Six years at the top level for young Jess
18-year-old has picked up many awards
AN 18-YEAR-OLD dog agility specialist from Hinckley has become a brand ambassador for a leading raw dog food manufacturer.
Poppy’s Picnic have taken on Jess Cuthberston, a Young Kennel Club dog agility specialist, who has been competing in the sport for the last six years.
Jess has a bronze medal in dog agility in the Junior GB Team competing at the European Open Juniors in Luxembourg in 2017.
She was also awarded fifth place in the YKC Jumping and YKC Teams at Crufts 2019, third at the Junior Team GB Tryouts in 2019 and fourth place in the Olympia Novice Qualifier, plus many more Championship placings around the country.
Jess is now moving out of juniors to compete at senior level but plans to still do a few junior classes at Crufts in 2020.
Jess currently has five Border Collies - Lucy, Skye, Sasha, Cuba and Puerto Rico - and a German Spitz, Teddy. She currently competes with Cuba, Puerto Rica and Sasha.
Jess said: “Cuba is the first puppy I’ve had with the Bon Bellami Cuban Princess breedline and I can’t put into words how amazing she is.
“At just two years old, she won into Grade 4 in KC agility grading (Grade 7 being the highest) and was chosen to represent Team GB with me. Puerto Rico is Cuba’s cousin and our newest addition to the family - he’s simply the sweetest dog ever.
“Last but not least, we have Skye, who I’ve named my SkyePaws Agility Training school after.
“She’s seven years old this year and is my first love. She is the most perfect first agility dog anyone can have and I wouldn’t be doing any of this if I didn’t meet her all those years ago.
“She was my companion from the beginner’s course right through to when I represented Team GB twice. With the puppies; Cuba and Rico coming through, Skye’s agility career is starting to slow down but we’re enjoying every moment we have together, and our main aim now is to take care of her so she’s healthy and comfortable in her older years.”
As well as being an expert dog agility specialist, Jess is also a budding entrepreneur running her own successful dog training school, SkpePaws Agility Training providing puppy and dog agility training to dog owners.
To follow her progress on Poppy’s Picnic social media and follow her directly, see @ jess.cuthbertson on Instagram and ‘Jess Cuthbertson SkyePaws Agility Training’ on Facebook.