Finding the Right Puppy Takes Time
Ringside Chat with Crystal Blaker
This article was originally published in the April 2024 OVERview digital magazine.
Crystal Blaker of Tucson, Ariz., started in the sport with a Goldendoodle who passed away last year at 13½ years old. She loved competing with an atypical agility dog so much that she knew she wanted another rare breed for her second partner. As a professional dog trainer and owner of Ruff House Dog Training, she was also determined to prove that an allegedly stubborn, "untrainable" breed could be as smart as any other dog. She started looking for a French Bulldog to fit the bill.
Crystal picked Gigi, a now-2-year-old Frenchie from a California-based breeder, based on the personality and drive she saw in videos. Hoping for Gigi to be an agility or therapy dog, Crystal focused her early training on obedience, impulse control and exposure to various objects, including tarps and exercise equipment.
Crystal Blaker with Gigi at the 2024 Wild West Regional
“I wanted her to be comfortable with the world around her, so I showed her different textures, sounds and obstacles as often as I could,” Crystal said. “So far, I have trained her solely on my own. After doing a few trials together and seeing her awesome potential, I’ve started reaching out to agility instructors to improve our knowledge and partnership. She’s an absolute joy to train! I’m excited to see us grow as a team with everyone’s help and support.”
Recently, Crystal also added a 4-month-old Golden Retriever puppy to the family to become a therapy dog. She successfully used the Puppy Aptitude Test (PAT) and worked with reputable breeders to find the right dogs to meet her goals.
“If you’re looking for an agility pup, I recommend taking your time to talk with multiple breeders,” Crystal said. “I found it ironic that when I started talking with responsible breeders, they all knew and referred to each other. I researched breeders for a year and a half before choosing Gigi’s, but that helped me know I was on the right path.”
Gigi