The adorable dog that no one wanted because of his aggressive behavior just needed a chance…and after one kind woman gave him one, he's on the verge of becoming a Westminster dog show superstar.
Christine Longnecker, a horse trainer that teaches show jumping, wasn't expecting much when she brought her new rescue dog, Miles, to a horseback riding class.
Miles, who had a reputation for snarling and growling at the shelter he was rescued from, seemed far from suited for a group setting.
Yet, in a surprising turn of events, Miles bolted into the ring, not to disrupt, but to dominate. He navigated the jumping obstacles with an enthusiasm that stunned everyone.
‘He looked so excited,' Longnecker told the New York Times. ‘And then he turned and barked as if to say, ‘This is how you do it.'
The once ‘unadoptable' Miles (pictured) has become an agility champion after being adopted by horseback riding coach Christine Longnecker
Longnecker (pictured) wasn't expecting for Miles to participate when she brought him to one of her horseback riding classes
Longnecker first enrolled Miles (pictured) in an agility class at a local center in Pennsylvania. What started out as a hobby turned into competing in regional and national competitions.
That was the first day of Miles's career as an agility dog. In agility competitions, dogs sprint through obstacles as the owner runs with their companion, instructing their 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 out as a hobby turned into competing in regional and national competitions.
‘It started as this incredibly fun thing to do, and then it turned out he was awesome at it,' Longnecker said. ‘He 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 belief.
Although dog shows usually only allow purebreds to compete, the agility competition is open to all four-legged friends.
Miles (pictured) is set to complete at this year's Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in Flushing, Queens, a testament to both his natural ability and Longnecker's unwavering belief
Pictured: Miles bobbing and weaving through obstacles on an agility course
Miles looks most similar to a Doberman-mix, but his DNA test confirmed he was 40 percent cattle dog, 23 percent Labrador, 10 percent Border collie, and the other 23 percent a mix of different hounds.
Miles looks most similar to a Doberman-mix, but his DNA test confirmed he was 40 percent cattle dog, 23 percent Labrador, 10 percent Border collie, and the other 23 percent a mix of different hounds.
Miles's journey wasn't always smooth. At the shelter, he was known for his hostility, a stark contrast to the playful companion Longnecker found six years ago at 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 NY Times.
But when Longnecker visited Miles, he calmly walked to the front of the kennel and laid down.
‘And then he looked me straight in the eye and said, clear as day, ‘I just want to be a good boy,' Longnecker said.
‘All of a sudden this overwhelming sadness washed over me, the sense of his not being able to prove himself because he'd been told that 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 Because You Care animal shelter in McKean, Pennsylvania
When Longnecker visited Miles (pictured), he calmly walked to the front of the kennel and laid down. The shelter workers said they had never seen Miles act so approachable around another person.
The 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 bit of belief and a lot of love,' Longnecker said. ‘You don't need a ‘well-bred dog' to have a best friend to play in dog sports with. You can find one right down the street at your local shelter.'
With patience and training, Miles' anxieties subsided, replaced by a newfound joy for agility. He thrived in the fast-paced environment, his focus laser-sharp as he weaved through tunnels and leaped over jumps.
His enthusiasm was contagious; Miles, a self-appointed assistant coach, likes to demonstrate the proper jumping technique to Longnecker's students, or the horses rather.
‘When the horses are jumping and knock over a rail, Miles gets really upset,' said Anna Buhl, 16, one of Longnecker's students, told the NY Times. First he'll get their attention by barking, ‘Then he'll go jump the jump, to show the horses what to do.'
Miles, a self-appointed assistant coach, likes to demonstrate the proper jumping technique to Longnecker's students, or the horses rather
With patience and training, Miles' anxieties subsided, replaced by a newfound joy for agility. He thrived in the fast-paced environment, his focus laser-sharp as he weaved through tunnels and leaped over jumps.
Now age 7, Miles is working toward his third Master Agility Championship (MACH) (Pictured: Miles wearing his MACH ribbon)
Maddy McLaughlin, 20, another one of Longnecker's students, described her coach as ‘good cop' and Miles as ‘bad cop.'
‘It's always been a running joke that he coaches more than she does,' she said. ‘When she gives us pep talks, he comes and licks our faces.'
Now age 7, Miles is working toward his third Master Agility Championship (MACH). The underdog (pun intended) has competed in the agility nationals twice and finished as the top All-American dog, the American Kennel Club's name for mutts.
Longnecker's expertise extends 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 truly communicated with.
When Miles first came home with Longnecker, he couldn't stop shaking, his tail tucked between his legs. He threw up every time he got out of the car because he thought he was being returned back to the shelter.
‘When we turned on the garbage disposal, he ran upstairs and hid for three hours,' Longnecker said.
She recalled communicating with Miles in hopes of convincing him he was safe.
‘At first he didn't believe me,' she said. ‘The way I ended up having to express it was to say that you're part of my pack and my pack travels in a car. He jumped right in the car, and since then he's been fine.'
The underdog (pun intended) has competed in the agility nationals twice and finished as the top All-American dog, the American Kennel Club's name for mutts.
Longnecker is a proud dog mom, displaying all of Miles's ribbons around her bedroom alongside her equestrian prizes. The decorated duo are inseparable.
This ability, while unconventional, has fostered a deep connection between her and Miles, a bond evident in their seamless teamwork during competitions.
Longnecker is a proud dog mom, displaying all of Miles's ribbons around her bedroom alongside her equestrian prizes. The decorated duo are inseparable.
‘They say you save a rescue, but a rescue saves you,' she said. ‘Miles is the best thing to ever happen to me.'
