Agilemutt13: best video I've seen on this great site yet.  You rock.

Hey Helen,

Great job!! Don't get mad,get even! By the way, "Kody" has been labeled a "Mutt" its not a big deal.

I hope you don't mind that I tell the list that you are a delightful 14 year old who cant afford classes and is mostly self taught. Kody loves to run with her and she is the only one who I have let run with Bailey.  She is a life saver at a NADAC trial when that 10th run is more then I can handle. (VBG)

 Cheers, Jean

Nice work. What a great dog, don't listen to anyone who puts your dog down :-)

Touching!!! What a great tribute to your dog and isn't that really what we all want? . . . . for everyone else to see what we see in those beautiful eyes of our dogs! It doesn't matter what the breeding is when I look in those eyes my heart melts and when I see the teamwork in a run my spirit soars. 

You are wise beyond your years.  May you & Wrinkles have many more amazing runs!   Lynn Spielman & Kiva

Helen, your loving video tribute to Wrinkles demonstrates what an amazing relationship you have with your dog. I wonder if the person who put him down for being a mutt was jealous of your success not only in agility, but in everyday life. At 14 years of age, you are far more mature and confident than your cowardly critic. That person perfectly demonstrates what happens when you don't believe in yourself or your dog. S/he is bitter about life and blames everybody else for his/her problems. And for this person to put down a junior handler just speaks volumes about his/her insecurity. I pity that person. You, on the other hand, are an awesome role model for kids and adults alike. Wrinkles is lucky to be your partner in agility and in life. You go, girl! - Julia :) 

I do agility with my rescue mutt too. She's done exceedingly well and I can't imagine why anyone would want to have her PTS like she would have been had I not rescued her the day I got her! .

Rescue mutts know they are just that, and they are forever grateful and thankful and loyal. I'm glad you found such an amazing friend in your Wrinkles. I see you're also in an area where they have NADAC fundraisers, good for you! .

Good luck in the future and keep plugging away at those titles!!

Helen - What a wonderful video!!!  DO NOT LET ANYONE PUT YOU DOWN!  You have a great relationship with Wrinkles and are doing agility for the RIGHT reasons (unlike most of the rest of us).  Thanx for sharing your video!  ffluffy

This video is BRILLIANT!  You have a fantastic relationship with your boy and it shines through bright and clear.   Thank you very much for allowing us all to share your love of Wrinkles and the fun you have together doing agility.  This is truly why I love this sport so much.

Some of the best dogs in the sport are/were what you call mutts.  A great dog is a great dog, a great relationship is a great relationship and a great agility run is a great agility run... if a dog is worth the time, love and care his human gives to him then Wrinkles is the six million dollar dog!

 About 18 years ago I wrote an article which appeared in several publications throughout the world.  It was entitled "The Common Thread of Dog Agility".  I don't have a copy of it, but think I remember saying something like: 

The beauty of the sport of agility is that dogs who have never had a late meal in their lives compete along side dogs who have been on the other side of the fence and know what it's like to yearn for somebody to care.  The common thread of dog agility is what weaves dog lovers together in a sport that gives humans and dogs of all different backgrounds a chance to dance together in harmony and kick up their heels with the joy of it all!

haha thanks jean! and thanks everybody for all the great comments! =)

Helen, you've made my day, and that of many others who saw you and Wrinkles.  Bravo!  Keep this thought in mind as critic's try to bring you down:

"Nothing is worth more than this day." - Goethe

FlyGirls

A dog is a dog, is a dog and Wrinkles is a great one.  A wonder ful story and video.  You two are an inspiration for all.

What a lovely video - you should be really proud of your dog! A link has been put on a UK forum - hope you don't mind - and lots of us have been enjoying it!

Well done from the Uk - you've made my evening!

Emma

Great job, Helen.  We were so impressed with you and Wrinkles at Ups n Downs NADAC trial in San Diego this past November.  You embody what this sport is all about!  Congratulations on all your accomplishments.  Rescues create such a special place in our hearts that sometimes it is not clear who rescued who! 

Jeff & Maureen Lyons, Gizmo, Gadget, and Kachina (2006 NADAC Championships High in Trial Pre-Elite Rescue Dog)

What an awesome tribute to a wonderful dog.  You said you are so lucky to have Wrinkles.  I think Wrinkiles is very lucky to have you!

When I started agility I had two rescue mixed breeds.  I had someone come up to me and tell that I would never succeed in agility with a mixed breed.  I wonder what their definition of success is?  Between the two dogs we now have 21 NATCH's.  One of our dogs was the only mixed breed to make the finals in the 20+ Elite division at the 2006 NADAC Championships - in fact she has made it three of the last four years.  They have many other accomplishments as well.

