Ringside Chat with Jen Waller
Dream comes true for Cynosport Dog Agility Masters 2-Dog Champion.
Jen Waller of Delaware, Ohio, accidentally stumbled into the dog agility world when she met instructor Jenn Crank in 2007, but since that first encounter, she has never looked back. Despite some heartache over the years with her previous dogs, Jen is grateful to have found her perfect partner in her 5-year-old Australian Shepherd, Flight.
“Flight is the love of my life!” Jen said. “I waited a very, very long time for the perfect dog, and he has exceeded my expectations. He comes from cattle herding lines from British Columbia and is very hardy. We have such an amazing bond; it’s like he reads my mind! And while he is young, healthy and winning, I want to take every opportunity I can to get him out there.”
Jen and Flight have competed at the last four Cynosport® World Games and many regionals, including several trials in Michigan, where they met Jeremy Gerhard a few years ago. After teaming up for podium placements at more recent regional events, Jen jumped at the chance to bring their successful partnership to the 2024 Cynosport® World Games Presented by Purina® Pro Plan® in Tucson with their 2-Dog team, “Causing a Ruckus on a Flight.”
Jen and Jeremy then topped the leaderboard in the Purina Pro Plan Dog Agility Masters® 2-Dog event with Flight and Jeremy’s Aussie, Ruckus. “There is WAY more pressure competing on a team!” Jen said. “I’m so afraid of letting down my teammate, but I absolutely love it as a tournament. Strategizing between each class and rooting for each other is my favorite. Flight is also an amazing team dog with his consistency, while Ruckus complements him well with that blazing speed. When Ruckus is on, he is unbeatable.
“Jeremy is an incredible teammate,” she added. “He is so supportive — never judges if something goes wrong, is always open to ideas, and gives great advice. We knew heading into Cynosport this year that we had the ability to win, but to see it actually happen was surreal! It was my very first Cynosport podium and a total dream come true!”