Marla Smith, a bipedal amputee who uses a power wheelchair, takes her service dogs to dog shows around the Prairies. Since losing the ability to walk she says that the dog show world has become a new-found passion, where she can compete in the same arena as non-disabled people.
Marla Smith and her service dogs are promoting accessibility in the dog show world
A crowd watched as Marla Smith carefully steered her Rottweiler Kuno to move away from the tempting tin of food sitting on the ground of an obstacle course at the Alberta Kennel Club Summer Classic dog show in Okotoks, Alta.
She commanded him through the series of tasks with words and gestures. When Kuno spun, Smith spun in her power wheelchair beside him, when he jumped over the wooden hurdle he cleared it with ease, and when he succeeded in a task she told him, “Good boy!”
In this event called obedience rally, Smith was the only person who was seated in a wheelchair while guiding a dog.
The competition allows dogs of various breeds to demonstrate their ability to do exercises based on their owner's instructions. The humans are also on display as they move through the event.