So my advice to you is NEVER listen to anyone tell you that you can't succeed at something.  All things are possible to those who believe.

I wish you many more successes and many more happy years with Wrinkles.

God bless you for rescuing!!  Rescues Rock! 

Debbie, Wazzu, Sparkie, and Slugger

Hi Helen, you are obviously a good person, even though your video made me cry. Keep enjoying the special bond you and Wrinkles obviously have.

Vicki from Australia

Helen, your video is fantastic and your handling is fantastic and your attitude is SPECTACULAR!!!! you brought tears to my eyes and I will not forget all you said with your words and your pictures. you made me a better person today and  you keep being the person you are and love every day with Wrinkles and dont let those others put you down.

You Go, Girl!

Bonnie S in TN

That Is fantastic!!! I also have 2 rescued mutts who excell in agility and am so glad to see you give them tribute. Thanks so much for this. Yoo and Wrinkles Rock!!

Brill video and even more brill attitude from yourself and wrinkles.

This is the kind of attitude and response I was looking for from the  article I wrote for Speak on the agilitynet.  Well done!

I just love that attitude go girl go!

I know where you are coming from. I have a mutt, got her from the pound, and all I hear is about how "you don't know their backgrounds" and "having to fix someone's problem". I love mine more than anything in the world. Great video. Thanks for sharing.

Helen -- I loved your video of you and Wrinkles, great choice of music to go with it, too.  I don't know why someone would put Wrinkles down -- apparently they are jealous or insecure. I happen to have purebred dogs but I have had mixes and currently have 3 rescues among my dogs.  I hope to do agility with one of them, Buster (a pug).  Wrinkles looks alot like my Labs with a bit of ridgeback for "flavor".   Keep having fun and enjoy your wonderful relationship with your dog!  Deb

I have a rescued mutt, named molly. She's 5, we do 4h agility.  She's the only mutt in the club and she kicks all of their butts in agility and sometimes obedience. We mainly do agility because it's more exciting.

Watching your video made me cry, you two have achieved so much and grown together, loved every minuit of watching you,  how could they have wanted to put him down, just goes to show how much he has to give.

Keep up the good work together.

Love and Licks Sue and her Paws.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 

Helen, what an insperational video to all who do agility (and any other dog sports).  These guys deserve a second chance and having agility included is even a bigger bonus for them and us.  Your connection with your dog is also inspiring it goes to show some of the great agility dogs are not those with pedigrees but those whom have been given a second chance in life to excel.  I foster and rescue for a border collie org in Australia, and have been lucky enough to come accross some of the best dogs around and have happily rehomed them into both agility, herding and pet homes.  it is such a joy to see them on course when trialing and gee wiz they do do pretty damned well as well.

 Well done i loved it.

Excellent video!  My rescued Border Collie and I aspire to be just like you and Wrinkles!  I've been involved in rescue for four years, and I wouldn't trade my shelter dogs for a pack of purebreds. 

Hi! I just wanted to leave you a comment and say that your movie brought tears to my eyes. The part "Give them a chance and they'll give you all that they've got" really made me think. You've made my day.

I am 14 too and compete in agility with my mutt. I mostly self train too. He was captured by animal control in a snow storm. Resembles a border collie, but i'm not really sure what he is, but who cares. Don't let anyone put you down because you have accomlished something that is very hard. I am having diffiuclt times with my mutt, but I know that it will all be worth it in the end.

I just wanted to let you know that your video really touched me in a way that I never expected. I originally was focused on the ribbons and fame in agility, but slowly I am realizing what it is all about and trying to turn my techniques and though around. It's all about having fun and trusting your dog. Your video really helped me see that. Thank you.

 Wishing you fun and clean runs with your wonderful dog,

Amanda

with Maximum and KC

Great video Helen & Wrinkles. I too have a rescue dog, I saved Meg from deaths row when she was only 4 months old. I didn't even know then that agility existed. How things have changed in our lives! Meg loved it from the word go, our first ever competition we had a clear round, we have just gone from strength to strength, qualified out of elementary in our last competition last year. You can keep your collies, give me a sane mongel any day, they reward you with so much love. Somehow they know you rescued them from a terrible ending, & what a waste of life it would have been for Meg. She has kept me fit & I love her to bits.

Good for you Helen and Wrinkles!  I love mutts, love any and all dogs regardless of papers or lack of them.  You've done GREAT with Wrinkles and you are both a great inspiration.

MaryAnn & Julie -pup