Competitor Spotlight -- Sydney Ryan and Ego
Broken leg didn't impede young Border Collie's success.
Sydney Ryan fell in love with agility at a young age. With a mother who competed in dog sports for years, Sydney grew up wondering how much she could achieve in the ring. She competed with her first agility dog, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Ella, and her mother’s Border Collie, Sly, through high school. Then during her first year of college, she got Ego, a Border Collie.
“I’m a naturally competitive person, and I hoped Ego and I would eventually make a world team together,” Sydney said. “Unfortunately, when he was around four months old, he ran into a tree in the backyard and broke his leg. The surgeon who fixed it said it was possible agility wouldn’t be in the cards for us anymore. I had to adjust my goals to keep him healthy.”
Sydney and Ego had a bit of luck on their side during Ego’s recovery; he healed perfectly and was cleared to return to a normal life. The pair started training for agility at St. Paul Dog Training Club in Minnesota while Sydney finished college.
To ensure Ego’s longevity, Sydney decided not to jump him at 24” for any world team tryouts. They have shared great success up to the national level, including earning the 2022 Cynosport® Masters Challenge BiathlonSM and the 2023 Purina® Pro Plan® Incredible Dog Challenge Large Dog championships.
As a photographer, Sydney loves spending her free time with Ego and her other dog, Entitled, who are her best models. They can often be found hiking on trails or traveling on the road.