Champion Dog Retires
July 13, 2019 at 12:23 a.m.
Champion Dog Retires
By Amanda Bridgman-
But that’s what happened with her dog Willow.
“When my two boys graduated, I told myself I have to have something to do,” Sausaman said. “And I saw an agility show on TV and thought I’d like to try that.”
Sausaman got Willow as a 6-week-old puppy, she said. Willow, a Parson Russell Terrier, is now 13 years old and officially retired this weekend.
Sausaman started her new hobby by signing up for puppy training classes at 10 weeks old then moved on to agility.
Agility, for those who don’t know, is the obstacle course frequently seen on TV dog shows where dogs jump, run through tunnels, navigate A-frames and weave in and out.
Willow earned 21 titles in agility through competitions sponsored by the United Kennel Club, the American Kennel Club and Canine Performance Events.
In June 2015, Sausaman and Willow won grand championship in UKC agility.
“Grand championship is like winning the gold medal in the Olympics,” Sausaman beamed.
It’s a title that takes a lot of work to attain. For starters, the UKC is one of the oldest kennel clubs in North America and requires all dog handlers to be either owner or breeder of the animal. The dog must also have three titles and have a certain number of points that are earned from separate, UKC-licensed events. That takes time, work and travel, according to Sausaman.
After her grand championship title, Willow went on to fly ball, competing at events in Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Kentucky.
“She earned two titles in that,” Sausaman said.
Fly ball is described by Sausaman as “drag racing for dogs.”
“There are two aisles, four jumps and two teams with a dragster-type light in the middle with red, yellow, yellow, green,” she said. The dogs race when the light turns green and grab a ball that pops out when they get to a certain area.
Willow isn’t only known in the dog world. She is known around Kosciusko County as “Willow the Wonder Dog,” who once won local trick contests and performed at children’s birthday parties, Sausaman said. She also used to visit the residents at Miller’s Merry Manor for several years as a therapy dog.
Sausaman has hundreds upon hundreds of ribbons in her home, dog decorations all around her home and grandchildren who have learned some valuable lessons from her.
Most recently, at this year’s 103rd Kosciusko County Fair, her granddaughter Kaitlin and Willow were crowned Reserve Championship in agility and Reserve Championship in showmanship. Her grandson won the same the year before.
There are some other benefits to having a trained trick dog, and being the trainer yourself, besides racking up awards. If Sausaman sneezes, Willow will get her a tissue.
“I was sitting around one winter and thought I’d teach her that,” she remarked.
Need someone to get the mail? Willow has a tailor-made mailbox that she can open, close and put the flag up. Willow’s other hobbies include tearing up garden hoses and enjoying hot dogs and salmon treats.
Willow will pass the torch onto her brother Otis and enjoy her retirement, Sausaman said.
“It’s a lot of work. I’ve spent 13 years doing this,” Sausaman said. “She’s like my best friend. She’s my soul dog, she never leaves my side, we’ve had a blast, and she’s a once-in-a-lifetime dog.”
But that’s what happened with her dog Willow.
“When my two boys graduated, I told myself I have to have something to do,” Sausaman said. “And I saw an agility show on TV and thought I’d like to try that.”
Sausaman got Willow as a 6-week-old puppy, she said. Willow, a Parson Russell Terrier, is now 13 years old and officially retired this weekend.
Sausaman started her new hobby by signing up for puppy training classes at 10 weeks old then moved on to agility.
Agility, for those who don’t know, is the obstacle course frequently seen on TV dog shows where dogs jump, run through tunnels, navigate A-frames and weave in and out.
Willow earned 21 titles in agility through competitions sponsored by the United Kennel Club, the American Kennel Club and Canine Performance Events.
In June 2015, Sausaman and Willow won grand championship in UKC agility.
“Grand championship is like winning the gold medal in the Olympics,” Sausaman beamed.
It’s a title that takes a lot of work to attain. For starters, the UKC is one of the oldest kennel clubs in North America and requires all dog handlers to be either owner or breeder of the animal. The dog must also have three titles and have a certain number of points that are earned from separate, UKC-licensed events. That takes time, work and travel, according to Sausaman.
After her grand championship title, Willow went on to fly ball, competing at events in Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Kentucky.
“She earned two titles in that,” Sausaman said.
Fly ball is described by Sausaman as “drag racing for dogs.”
“There are two aisles, four jumps and two teams with a dragster-type light in the middle with red, yellow, yellow, green,” she said. The dogs race when the light turns green and grab a ball that pops out when they get to a certain area.
Willow isn’t only known in the dog world. She is known around Kosciusko County as “Willow the Wonder Dog,” who once won local trick contests and performed at children’s birthday parties, Sausaman said. She also used to visit the residents at Miller’s Merry Manor for several years as a therapy dog.
Sausaman has hundreds upon hundreds of ribbons in her home, dog decorations all around her home and grandchildren who have learned some valuable lessons from her.
Most recently, at this year’s 103rd Kosciusko County Fair, her granddaughter Kaitlin and Willow were crowned Reserve Championship in agility and Reserve Championship in showmanship. Her grandson won the same the year before.
There are some other benefits to having a trained trick dog, and being the trainer yourself, besides racking up awards. If Sausaman sneezes, Willow will get her a tissue.
“I was sitting around one winter and thought I’d teach her that,” she remarked.
Need someone to get the mail? Willow has a tailor-made mailbox that she can open, close and put the flag up. Willow’s other hobbies include tearing up garden hoses and enjoying hot dogs and salmon treats.
Willow will pass the torch onto her brother Otis and enjoy her retirement, Sausaman said.
“It’s a lot of work. I’ve spent 13 years doing this,” Sausaman said. “She’s like my best friend. She’s my soul dog, she never leaves my side, we’ve had a blast, and she’s a once-in-a-lifetime dog.”
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