Bazley’s Bobbit is a star
Bobbit is on his way to becoming one of the most successful small agility dogs in the country.
Bazley’s Michelle Howard and her Chinese Crested dog Bobbit are one of the biggest and most passionate duos in the canine sport of agility.
Michelle believes that Bobbit is on his way to becoming one of the most successful small agility dogs in the country, and to add to his long list of accolades, Bobbit and Michelle won the Nutribyte SA Agility Championships (two years in a row) in June.
They qualified for the SA team and individual rounds to compete in the world champs in the Czech Republic in October.
“Bob is the first small dog in SA history to win the overall title, so that means his little 33cm body has to out run, outwit and outplay even the big Border Collies standing well over 50cm,” said Michelle.
“This sport is fast and some of those Border Collies clock in at between six and seven metres per second, over 200m over 21 obstacles!”
Back in 2019, the duo went to Finland for team and individual events where they had a rough time.
“I came home and began a new training methodology and spent the entire time of no competitions during Covid retraining our foundations,” she explained.
“When we got back to competitions post-Covid, Bobbit won the small National Agility League and placed second overall, he won Kusa Nationals in Non Contact agility, he was third in contact, he won Top Achievers in KZN and received his KZN colours and Grand Champion status in Contact Agility.”
Bobbit then went on to win SA Champs, and Michelle’s home bred boy Sebby placed second which was the first time in history that one handler was placed first and second!
“We made team and individual for worlds that was meant to be in Moscow but changed to Vienna. And then Germany had a ban on competing with hairless dogs so we could not go,” said Michelle.
Bobbit then won Reserve SA Dog Jumping Champ in 2022 and was third in Kusa Nationals this year and went on to win SA Champs. He is now eight.
“He is definitely ready this year and he is at his peak, he is much more experienced and knows his job,” said Michelle.
“He also has flown and travelled before and will be more settled. I am excited about the competition but the costs are most worrisome especially surrounding getting our dogs home again.”
Michelle added that agility is the place where hers and Bob’s worlds meet in perfect harmony.
“I landed up in agility lessons to take my mind off life and no one told me this sport is so addictive and your entire life will change,” she added.
Bobbit is originally from Texas and was meant to be a show dog, but his passion was for running.
“Bob showed talent as a young dog and then had problems after he was attacked by an off lead dog which was our biggest hurdle that was both a blessing and a curse in equal measure,” she said.
“But it made us both dig deeply to find a point of connection for me with his weirdness and fears and me learning to trust my four-legged buddy so we could achieve the seamless connection of two minds to one soul that top class agility demands.”
Michelle and Bobbit are looking forward to travelling out of the country to compete but it’s costly. If anyone is able to assist contact Michelle on 073 5260903.
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