Comeback Is Story of Sweet Success for Jody and Buck

In August 2014, Jody Faulkner, a computer programmer from Plano, Texas, wasn’t sure she would be competing again with her agility partner, Buck, an Aussie she had raised from a puppy. Buck had been diagnosed with a possible ACL tear and was on crate rest, then later her vet suspected he had soft tissue injury and needed more rest. Finally, it was determined that Buck needed TPLO surgery and was referred to top Houston surgeon Dr. Brian Beale at Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists. 

“The surgery was successful, and when we were released to start back to playing agility again, Dr. Beale suggested that we add Antinol^® to Buck's daily supplements because he had seen some arthritis starting where the tear had been. So, I looked it up and ordered some,” Jody said of the path she followed to Buck’s recovery. 

“Buck continued Antinol and never required a second TPLO surgery, which is common when you have an ACL tear. By mid-May of 2015, we competed successfully at the South Central Regional in Oklahoma,” she said. . 

Jody and Dr. Beale reached out to Antinol company reps at Vetz Petz® to let them know about the successful comeback. Her agility story caught their interest, and they were impressed by the dedicated canine community in the agility world and USDAA^®. Last month the partnership evolved, and Antinol became the Official Joint Supplement of USDAA.

"Buck was my third Australian Shepherd and the first one I got as a puppy; my previous Aussies were rehome/rescues. In 2010, I saw a young Aussie at a big USDAA event and was impressed with how the dog handled itself. I asked the owner for the breeder’s contact information and traveled to Montana to visit Betty Williams in Lewistown. I immediately fell in love with Buck's dad, Spur, a stock dog champion,” Jody said. Later when the puppies were born, there were only two. Jody got the call -- and chose Buck.

“Buck is an old soul, super sweet guy, wants to be friends with everyone, temperament to die for. He was a quick learner and always looking to please me. I had heard a lot of horror stories about living with a teenage boy dog and was prepared to live through it no matter what. Buck was that special dog that at the age of 12 months let me know he was mature and wasn't going to be the typical teenage boy. He's been all business every time we stepped into the ring. The best compliment I received from an agility friend was that ‘we were a team’ at our very first trial,” she recalled.

Jody is currently competing with Brio (Buck's daughter, almost 6) and now raising Wyatt (Buck's grandson, 3 months). “Brio is just getting back to competing after being off to have puppies, and if I can get her qualified for Cynosport, then we will be there.”