I was originally looking for a Boston
Terrier, but could not convince my husband on it. He
wanted a Bull Terrier. After talking to heaps of breeders,
one suggested that we consider a Bull Terrier (Miniature).
We were lucky enough to find a good breeder is Sydney,
NSW who sent some pictures of a couple of puppies she
had. Finally making the choice we became the proud owners
of Farringdon Tiny Maggie Mae (FD, FDX).
Originally we purchased Maggie as a pet, but thought
if she was good enough we would show her. In the in-between
waiting and seeing how she developed I wanted to make
sure she had EXCELLENT manners. I brought her along
to the club to train. Maggie was a bit older at 16wks
when we got her I didn’t get to puppy school,
instead going straight out to puppy class.
I was watching these dogs training
doing something I had never seen and became interested,
Maggie loved tennis balls and I thought this is a possibility.
Maggie would play with balls, but it wasn’t till
Maggie became obsessed with making you throw them for
her and would plonk wet slobbery balls in your lap during
dinner, or pushing them against guests bums and legs
to get them to play that we realised that maybe we could
do something like flyball.
Maggie was great at it from the beginning, progressing
in leaps and bounds; however she was obsessive over
the equipment and her balls. THEY ARE ALL HERS…!!
Maggie displayed show off behavior doing laps and shaking
the balls at the dogs and it took a lot of training
for us to get her to competition level. Some times Maggie
needed catching at the run off area to stop her from
showing off. Sue Goodes came to the rescue and caught
her. Both of them rolling around on the ground doing
an impression of a break dancer.
Things were going ok and we progressed well, we even
received a few ADDITIONAL judges’ awards for “Enthusiasm
and Attitude”. Maggie then suffered a severe injury
after crashing into a hurdle and rupturing the capsule
around her patella. Maggie actually competed for the
rest of the day as she is “tough as nails”
This injury set her out of training and on strict rest
for at least 6weeks which I think was the worst time
in both mine and Maggie’s time in flyball.
Eventually we made a come back and was back competing
again. At the first Ballarat Flyball Comp, we entered
Maggie, needless to say she did one run, carried on
like a TURKEY and was withdrawn for the rest of the
day.
From there I have worked REALLY hard to get her back
training again, we have tried so many things to get
her running well, which have included pillows, bunting,
water pistols and a range of other things.
There are a few people I would like
to thank on behalf of Maggie and myself for their support
and assistance. Barrie and Sue Goodes for helping set
up jumps at their place and training with me and bringing
pillows to training every week. Danielle Kirkham, for
her continued support of Maggie, which has in the past
included some unusual techniques, a super soaker being
one. Bill Reynolds for helping with training advice
and morale support.
In addition, all of the members of
the flyball team for allowing their dogs to be head
butted, shared their lanes being chased by a maniac
white dog with a tennis ball and basically bearing with
me as I tried to train my dog.
I don’t think I will ever do
away with the shout “INCOMING” when I let
her out of the car.
She is a great dog at home, has had her first litter
of puppies this year and did a wonderful job (in the
end). I think back on the four years I have had her
and all the time I have spent with her and wouldn’t
change it for the world. I am now totally smitten with
this breed and I think they are often overlooked for
the great companions they are.
Maggie has mellowed so much from the Crazy White Mammal
that I took to my first flyball comp. Every one loves
watching her run and I think there are a few people
who still get a buzz from seeing her run, knowing how
much they have helped us. She is definitely a crowd
pleaser as she screams and cries and when let go….FLIES.
As a side note I did end up getting my Boston, who has
been a BEST friend for Maggie, but Ruby is a whole other
story!!
oooOOOooo
