Agility Champions

2002 Agility Champion
Lucky

High-performance Personality

By Carla Foster

A car that goes from zero to 60 in a few seconds is a gem and a specimen of speed and performance. A Coton de Tulear that goes from zero to agility champion in 3 months is also a specimen of high performance.

The only Coton de Tulear in the world to earn an agility championship is Ch. Bar-ken's Happy Go Lucky - and he got there in 3 months. He surprised his owner, his trainer and the world with his rapid rise to the top of agility achievement.

This bouncy, talented extrovert smiled all the way to the top. He is a small 14-pound companion dog with round, dark eyes, lips rimmed in black, and a prominent black nose. He stands about a foot at the withers. His body is a third longer than he is tall. Lucky is confident, sweet, loyal and friendly. When not clipped for obedience performance, Lucky has a 7-inch-long lush, cottony white coat that falls over his eyes and gives him a carefree, wind-blown look -- a Coton de Tulear that lives up to the expectations of the breed standard.

This success story starts with Barbara Adcock of Waco, Texas, who had a litter of three Coton de Tulears -- one bitch and two dogs. Brenda Magnon, Tampa, Fla., was waiting for a quality male. Adcock suggested that Magnon take both males and see how they would turn out.

These two males were Happy Go Lucky and Don't Worry Be Happy. What a pair! Lucky was larger, more friendly and outgoing than his littermate - nicknamed Tufter because of his stray tuft of hair on the end of his nose. Tufter did not like the show ring. Magnon sold Tufter when he was about 12 months old, and devoted her attention to training Lucky for conformation.

Lucky strutted his stuff, adored the crowds and shined his personality to all the spectators at ringside.

In addition to being a natural showman, Lucky smiles and throws his Coton personality to the viewers around the grounds. His disposition is a prime example of the preferred Coton de Tulear personality - happy, friendly, always making friends. He rolls with the situation and accepts life in good stride and with a smile. He quickly finished his conformation championship.

Magnon wondered what to do next with this showy, lively little dog. She decided to try obedience and see what Lucky could do with those challenges.

The Athlete

Ileana Nadal, M.A., of Valrico, Fla., entered this stage of Lucky's career. Nadal operates Cool Critters, an obedience school and has been training dogs for more than 30 years. She immediately spotted that Lucky was different and had that special spark that makes a high-energy obedience dog. He seemed a natural heeling and obeying dog. Lucky wanted to perform and please his trainer.

In January of 2002, Nadal and Lucky began working together. Nadal knew Lucky would do well -- but she had no idea how well! His earned top scores. Learned quickly and perfectly executed moves.

Magnon entered Lucky in an American Rare Breeds Association obedience trial in May 2002. Together, she and Lucky looked at each other, smiled and nodded, then he entered the obedience ring for the first time. Lucky earned a third place his first time out and won his first leg toward his ARBA obedience title. As a natural athlete, his skills shined in the obedience and agility rings.

Lucky is exceptional. Nadal says, "I like to work with a dog at least a year before I start competing with him, but Lucky's progress was amazingly quick, so I decided to start in UKC. This is a good starting point for new dogs because the heights are lower and times are more generous."

Last June, Magnon entered him in Agility I trials. He took to the experience and earned his Agility I title in three shows with two perfect scores.

He next polished his skill at running the weave poles, and in three weeks tackled Agility II. He completed Agility II at the beginning of July.

Nadal then decided to take him into obedience. He accepted the challenge of some busy show days because the United Kennel Club holds obedience and agility on the same day.

Between July and August Lucky performed his obedience exercises with impressive scores of 196, 197 ½, and 191 ½. He placed every time. Lucky would quickly change collars and leads, and go into the agility ring and earn perfect scores there.

Because the UKC agility season in Florida is only from June to September, Magnon wanted to get championship points during this time.

"In only three trial weekends, July 28 & 29, August 3 & 4, and September 28 & 29. Lucky earned the 100 points necessary to become a UKC Agility Champion. He earned 9 perfect scores, and 4 High in Trials. Three of those High in Trials were from the Agility II class and were earned the last trial weekend in September," reports Magnon.

As the only Coton de Tulear to have the honor of being an agility champion, Lucky is now competing in NADAC and the USDAA trials. He recently took three High in Trials at one show. He has a long career ahead of him.

