Terry Craggs, from Ferndown, is partnering with her border collie Mist to represent Great Britain at the Par Agility World Championships.
The upcoming occasion, which is being kept in the Netherlands, will see handlers direct their dogs through barrier courses, completing for both time and precision.
Terry struggles with rheumatoid arthritis which impacts her movement, and can position problems in dog handling.
She said: “Competing with non-disabled people showed challenging for me, as running the whole course with Mist was physically requiring. But range handling opened brand-new possibilities.
“This method counts on accurate body movement and subtle gestures to guide your dog through the course. It’s psychologically revitalizing and typically compared to the tactical nature of Sheep Dog Trials.”
Terry’s participation in dog dexterity started with three-day training course in Shropshire.
The course was led by knowledgeable nationwide and global rivals, and after identifying Terry’s capacity, among the leaders motivated her to participate in the nationwide competitors.
Terry said: “Mist and I have actually established a unique collaboration developed on trust. While she deals with parts of the course individually, I will continue to supply more directions.
“Para-dexterity needs tactical thinking, visualizing each step-in advance. It can be stressful, however the excitement of completing once again after the extended lockdowns is stimulating.
“I aspire to display what Mist and I can.”
Last year Terry and Mist protected an amazing 5th location at a dog dexterity competitors in Italy.
Overwhelming assistance from colleagues sustained Terry’s decision to challenge herself even more.
She said: “In my sport, it’s not about winning; it has to do with showing that handicapped professional athletes can stand out on the international stage.
“I fondly remember a motivating minute when I exchanged jerseys with a member of the Spanish group.
“Despite the language barrier, the heat and sportsmanship we shared spoke volumes about approval and unity.”
Terry is now fundraising to cover the expenses connected with participating in this distinguished occasion.
To assistance Terry and Mist in their journey see https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/teresa-craggs?utm_term=M77GJNpn7
