They say once bitten twice shy, but not for this local woman and her trusty side-kick(s).
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Lynn Madden attended her first dog agility training session and was bitten - not by a dog but by the sport's bug.
"We were hooked after one session," she said.
"That was about six years ago and since then I've collected dogs to do agility with. We just really like it."
And winning her first major title sweetens the relationship even more.
Lynn's Border Collie bitch Stormy has just been crowned the Novice Jumping Dog State Champion at 500 height at the inaugural NSW State Championships.
"Basically she is the novice jumping champion," Lynn said.
"It's both our title but it sits with the dog. Stormy is the state champion, I'm just the one that chauffeurs her around," she laughed.
Lynn has three Border Collies, Cooper (8), Stormy (4) and Rain (1).
Cooper won the Novice Agility at Canberra State Titles last year.
Lynn is a member of the Parkes and District Kennel Club which hosts an agility program called Parkes Agility Training.
Members and their dogs train on Sundays at 9am and Thursdays at 6am.
"Sunday's is when people can come and give it a go at beginners class so that they can see what it's all about," Lynn said.
"It's really just to have fun with your dog and that's how I started. I just wanted my dog to do something other than sit in the backyard
"Some people have really taken to it with a passion, there are quite a few of us now that compete every few weekends.
"But a lot of people come on a Sunday just so they can have a bit of fun with their dog and that's fine as well."
Classes are $5, dogs have to be over six months of age and fully vaccinated.
Read also: