Pooch and owner off to world champs

SINCE her high school days, Taryn Murphy’s passion for dog agility training has only grown and she is looking forward to competing with her trusted companion, China, overseas in September.

It was a visit to the World of Dogs and Cats show that first hooked Tanya to dog training and the very next year, at 17 years old, she was gifted her first dog, Misty – a German shepard cross. A year later she started dog agility training with Zest, a border collie.

Now 33 years old, the primary school teacher has gone on to win a few awards in the South African circuit and is looking to walk in her late friend’s footsteps and compete at the FCI World Agility Championships. “China was given to me by my dear friend, Sharleen Blicher Olsen, a month before she died from cancer. It was her dream to have China compete at the event and I am hoping to make her dream come true and hopefully do her proud,” said Tanya.

The Waterfall resident now has four dogs, Koda (12) and two miniature American shepherds, R-tic and N-V. “Once I started training there is always that need and a drive to get better and better and to make the South African team is really difficult as you have to compete in trials in your province, then only the top 60 dogs in the country compete in the finals, and of those, only 20 dogs vie for a position on the team and then have to make it into the top four,” she said.

Having taken fourth position, Tanya said her days after work involve not only keeping her dogs fit and teaching them skills such as weaving and climbing obstacles but to make sure that she is also at the top of her game. “You are constantly having to better yourself, knowing your courses and getting your timing right but also teaching your dogs how to be independent on a course,” she said.

She is most looking forward to competing against international agility trainers and being surrounded by crowds of like-minded people. “It is all very exciting but also slightly nerve-racking,” she admitted. Tanya said that a trip to Spain was quite costly and with her salary would not be able to cover the fees for both her and China to compete, and will soon be hosting a fundraiser event. “Flying is expensive but it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I am really looking forward to it.”

China is the first large dog in KwaZulu-Natal to be competing in the competition. “China is wonderful and when I was sick recently and lying in bed and had no energy to move, he came and looked at me as if to say ‘What’s wrong with you, get up and let’s go train’,” laughed Tanya. She trains with her dogs four days a week, working on balance, muscle building and agility with sessions between 10 to 20 minutes each.

If you would like to donate towards Tanya competing overseas, e-mail her at canineactive@gmail.com.