up a line of small hurdles, collect a tennis ball from a spring loaded box and then return to the handler. Dogs compete against each other in a knockout type of competition for the Grand Final and it is the winner of the best of three heats that goes through to the next round.
Wisp in action
John and Pauline have been training agility dogs for about 10 years and have previous successes with the now retired 15 year old Smudge who won the Clever Dogs Champion title in 2001 as well as successes in dog agility competitions up to 2006.
As well as Wisp and Smudge, John and Pauline have two other Border Collies. 11 year old Jake is well known at St. Leonards Hospice as a Pets As Therapy dog and 2 year Oscar is not only in training to become an agility dog but also is training to become a sheep herding dog.
All John and Pauline's dogs are re-homed dogs who have been given a second chance.
