About Alison

Ten years as a high-level gymnast left me as a naturally competitive athlete. That drive, paired with my love for dogs, led me to the sport of agility. I got Sadie, my current agility dog, as a birthday present for my 18th birthday. I was still involved with gymnastics and dabbling in modeling at that time, and didn't know what the future would hold for her and me. It wasn't until I took her to puppy kindergarten at the Triangle Training Center in 2002 that I was exposed to the wonderful and exciting sport of agility.

Sadie and I started our career at Triangle Training Center, and trained for the better part of a year before we entered our first agility trial. It was an AKC event in Maryland in November 2003. We didn't have a qualifying run all weekend, but a fellow exhibitor saw our potential. He pulled me aside as I was leaving and said "that dog will see a world team someday." Even though I didn't know what that meant, it stuck in my mind and has been a driving force behind my dedication to the sport and my dog.

Around this same time, I was interested in a confirmation dog that would also be excel at agility. Along came Rocco! I was determined to show him myself, and was ecstatic to put two points on him, but then he grew a half-inch too tall, and was delegated to be a full-time agility dog.

Sadie and I traveled to Tampa in January 2005 in her first entry to the AKC National Agility Championship. It was a humbling experience to compete amongst all the agility greats and was a great learning experience for us. A few months later, we went to Minnesota and savored the experience of AKC World Team tryouts. We competed there mainly for the experience.

In March 2006, Sadie earned her first MACH (Master Agility Champion) title in AKC competition. By that time, we had traveled from Utah to Virginia and from Michigan to Florida competing in AKC and USDAA events. Rocco was also progressing in his agility endeavors. This year also saw us travel back to to Minnesota for another shot at the world team. She was also the ASSA National Champion in standard and jumpers at the ASSA National in Virginia Beach. Rocco was third in jumpers at this event as well. We also competed at the AKC National Agility Championship, again in Tampa. Rocco finished 2006 with a bang, earning his MXJ title in Georgia.

We really came together as a team in 2007, and finally accomplished our goal of making it to finals at AKC Nationals and making the AKC World Team. At AKC Nationals in Ohio, we made finals and came in fourth in the country overall in the 16 inch class. The third trip to Minnesota proved to be the charm for Sadie and me. Our hard work and determination earned us a spot on the AKC World Agility Team. In September, we traveled to Hamar, Norway with 11 other American teammates for what proved to be a wonderful experience for us. Sadie was the first dog since the original creation of the world team to go from Novice A to World Team member as a handlers first dog, and the first dog from North Carolina to make the team. The competition on Norway was fierce. Sadie had to very beautiful runs with just two small mistakes on each course. Also in 2007, she earned MACH2 and MACH3 and an ADCH in USDAA.

So far, 2008 has proven to be a year of ups and downs. Sadie earned MACH4 in January and had a stellar appearance at the AKC Nationals in March with two 3rd place rounds and another spot in finals in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Bling has earned her AX and AXJ and Rocco continues to run for fun. Our fourth visit to Minnesota was hampered by my decision to go back to school and other life events that prevented me from giving tryouts my full, undivided attention. She ran her heart out, and we had a great time, but it wasn't enough to put us on the team this year. You can bet that we'll be back stronger and more determined than ever to make her second World Team appearance.