A Whirlwind On The Agility Course
Seven year-old Pembroke Welsh Corgi Keebler captivates everyone she meets. Not only does she stand out, as a Pembroke with a tail, but she's super fast. Her speed on the agility course is so crazy fast that spectators stop in their tracks to watch her run. "It's like she defies some natural law" writes Mom Elissa O'Sullivan. "A dog with legs that short shouldn't be able to run that fast!"
MACH5* Keebler's Elfin Magic and Roger O'Sullivan have been a team to watch out for in the 12-inch class. Keebler ended the 2013 AKC Agility Invitational period as the No. 1 Pembroke Welsh Corgi in the country and was invited for the 2013 AKC Agility Invitational which took place in Orlando FL in December 2013. She had a couple of mistakes that took her out of the running for the finals, but she placed 1st of the 12" dogs in the Hybrid run (a combination of the Standard and JWW classes).
*) MACH5 Master Agility Champion earned 5 times.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTsJU8YONMI
2013 Invitational Hyprid 1st Place
2013 Invitational Hyprid 1st Place
The team was also invited to compete in the Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge Eastern Regionals at Spa Beach Park in Tampa, FL, on May 4 2013 where she was a missed dogwalk contact away from the finals. Corgis are usually a rare sight at these events.
Keebler jumps 12-inches, while the majority of the other Pembrokes jump 8-inches.
Photo: Calvin Clutter
"Confidence, excitability, willingness to work, sweetness, and showmanship describe Keebler's personality perfectly", says her owner, Roger O'Sullivan. "And it's not often you find an agility champion hidden in the depths of a homeless animal shelter. My wife was a volunteer at our local shelter. There were several people there who knew that we were looking for an agility dog. Everyone kept telling us about this dog at the shelter who would be great at agility, which usually means the dog is crazy and can't settle down."
Photo: Calvin Clutter
Elissa O'Sullivan adds: "Finding
Keebler in our local animal shelter was like finding a Van Gogh
in your basement -- a once in a lifetime event. We don't know
where she was for the first 18 months of her life, but we thank
those people for giving her up!
"Originally she was brought into our household as a foster but Roger fell in love with her bright eyes. It took less than an hour for us to realize that she had amazing potential. In the backyard, at first she was wandering around and sniffing. The second I took out a squeaky tennis ball, she had tremendous focus. She had tons of drive, and showed the ability to take direction, no matter how wound up she was. She wasn't afraid of anything, and was willing to try new things."
Roger and Keebler participated in the AKC National Agility Championships at Harrisburg PA 27-30 March 2014. On the Friday, Keebler had a streaking run and finished 25th for the 12" dogs. After knocking a bar on Saturday, Roger knew they needed a placement to get into the Challengers Round (the top dog in each height category advances to the finals!). Her Hybrid run was awesome. With a flash of her signature tail, Keebler finished 4th in a huge, tough class. For the Challengers Round Roger was in good form, but unfortunately Keebler was way too hyped to hit her down contact on the dogwalk and finished 5th qualified.
This was the team's third consecutive trip to the AKC National Agility Championships, and Keebler has already qualified for the 2015 Nationals.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuqpq-qfRcc
May 2012 JWW (Jumpers With Weaves)
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May 2012 JWW (Jumpers With Weaves)
P.S. In case you wonder about her registered name, Keebler's Elfin' Magic, rescue/shelter dogs can be registered to participate in AKC events according to The Purebred Alternative Listing Program/Indefinite Listing Privilege (PAL/ILP) which is designed to allow dogs to participate in AKC Companion and Performance Events such as Agility Trials, Herding Tests and Trials, Obedience Trials, Rally Trials and Tracking Tests.
27.05.2014
