The adorable dog that no one wanted because of his aggressive behavior just needed a chance…and after a kind woman gave him one, he’s about to become a Westminster dog show superstar.
Christine Longnecker, a horse trainer who teaches show jumping, wasn’t expecting much when she took her new rescue dog, Miles, to a riding class.
Miles, who had a reputation for growling and growling at the shelter from which he was rescued, seemed far from suited for a group setting.
However, in a surprising turn of events, Miles jumped into the ring, not to disrupt, but to dominate. He overcame obstacles by jumping with an enthusiasm that surprised everyone.
“He seemed so excited,” Longnecker told the New York Times. “And then he turned and barked as if to say, ‘This is how it’s done.'”
Miles, who was once ‘unadoptable’ (pictured), has become an agility champion after being adopted by riding trainer Christine Longnecker.
Longnecker (pictured) didn’t expect Miles to participate when she took him to one of her riding lessons.
Longnecker first enrolled Miles (pictured) in an agility class at a local center in Pennsylvania. What started as a hobby turned into competing in regional and national competitions.
That was the first day of Miles’ career as an agility dog. In agility competitions, dogs race through obstacles while the owner races with his partner, instructing his canine on what to do every step of the way.
Longnecker first enrolled Miles in an agility class at a local center in Pennsylvania. What started as a hobby turned into competing in regional and national competitions.
“It started out as incredibly fun and then it turned out that I was amazing at it,” Longnecker said. “I was racking up points.”
Miles is set to complete at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show in Flushing, Queens, a testament to both his natural ability and Longnecker’s unwavering faith.
Although dog shows typically only allow purebred dogs to compete, the agility competition is open to all four-legged friends.
Miles (pictured) will be participating in this year’s Westminster Kennel Club dog show in Flushing, Queens, a testament to both his natural ability and Longnecker’s unwavering faith.
Pictured: Thousands swinging and dodging obstacles on an agility course
Miles looks a lot like a Doberman mix, but his DNA testing confirmed he was 40 percent cattle dog, 23 percent Labrador, 10 percent Border Collie and the other 23 percent a mix of different dogs.
Miles looks a lot like a Doberman mix, but his DNA testing confirmed he was 40 percent cattle dog, 23 percent Labrador, 10 percent Border Collie and the other 23 percent a mix of different dogs.
On DailyMail.com, Miles took his own DNA test and it turned out he was 100% that Good Guy.
Miles’ journey wasn’t always easy. At the shelter, he was known for his hostility, a stark contrast to the playful companion Longnecker found six years ago at the Because You Care animal shelter in McKean, Pennsylvania.
“To say he wasn’t receptive to new people is an understatement,” Becky Mancini, the shelter’s volunteer coordinator, told the New York Times.
But when Longnecker visited Miles, he calmly walked to the front of the kennel and lay down.
“And then he looked me right in the eye and said, clear as day, ‘I just want to be a good boy,'” Longnecker said.
“Suddenly an overwhelming sadness came over me, the feeling that he couldn’t prove himself because he had been told he was a bad dog. My heart broke into a million pieces.
At the shelter, Miles (pictured) was known for his hostility, a stark contrast to the playful companion he is today.
Longnecker (left) found Miles (right) six years ago at the Because You Care animal shelter in McKean, Pennsylvania.
When Longnecker visited Miles (pictured), he calmly walked to the front of the kennel and lay down. Shelter workers said they had never seen Miles act so approachable around another person.
Shelter workers said they had never seen Miles act so approachable around another person.
“Miles is proof that you can overcome anything with a little faith and a lot of love,” Longnecker said. “You don’t need a ‘well-behaved dog’ to have a best friend to play dog sports with. You can find one right down the street at your local shelter.
With patience and training, Miles’s anxieties diminished and were replaced by a new joy for agility. He thrived in the fast-paced environment, his focus was sharp as he traversed tunnels and jumped.
His enthusiasm was contagious; Miles, a self-proclaimed assistant trainer, likes to demonstrate proper jumping technique to Longnecker’s students, or rather the horses.
“When the horses jump and knock over a railing, Miles gets very angry,” Anna Buhl, 16, one of Longnecker’s students, told the New York Times. First she will get her attention by barking: “Then he will jump up to show the horses what to do.”
Miles, a self-proclaimed assistant trainer, likes to demonstrate proper jumping technique to Longnecker’s students, or rather the horses.
With patience and training, Miles’s anxieties diminished and were replaced by a new joy for agility. He thrived in the fast-paced environment, his focus was sharp as he traversed tunnels and jumped.
Miles, now 7 years old, is working to win his third Master Agility Championship (MACH) (Pictured: Miles with his MACH ribbon)
Maddy McLaughlin, 20, another of Longnecker’s students, described her coach as “good cop” and Miles as “bad cop.”
“It’s always been a joke that he trains more than her,” she said. “When she gives us pep talks, he comes and licks our faces.”
Miles, now 7 years old, is working toward his third Master Agility Championship (MACH). The underdog (pun intended) has competed twice in the agility nationals and finished as the top All-American dog, the name the American Kennel Club gives to stray dogs.
Longnecker’s expertise goes beyond traditional training methods. Known as an animal communicator, she helps pet owners understand their furry companions. She said Miles was the first dog she really communicated with.
When Miles first came home with Longnecker, he couldn’t stop shaking, his tail tucked between his legs. He vomited every time he got out of the car because he thought he would be returned to the shelter.
“When we turned on the garbage disposal, he ran upstairs and hid for three hours,” Longnecker said.
He remembered communicating with Miles in hopes of convincing him that he was safe.
“At first he didn’t believe me,” he said. ‘The way I ended up having to phrase it was by saying you’re part of my pack and my pack rides in a car. She got right into the car and has been fine ever since.
The underdog (pun intended) has competed twice in the agility nationals and finished as the top All-American dog, the name the American Kennel Club gives to stray dogs.
Longnecker is a proud dog mom and displays all of Miles’ ribbons in her bedroom along with his equestrian awards. The decorated duo is inseparable.
This skill, while unconventional, has fostered a deep connection between her and Miles, a bond evident in their perfect teamwork during competitions.
Longnecker is a proud dog mom and displays all of Miles’ ribbons in her bedroom along with his equestrian awards. The decorated duo is inseparable.
“They say a rescue saves, but a rescue saves you,” he said. “Miles is the best thing that has ever happened to me.”