ARCH Allister

I gave up on this dog.

So many times my heart aches to think of it. For years, our training sessions ended both of us screaming at the other – literally. More than all of the other dogs combined (and that’s a lot), this dog has brought me to tears again and again. I considered rehoming him several times. But like a bad habit, I couldn’t give him up.

So we grew up together. We measured progress not in steps forward or back, but in how little or much we hated the other –or not - at the end of the day. And day by day, our relationship repaired. And finally grew. Allister is my Ferrari dog, and like a really good sports car, once I figured out how to drive him, he took me on one hell of a ride.

Like many titles, this championship is not a handful of letters, but a lifetime achievement: a testament to not giving up. All ten of Allister’s runs for this trial placed in the ribbons. Every Single. One. And every single leg brought us either High in Trial or High Scoring Mixed Breed. In addition and true over-achiever style, our trail yesterday bought us both High Scoring Mixed Breed and High Scoring MMBC Member with two runs of perfect 210s. Nine of his ten runs were over 200. I am still in awe.

Allister has taught me that it is not breed or age or even time spent training that counts the most. It is relationship – who you are as a team – that is the most crucial aspect of competition.

And I am so very, very proud to be Allister’s teammate.