GeoCities.us
» Petsburgh » Park|
GeoCities.us
» Petsburgh » Park |
Get your FREE home page! |
 |
|
MEET THE TEAM! Six dogs, six humans, one van that smells like liver treats · back home · 1999 results |
| Our usual lineup is Zip, Pip, Moose and Tess, in that order, with Biscuit and Diesel as the alternates who swap in when somebody needs a rest. Fuzzy Lightning was started in 1996 by Beatrice Lewis and Biscuit, with three borrowed dogs and a box Beatrice's husband built in the garage. We still use the box. |
 ZIPBorder Collie mix · spayed female · 4 years · 38 lbs · Start dog |
|
Handler: Kristina Sellars Black and white with one ear up and one ear down, which is how you can tell her from Tess across the ring. Zip came into the county shelter as a stray at about a year old, and I adopted her the week I saw her. Her job is to go first, which means she has to hit the start line at full speed exactly as the light goes green. She LIVES for it. Quirks: screams (there is no other word) the whole time she's waiting to run. Has eaten one couch cushion, two remote controls and a library book. Sleeps upside down. |
| PIP Jack Russell Terrier · spayed female · 5 years · 14 lbs · Second dog and HEIGHT DOG |
|
Handler: Vicki McGarry Pip is 12 inches at the shoulder, which makes her our height dog: our jumps are set by her, so all the big dogs get low hurdles. Everybody on the team owes Pip a cookie and she knows it. She runs like a wind-up toy and turns on the box faster than any dog on the team. Quirks: refuses to go outside in the rain, which in Tacoma is a problem. Plays tug like a crocodile. Growls at the ball if it doesn't pop out fast enough. |
| MOOSE Labrador Retriever · neutered male · 6 years · 72 lbs · Third dog |
|
Handler: James Gibbs Moose is the steadiest dog on the team. He has never once dropped a ball, and he doesn't care what's happening in the other lane. Jim retired from the Army three years ago and says Moose is the best soldier he ever served with. Moose came to us at 84 pounds and lost 12 with long walks, swimming and less kibble, and he's faster and happier for it. Quirks: carries the ball home like a cigar. Wags so hard he falls over. Thinks every child at a tournament came to see him, and he's usually right. |
| TESS Border Collie · spayed female · 3 years · 34 lbs · Anchor (last dog) |
|
Handler: Elizabeth Buckland Tess is our fastest dog, so she runs last, where she can catch up if we're behind. When we're tied going into the last leg, there's nobody I'd rather have in the lane. Quirks: herds the other dogs in the practice barn. Stares at tennis balls the way some people stare at the TV. Has to be told "that'll do" before she'll stop working, and sometimes not even then. |
| BISCUIT Shetland Sheepdog mix · spayed female · 7 years · 22 lbs · Alternate, team founder |
|
Handler: Beatrice Lewis Biscuit is where it all started. She and Beatrice have been racing since 1996, and Biscuit has more heats under her belt than the rest of the team put together. She's slowing down a little, and Beatrice is planning to retire her from racing at the end of the year while she's still sound and loving it, which is exactly the right way to do it. She'll still come to every practice. Quirks: barks from the moment the van door opens until the moment it closes. Has a fan club of small children. |
| DIESEL Australian Cattle Dog · neutered male · 2 years · 41 lbs · Alternate, rookie |
|
Handler: Jimmy Coffman Diesel spent his whole first year learning ball drive, recalls and his box turn with no jumping at all, while his growth plates closed. He ran his first tournament in Spokane in July and he's been getting better every month. He's going to be very, very fast. Quirks: tries to chew the box pedal. Hates hats. Jimmy says he herded the family's chickens into the bathroom once, and nobody knows how. |
| And the humans behind the scenes: Marie Solomon, who lets us practice in her training barn every Thursday night and loads the box for us at tournaments (box loading is a real skill, and Marie is the best), and every spouse, kid and friend who has ever shagged loose balls for us. Thank you! |