
Beth has been teaching agility since 2004 and has been involved in the sport since 2001. She currently has three Jack Russell Terriers. Chip is 9, Meeko is 5 and Jazz is 1. Together they train and attend many seminars in the Edmonton area. They are involved in many other dog activities including flyball and Jack Russell Terrier trials.
Beth's first experience with formal dog training was in London, Ontario where she and Chip took obedience classes while he was a young dog. After moving to Alberta, Beth discovered the sport of agility. Though Beth and Chip took their first agility class when Chip was only a year old, they didn't really get into it until he was 4. Chip didn't take to the sport immediately, but slowly he learned that staying on course was more fun then searching the edges of the ring for mice. In 2004, just as everything was starting to come together, Chip suffered a sudden mysterious illness that left him blind in one eye, which threatened to end his agility career or worse. After a few tense months, Chip recovered. Though Chip has been left with some lingering effects, his agility has improved dramatically in the last two years. The highlight of Chip's agility career to date has been finishing 2nd in his division at the 2006 Alberta and Northwest Territory Agility Championship and going on to compete at the National Championships in Burnaby, B.C. Chip finished in the middle of his division and Beth was never more proud of him. Since his illness Chip has achieved his Bronze Award of Merit in AAC. Chip is a very laid back, friendly JRT who will sit on the lap of anyone he meets. Chip also recently took up flyball which he plays with his father Geoff.
In 2003, Meeko moved in and things in the Wheaton household changed drastically. Meeko is the complete opposite of Chip, being a stereotypical crazy Jack Russell Terrier, though she also has a soft lovable side. Meeko started training at three months old and has been competing since she was 18 months old. Training this high drive dog has proven to be an adventure for Beth. When Meeko was 2 she took up flyball as an outlet for her extra energy. Though training her to bring the ball back was a bit of a challenge, Meeko loves the sport and has been competing as a member of Bring Your Own Ball for a year. Now that Meeko is 5, Beth is stepping up her efforts to control Meeko's endless energy and mold her into a fast, accurate agility dog. Meeko has represented herself well on the National stage in 2007 with individual round placements. Meeko has earned her ATChC title and three Masters Games Titles.
The newest addition to the family is Jazz, another JRT. This time around Beth found it in her heart to offer a rescue JRT a home. She saw Jazz on a cat rescue website and decided that it was no place for a dog to be and quickly made arrangements for this little girl to get to her forever home. As expected, being a rescue, Jazz came with some baggage that Beth worked through with a dedicated determination and now Jazz is working out to be a great little agility and flyball dog. While not quite old enough to compete, Beth and Jazz are setting their sights on great things to come.
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