RUFF SPORT

Heather McLeod, after an extensive background in the Performance Muscle Car and Drag Racing Industry (!), got hooked on dogs 10 years ago. Heather’s first dog, Sierra, started the domino effect. First puppy school, then agility and then off to attention classes!  Ten years later, after starting with DockDogs in 2006 helping at events with demo's and learning with the best on how to get her own young Border Collie to jump... Heather now own's and operates Canada's First DockDogs Sanctioned Training Facility located in Beeton, Ontario at K-9 Country Inn, 45 minutes north of Toronto!   Diesel, Canada's first Super Elite Jumper has been ranked top Border Collie in the World for 2008 & 2009.  Not bad for a dog who took 5 days before he would confidently jump into that Splash Pool at DockDogs first Toronto event! With a number of years helping people get there dogs to jump at local and out of town events, it was time to start a new addiction...somewhere that enthusiasts could train for the sport in a relaxed environment! A Sport for the family both two and four legged!  

Heather attended one of the best training facilities in North America—Say Yes Dog Training in Ancaster, Ontario.  Say Yes taught Heather that being positive is not the same thing as being permissive. Instead the trainer has to focus on shaping behaviours, rewarding right choices and knowing when and where to reward.  This includes relationship building and a desire to play! Learning how to use a clicker was the best little shaping tool since sliced bread...so remember, “what you click is what you get.”

Heather now has a wonderful bunch that excels at many dog sports such as agility, flyball, disc and DockDogs (Canada’s hottest growing dog sport).  They participate in demonstrations throughout Ontario and have most recently started The Fast N’ Furry Performance Team.

Cheyenne and Diesel have appeared in:

·         Global Pet Food 2007 commercial

·         Media spots with Breakfast TV, Rogers, CH Channel 11 and CTV promoting DockDogs

·         The Pet Network’s promotion at The All About Pet’s Show in 2005

Both Sierra and Cheyenne qualified for the 2007 Canadian National Agility Championships and Diesel is ranked Top Big Air Dog in Canada and ranked Top Border Collie in the world with a Personal Best jump of 25’ 11” with DockDogs.

Then there is Angus. Slated to be put to sleep for being an out of control adolescent, Angus is from Border Collie Rescue Ontario. Heather claims that Angus has taught her about patience and making the right choices.  He has his up’s and down’s but is an amazing smart dog.  He keeps me on my toes!  Who could resist those ears!

Finally there is Koyah, a sweet Golden with field lines from Maplelane Golden’s in Alliston.  Acquiring her at 6mths of age she is growing into a very cool little Golden that has fit in very well.  I’m looking very forward to competing with her in the future.  She has mastered a full dock run into the pool with a personal best of 19'.5" competing at her second DockDogs event !

If you want to build motivation and drive, you won’t want to miss Heather’s classes & mini workshops.