Three-legged dog competes at Crufts

1:50pm Friday 7th March 2008

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A THREE-LEGGED dog will be joining her teammates to compete at the world's biggest dog show this weekend.

Deefa, who trained as an agility dog before losing one of her back legs in an accident, has proven her worth at competitions ever since, and will represent the Chippenham Agility Club at Crufts on Sunday.

The nine-year-old Lurcher, whose handler is 22-year-old Amy Lawson, is one of five dogs taking part in a junior handlers team agility event, organised by the Young Kennel Club at Crufts, which started yesterday at the NEC in Birmingham.

She was also due to compete in the individual agility event yesterday.

Deefa lost her leg when walking through woods two years ago, after trapping her hind leg down a hole.

But the plucky canine proved this was no set-back when she started tackling jumps off her own bat and showing her owner that she was still capable of competing in the same way as her four-legged friends.

Jo Pidduck, who has been a member of the Chippenham Agility Club since 1998, said Deefa's resilience had astounded club members.

She said Deefa was originally going to be retired but surprised everyone by sailing over 2ft high jumps and weaving through obstacles with ease.

Mrs Pidduck's daughter Hannah, 14, is among the five members of the agility team, and will be competing with her Belgian Shepherd Malinois, Hal.

"They will do five rounds between them and then take the top four scores," Mrs Pidduck said.

"It's very much like the way they score equestrian competitions.

"They are all really looking forward to it as this is the first time they have qualified as a team."

The other members of the junior agility team are Tom Brennan, 14, who has a Collie and sisters Eleri and Cerys Simpson, 12, who both have Shelties.

The Chippenham Agility Club trains at Staverton Livery every Tuesday and Thursday evening.

For details visit www.chippenhamagilityclub.org.uk