Before turning into an all-star puppy, Tiki, a 6-year-old farm animal canine hound mix, was jogging out of time at her municipal refuge. She was happily rescued from the shelter wherein she’d been held simply in the nick of time—on the very day she was scheduled to be euthanized. After her rescue, Tiki lived with her foster mom for 8 months while she recovered from heartworm and a mammary tumor.

Jen Towers, the owner of Lead the Pack Dog Training based totally in New York, tells Daily Paws that after she heard about Tiki from the canine’s foster mother, she fell in love. Lead the Pack makes a specialty of dock diving, a training where dogs dive off a forty-foot dock into a 40-foot-length pool.

The employer also provides agility schooling through Fast CAT, where puppies chase a plastic bag on a line. Thanks to the foster mom’s capacity to showcase Tiki’s unique skills, Towers noticed Tiki’s capability and knew they were meant to be together. Towers says the girl “highlighted the whole thing about this canine that makes her extraordinary … all the dog sports activities that she did. And I fell in love with her.”

Towers says that even as Tiki may be a champion name holder now, the canine first of all struggled with impulse control and attention during education periods. “She’s a very instinctual dog and she’s a completely impulsive canine,” she says.

But through months of training and difficult paintings, the hound discovered how to build relationships with human beings instead of handiest responding to her impulses. And all those hard paintings have paid off with championship titles and United States opposition wins!

Within the first year of her adoption, Tiki and Towers traveled all throughout the US to exceptional agility competitions. Her first prevent became the World Invite championship for dock diving in Tennessee. Later, the previously safe haven canine traveled to Florida to compete in the national competition for North American Diving Dogs. While Tiki excels at maximum sports (she’s generally the top dog in her division!) Towers says the doggy is in particular keen on Frisbees.

Related Meet the 2021 American Kennel Club (AKC) National Agility Championship Winners

Tiki lives with 4 different rescue dogs, and Towers describes her as “the clown of the group—Tiki keeps everybody having an awesome time.” No reliance on what is taking place, this little hound knows a way to have amusement. Towers says that at the same time as she is not the most important dog in the group, she is the most competitive. When Tiki hears the motor start for Fast CAT, she’s equipped to head. And if a Frisbee is thrown her way, Towers says she’s stunned if Tiki isn’t the one to get it first.

“If Tiki had a tagline, it’d be ‘Life is a sport, and I’m just right here to play it.'”

Conclusion

Tiki’s journey from a shelter dog on the brink of euthanasia to a celebrated all-star athlete is nothing short of inspiring. Rescued just in time, she overcame health challenges and transformed into a champion through dedication, training, and love. With her competitive spirit, love for Frisbees, and ability to light up every room, Tiki proves that every dog has the potential to shine. Her story is a heartwarming reminder that with patience, care, and a little bit of play, even the most unlikely underdogs can become superstars. As Tiki’s tagline says, “Life is a game, and I’m just here to play it!” 🐾✨