One of the things we love most about these Saturday Reads is hearing the different journeys people have taken with their dogs.
Some start with agility. Some start with showing.
And every now and then, someone somehow manages to do both.
This week we are catching up with Zoe and her dogs Foden, Zircon and young Orinoco. A story that spans more than twenty years of dog sports, countless miles on the road, plenty of training nights, and a Crufts journey that very nearly became a marathon
It All Started With Merlin
Zoe's journey into agility began back in 2004.
Her mum had a young Sheltie called Merlin who was proving to be a busy little dog, so Zoe was tasked with finding something for him to do.
A local agility class seemed like a good idea.
One class led to another, then another, and before long they were progressing through the grades and being encouraged to compete.
Sadly, Zoe's mum passed away before she got the chance to watch them compete, but Merlin went on to enjoy a successful agility career, retiring from Grade 6 in 2015 before continuing for another couple of seasons in Anysize and Allsorts classes.
Then Came The Leonbergers
Alongside agility, Zoe welcomed her first Leonberger puppy, Blake.
Knowing agility probably was not going to be Blake's chosen career path, she joined a local ringcraft club to spend some one to one time with him.
That decision led to an unexpected surprise.
At East of England Championship Show in 2010, Blake placed third in the puppy class and qualified for Crufts.
The only problem?
Zoe did not even realise that was enough to qualify.
Not a bad way to find out.
Balancing Two Dog Sports
Most people struggle to fit one dog hobby into their diary.
Zoe somehow manages two.
Her wall planner combines agility shows alongside breed shows so she can work out where she needs to be and when.
Sometimes that means doing both in the same weekend.
One memorable weekend involved showing at a Leonberger club show on Saturday before heading to Inspire Agility on Sunday.
Another saw Zoe running Merlin at Just Dogs Live before changing into smart clothes and heading straight into the East of England Championship Show ring with Blake.
That takes some serious organisation.
Meet The Team
Foden
Foden is very much the gentleman of the household.
Friendly, enthusiastic and completely unaware of just how large he is.
He loves food, enjoys his training, has dabbled in hoopers and absolutely loves his conditioning exercises.
Perhaps his greatest strength though is his attitude.
If he sees Zoe packing the van for a day out, a show or Crufts, he is immediately first in line and ready to go.
Over the years he has become a complete professional in the ring, calm, confident and happy to do his job.
Zircon
While Foden has excelled in the show ring, Zircon has built a reputation in agility.
Consistency is his superpower.
Zoe recalls multiple show days where Zircon completed every run without a course fault, sometimes even winning classes despite carrying time faults.
Not every agility dog needs to be the fastest dog in the field to be successful.
Orinoco
The newest member of the team is Orinoco.
Young, enthusiastic and currently learning the ropes from the older dogs.
Foden has become his best friend, happily playing with him and helping him settle into family life.
Meanwhile Zircon has taken on the role of teacher, making sure the youngster
learns some manners along the way.
Preparing For Crufts
While Crufts lasts just a few minutes in the ring, the preparation starts months earlier.
Foden attends weekly ringcraft classes and Zoe practises extra skills at home that are actually harder than anything he should need in competition.
Standing alone while she moves around him.
Standing still while she runs past.
Even standing patiently while a treat is thrown in front of him until she picks it up and hands it back.
Alongside this, regular conditioning work helps keep him fit and strong.
As a coach with the Canine Conditioning Academy, Zoe is passionate about keeping her dogs in top condition.
And then there is the grooming.
The bath might happen shortly before the show, but the coat preparation starts much earlier, with combing and maintenance beginning back in January ahead of Crufts in March.
Crufts 2026
This year's Crufts was always going to be a challenge.
With one dog competing in Hall 2 and another in Hall 5, there was plenty of ground to cover.
Thankfully Orinoco took his first ever Crufts experience completely in his stride.
He handled the atmosphere brilliantly, stood nicely for judging and trotted confidently across the famous green carpet.
Although unplaced from a class of 17 junior dogs, his future looks bright.
Then came Foden.
For Zoe, this run meant a lot.
The nerves were definitely there.
But once they entered the ring and settled into position, everything changed.
The noise disappeared.
The nerves disappeared.
And it became just Zoe and Foden working together.
The result?
Third place in Veteran.
A fantastic achievement and a fitting reward for all the preparation that had gone into the day.
Zoe believes it may well have been Foden's final Crufts appearance.
If it was, it was certainly one to remember.
Looking Back
What stood out most from Zoe's story was not the rosettes, qualifications or placings.
It was the dogs.
Merlin starting it all.
Blake unexpectedly opening the door to Crufts.
Zircon's reliability.
Foden's professionalism.
And now Orinoco beginning his own journey.
Three different dogs. Two different dog sports. Twenty plus years of memories.
Proof that there is more than one way to enjoy life with dogs.
Thank you Zoe for sharing your story with us and giving us a glimpse into life balancing agility, showing and everything in between.
We cannot wait to see what comes next for Orinoco.