Sparkie is a border collie x kelpie was a present from my parents when I turned twelve. Sparkie is now fifteen years old. She's one of the smartest dogs I've ever met, loyal and sweet and has an amazing memory. I taught her "dig" and then didn't use that trick for two years. When we needed to use it for Sparkie's Novice Trick Dog title, I gave her the command and hand signal and straight away she did it!
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| Sparkie at 9 weeks old |
For four years I was part of a team called "The Superdogs." We traveled around Australia showing off our dogs' amazing
range of tricks at shows and festivals. It started in March 2010 when I came
across an article about Chelsea Marriner in a magazine. The then 18 year old
owned six border collies, training them tricks as well
as competing in agility, flygility, and canine freestyle. I was impressed, and
set out training my own dog. From
there we were hooked. We went on to win a 1st, a 3rd, and Grand Champion at the
2010 Gympie Show. By June we had become “The Superdogs” with my sister Jessica
and her dog Tess, and in September we performed for over thirty people at a birthday party in
Redcliffe. Over the next three years we built up our performances to include tricks, agility, and disc. For the history of the Superdogs up to June 2013, check out this page. The Superdogs had their last appearance in early 2014. Sparkie has her DMWYD Expert Trick Dog title.
For many years Sparkie was also my service dog for Asperger's Syndrome/Autism and PTSD. She gave me the freedom and courage to do things I never dreamed were possible. Like a guide dog, Sparkie got to come with me everywhere - supermarkets, malls, cafes, trains, etc. She let me know when my anxiety is getting high, so I can take action before it gets any worse. If I was really stressed or upset, I could sit down and she would lie on top of me, which helped calm me down. If I zoned out, either due to traumatic memories or sensory overload, Sparkie would guide me safely, making sure I didn't walk into things or get lost. If I felt unbalanced I could hold the handle on her harness. She stood crossways behind me to block people from coming up too close behind us. She calmed me down after nightmares. If I had a stressful conversation, Sparkie was always right there with me, pushing her head under my hand, insisting I pat her, because that always steadies my heart rate and focuses my thoughts. She was with me twenty-four hours a day, never far from my side, always aware of me. Without her, I would not have made it through the dark days.
For more information on Sparkie, you can check out her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SparkieSD.
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| Sparkie, June 2020 |
