My Lovely Lucie In The Sky With Diamonds (#petschallenge entry)

She came to us two years ago, in June. She was about to turn three. A high energy Border Collie with all the drive and will of a true working dog. She had none of the education, discipline or skill a dog like that needs.

A former co-worker contacted me a month before. His elderly mother owned a Border Collie girl she could no longer properly care for. They loved each other, the dog and the lady, but Lucie was too strong. She'd made her owner fall a couple of times already. She pulled her over when they went on walks. We owned a working line Border Collie already, as well as a Czechoslovakian wolfdog. Plenty of experience and contacts to, hopefully find this young lady a new home and a happy ending.

We received a background story and a few photos of a smiling black and white beauty. We called and we didn't want to help rehome her anymore. We'd agree to a trial week at our house, instead. She came to us overweight, out of shape and with a hopelessly matted coat, but we fell in love with her smiles and her happy-go-lucky spirit. The first night, she was next to me on the sofa, already begging for cuddles and bellyrubs.

She had forgotten how to speak "dog." She wanted to play with the others so badly, but she had no clue how to engage them.
She still doesn't, but that may never change. It's a part of who she is. When the others are playing, she jumps around, barking, hoping to get them to play with her. We play with her instead.

She wanted so badly to please us, to work for us. After two months, she'd lost the excess weight and qualified for agility training. After 7 more months, she qualified to compete in trials. She could do beautiful things on a training ground, but the crowds, the pressure, the distractions and the energy overwhelmed her at trials.

She loved it though. She didn't know how well we did. She didn't realise when we disqualified (which we did for over a year) but she wanted to run her trial rounds with me. She wanted to work for me.

We just had to find a way to be a team at trials, as well as at training sessions. This picture of us was taken in August, right after our very first clear trial run. I couldn't be prouder of my Lucie-Girl.

We have 4 dogs and 2 horses at the moment, but the decision to enter Lucie's story for the #petschallenge was easily made. She's special, our Lucie In The Sky With Diamonds. She shines with a light all her own.