31/05/2025
This story is a true story about one of our junior handlers and for Barkaway Agility & it's trainers is what we aim to achieve with all our members & what dog agility is all about.
but read the following and make your own minds up.
The following words are from Mums Diary about her daughter and her best friend Bill the dog.
Agility Bound – The Dream Team
Lexie had always loved starting something new. But when that something involved Bill? Her enthusiasm skyrocketed.
At just 11 years old, Lexie had an idea:
“I want to do agility training with Bill.”
Mum, supportive as ever, set to work. She sent email after email to training groups, but the replies were always the same:
“Sorry, Lexie’s too young.”
“She wouldn’t have the control she needs.”
“She’s just a child.”
Mum scoffed. Excuse me? Obviously, Mum knew best.
Still, the doors kept closing.
Until one day, a single social media post changed everything.
An agility group in Worcester—nearly an hour’s drive away—was hosting a class.
Worth a shot, Mum thought. She sent one more hopeful message.
And this time, the reply came back bright and open-hearted:
“Of course. We’d love to meet them.”
Lexie was buzzing. Bill, though entirely unaware what was coming, bounced around the house with excitement anyway.
The day of their first class, Mum loaded everyone into the car and made the long drive.
When they arrived, Lexie turned to her mum, eyes serious.
“Stay in the car. I need to do this with Bill. Just me and him.”
Mum blinked. Oh.
But she understood.
From that day on, it became their weekly ritual.
Mum sitting quietly in the car, coffee in hand, peeking through the windows.
Lexie and Bill out in the field, learning, failing, trying again.
Bill had moments of brilliance and moments of chaos—dashing in the opposite direction, trying to say hello to every other dog, mistaking the A-frame for a personal mountain-top.
But week after week, something magical began to happen.
Lexie and Bill moved more like a team.
The distractions became fewer.
The focus sharper.
The trust deeper.
The other adults in the group were captivated—not just by Lexie’s determination, but by the unspoken connection she had with her dog. A quiet understanding that didn’t need explaining.
Then one evening, the instructor approached Mum in the car.
“I think they’re ready for their first competition.”
Mum beamed. Lexie was less convinced.
“What if Bill isn’t ready?” she asked, eyes down.
The instructor smiled gently.
“Just go. Have fun together.”
Competition day.
Mum, as instructed, stayed at the edge of the field. Bill, of course, did Bill things.
First run? A classic Bill performance.
He ran halfway through the course before veering off to greet a spaniel.
Mum didn’t flinch.
Lexie stood her ground.
The instructor stepped in, calmly walked to the field and looked at Bill.
“No, Bill. Listen.”
Second run.
Everything changed.
Lexie breathed in.
Bill looked up.
The whistle blew.
And suddenly—Bill was on fire.
Every jump, every tunnel, every wobble plank—he nailed them all.
The crowd clapped and cheered.
Lexie, as ever, stayed humble. A quiet pat on the head for Bill.
“Good boy, Bill.”
Mum watched, tears filling her eyes.
Not just because of the agility.
But because of Lexie’s quiet power. Her strength. Her bond with Bill.
How the world had said “no,” but Lexie had walked into it and said “watch me.”
They came home with three rosettes:
2nd Place, 3rd Place Most Improved
But none of those mattered as much as the moment they crossed the finish line, side by side.
And in that moment, Mum knew:
They were already champions.
This is what agility is all about and what makes training in all weather's worth while. Ian.
