A REDDITCH dog agility trainer and his border collie have set tails wagging across the town after qualifiying to compete at the world’s biggest dog show – Crufts 2016.
Stuart Doughty hopes to come out top dog in the Large British Open Agility class in March with his working sheepdog, Quin (Stillinn Dought).
The Matchborough East resident, who has been teaching for six years and has no less than five border collies, is currently training for the event, with Quin, which takes place on March 16 at Birmingham’s NEC.
The pair beat off competition from 484 other dogs entered into the Kennel Club International Dog Agility Festival in August.
“It’s quite exciting,” Stuart said. “I was over the moon when we qualified.”
The 39-year-old teaches agility classes out of his school in Evesham and currently sees around 35 people – and their four-legged-friends – every week.
Stuart said: “Most breeds are suitable for agility training providing they are physically capable and not too big or too small.
“However, I am currently training some Romanian rescue dogs – one of which is a Pekinese cross.”
And Stuart isn’t the only Doughty to enjoy a working relationship with man’s best friend.
His wife, Becky, is also a handler and trainer who is currently working with a young sheepdog bitch called Switch (Switchinn Sides).
Visit http://stuartdoughtyagility.webs.com/ for more information.
