Marietta Sheepdog, Owner Share Love of the Game

He's fast; he's full of energy; he loves the game. Meet Rex, a four-year-old shetland sheepdog.

Rex and his owner Mary Jackson, of Marietta, share a passion for agility dog challenges, and they will be taking their enthusiasm front and center on Saturday for the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge in Atlanta.

"His (Rex's) pure love for the game is what has kept me so excited and engaged in agility," Jackson said. "When you put him on the start line, he's full of adrenaline. You just say word agility, and he gets excited."

"When you put him on the start line, he's full of adrenaline. You just say word agility, and he gets excited."

The 24-pound dog will race through a course that contains jumps, weave poles, tunnels, slalom gates and other obstacles with at least six other dogs in the small dog division.

"He usually does really well," Jackson said. "It's usually the handler, usually me that screws up when something goes bad. He knows his job really well. It's team work between the handler and the dog; that's why training is so much fun. It forms a really strong connection between the person and the dog.

"The hardest part is, for me, getting where I need to be on the course fast enough," Jackson laughed. "Rex can get there; he's a pretty fast little guy. For me the challenge is getting to where I need to be to show him what he needs to do next."

While this is Jackson and Rex's first Purina challenge, it is not their first competition.

"I actually started doing agility years ago," Jackson said. "A group of us got together on weekends and had fun. I did it off and on for 20 years, but I didn't have an opportunity to focus on it as much as I've been able to now."

Jackson started Rex in agility beginning classes when he was a year old. However, he has only been competing a couple of years.

Jackson is a full-time accounting manager. Since work consumes a large part of her life, she and Rex attend agility training classes two to three times a week, practice on the weekends and attend training seminars whenever possible.

At home Rex has plenty of company. Jackson owns three other shetland sheepdogs, which she got from shelters.

"He has an off switch. At home he can be just lying on the couch with me, but he can also be, 'Let's play with the frisbee.' His on switch is not always on. He's just a wonderful companion dog."

Jackson moved to Marietta in 1998. She said that the most rewarding part of doing dog challenges, in addition to forming a strong relationship with Rex, has been getting to know people in Atlanta. "Dog agility people are the best. Everybody supports everybody," she said.

"For him (Rex) it's just pure exhilaration, he's just able to run and jump," Jackson explained. "It's a pure, wonderful game, and he's very food-motivated. When he does really well, he gets his treat."

"For him (Rex) it's just pure exhilaration, he's just able to run and jump. It's a pure, wonderful game, and he's very food-motivated. When he does really well, he gets his treat."

For those looking to get into agility dog challenges, or any type of dog competitions, Jackson has this advice:

"First and foremost they should get a dog because they want a companion and they want that dog to be part of their family. Then if they want to do agility, I would advise them to work on creating a really good friendship and bond with the dog. Play with the dog, interact with the dog, make the dog think you are the best thing in the world and all good things come from you. Build a relationship and trust, especially trust."

The Purina Incredible Dog Challenge features dogs of all breeds and sizes that compete in a number of athletic events, such as dog diving, small and large dog agility, freestyle flying disc, Jack Russell hurdle racing and 30-weave pole racing. Local dogs have the opportunity to qualify to participate in two events— dog diving and freestyle flying disc.

Participants compete in the Eastern and Western regional events for a chance to qualify for the National Championships held in St. Louis, Mo., in October. This is the fifteenth anniversary for the challenge and the second year that the Eastern regional event has been held in Atlanta.

The event at Centennial Park, 265 Park Ave. West, Atlanta 30313, is free and open to the public. Around 5,000 people are expected to attend. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

The competition will be live streamed on BarkNetwork.com on Saturday, starting at 11 a.m.

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