DEPARTMENTS P E T S
GOOD SPORTS
A Cary couple’s Shelties take agility, rally and flyball to a competitive level
BY SAMANTHA GRATTON | PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID AND WENDY DILTS
“C
ome on, Lyra! Ready?” Wendy
dog sports, sometimes earning a perfect
long days of practice in less than ideal
Dilts changes her Sheltie’s
score. “You can take it as far as you want to
weather, and staying committed to the goal
collar so Lyra knows it’s time
take it,” David says.
no matter how frustrating it can be, but it
to practice agility drills. Using
Agility competitions measure a dog’s
signals and praise, Wendy skillfully guides
ability to quickly run through an obstacle
8-year-old Lyra through a tunnel, weave
course consisting of features such as a
poles and a series of jumps in her backyard.
all pays off. “I’ve never bonded with a dog as much as I have with Chase,” he says. Chase has experienced some surgeries
tunnel, tire swing, teeter-totter and jumps.
and no longer competes, but Lyra recently
Wendy and her husband David have had
Rally competitions focus on commands
started training for rally events and has
five Shetland sheepdogs—or Shelties—over
and include a mapped course displaying
also won a few competitions. Wendy says
the past 30 years, but only Lyra and Chase,
signs for handlers to instruct their dogs
knowing the personality of your dog helps
their other Sheltie, have competed in dog
to perform certain obedience commands
when choosing what sport to compete in.
sport competitions—with a number of
such as “sit,” “lay down” and “turn
She and Lyra are still working on finding
ribbons to show for it.
around,” while also mixing in some agility
their rhythm with rally, but have gained
elements like jumps. Flyball showcases
great support and guidance from certified
ribbons. Sometimes you do, sometimes you
fast, energetic dogs who race down a
professional dog trainer Penny Leigh, one
don’t,” David says as he gazes upon dozens
stretch of hurdles and step on a flyball box
of several trainers the couple has worked
of green, white, yellow, red and, of course,
to trigger the release of a ball. The dog
with over the years.
blue ribbons his Sheltie, Chase, won during
then retrieves the ball and races back to
past competitions.
his or her owner.
“You always hope you’ll come home with
Nearly 15 now, Chase began training
THE BASICS OF TRAINING
Preparing for these competitions takes a
Before competing with a dog, there are
with David at age 2. That was the goal
lot of time and effort, but can be a fulfilling
prerequisite dog training courses. After
when David chose him from Southwinds
activity for both the handler and dog. David
passing basic obedience classes and the
Shetland Sheepdogs in Raleigh, owned by
jokes that while some people golf or collect
American Kennel Club’s Canine Good
Katina Komorek. Over the years, Chase
sports cars, his hobby is to train Chase for
Citizen test—which consists of 10 steps
has competed in agility, rally and flyball
dog competitions. This sometimes requires
focused on teaching a dog basic good
104 | midtownmag.com