The Smiling Visitor

Conformation champion, agility champion -- what more could this affectionate and talented dog do? Well, he shares his love for life with the elderly, infirmed and mentally hallenged by bringing warmth and joy to people during his therapy visits to hospitals and group residence homes.

Magnon explains his outgoing personality and says, "When we go to the nursing home he always announces himself. He barks and goes to nudge and greet people as if he were saying, 'Here I am.' He stretches out and rears back on his back legs and makes his unique hiccup bark. He sounds as if he has a frog in this throat."

This endearing dog has friends that eagerly anticipate his weekly visits. "The first time I took him to the nursing home," Magnon says, "a tester had to observe us and our behavior during the visit. Lucky used his distinctive bark to announce his arrival, and immediately took to the people in wheelchairs.

"The tester could not believe how this little white dog enjoyed the people." Lucky was a little nervous the first time. He didn't know if he was supposed to hike his leg on the wheelchair or sniff it.

"After a few minutes, he accepted the chair and snuggled up to the lady in the chair and greeted her with Coton kisses," recollects Magnon.

After being observed three times, Lucky earned his certification as a therapy dog. He is a regular visitor to the nursing home. Lucky brings light into the lives of people who no longer are able to have a dog.

This little Coton brings enthusiasm to a clinical environment and becomes a spirited subject for conversation. He ignites memories of former pets and represents unconditional acceptance and love.

When Lucky arrives at the residence, wide smiles stretch across otherwise vacant faces. He is always happy to see the people, and they are delighted to see, pet and talk with him. These friends who live in care facilities respond positively to the human-dog bond and welcome Lucky's tender paws and wagging tail.

Lucky makes a difference in the life of a young woman named Angie.

"We visit for one hour every week and Lucky's favorite person is Angie. She was a teenager when a drunk driver hit her. She has been in a semi-coma for the last thirteen years. She doesn't move or speak and only responds with her eyes.

"I almost have to lie on the floor for her to see Lucky and when he is there her eyes and head move toward the floor. The first time we went to see Angie, when no one was looking, I put Lucky on her chest and he kissed her on the cheek. Ever since, when she sees Lucky her eyes get bigger and we know she knows him," says Magnon.

Being a therapy dog calls upon natural instincts that dogs seem to have with humans. That special bond of unspoken understanding unites Lucky with other patients. Magnon states, "Lucky knows patients with Alzheimer's disease are different and he is more subdued around them. With people there for therapy or broken bones he is more outgoing. He changes his demeanor to meet the situation."

Children get to giggle and enjoy Lucky when he visits the Shrine Children's Hospital in Tampa, Fla. He is the only Coton de Tulear in the state of Florida to be certified TDI and one of three in the United States.

Researchers have clinically proven that petting, touching, hugging and talking with animals lower blood pressure, relieve stress and ease depression -- all without drugs.

The Perfect Gentleman

The compassion Lucky expresses in his therapy visits overflows to his home life.

"He is the man of the house and a perfect gentleman," Magnon says. "When it is time to eat, the other family dogs eat and he watches. When they are done, then he eats his meal. He is so considerate of the other dogs in the house and they love and respect him.

"I have a female that is the 'nurse' of the group. Every morning she goes around and licks and cleans everyone's ears and mouth, She always goes to Lucky first, and he lays and lets her groom him."

In the spring of 2002, Magnon had health certifications done for Lucky's hips, patellas, and eyes, and then decided to breed him. His gentlemanly demeanor remained constant even during breeding. Magnon describes Lucky's first breeding encounter.

"They did the usual sniffing, then he went up to her face, kissed her on one cheek and went around to the other side of her face and licked her ear and then went back and mounted her. It was like he kissed her and then told her he loved her in her ear and then made love, My vet who was there could not believe it."

In all aspects of his life, Lucky is a charm. A joy. A pleasure. Magnon says, "He is the most loving Coton I have. He accepts anything that comes his way like a gentleman.

"Lucky will be 3 years old in December 2002," Magnon adds. "He is smart, outgoing and I hope he will live for many years and pass all of his wonderful traits to his progeny."

--Carla Foster is a writer, editor and long-time dog fancier. She began exhibiting, breeding and judging Old English Sheepdogs in the 1960s, and long-haired dogs are her passion.

--Photos by Nicky Dronoff-Guthrie, Orlando, Fla.