Rowan’s Farewell Tour
Senior Sheltie celebrates her last IFCS event with two silver medals.
This article was originally published in the August 2025 OVERview digital magazine.
After winning two medals at the 2024 IFCS World Agility Championship in France, Heather Witt-Sullivan hoped to bring her longtime partner Rowan overseas again this summer for a farewell tour from int
ernational competition. The dynamic duo made three world teams for 2025: IFCS for the fourth year (having earned Gold in 2022 and 2023), the World Agility Open as a wildcard entry and the Senior Open Agility World Championship.
With Rowan turning 11 years old on August 9, Heather knew she had to work harder to keep the Shetland Sheepdog performing at her best. “As a little dog, I think the years wear on her less than they would a bigger dog,” Heather said. “Even so, I added some core strengthening to her daily exercise of hiking, frequent sprints and stretching. I also added a muscle-building supplement in addition to her joint support supplements, plus Adequan injections to maintain mobility. She gained 5% muscle mass in just one month, and the bodywork veterinarian who helps keep our dogs as fit as possible said she has never felt better!”
Heather and Rowan’s hard work paid off; they brought home two of Team USA’s 12 medals from Switzerland, earning silver in the 25 cm Individual Jumping and Biathlon Overall divisions. Despite her age, Rowan still barks with joy around the course and joins in the applause during podiums as loudly as ever.
“I try to limit how long she remains in that state of fervor for ceremonies and podiums now so she doesn’t exhaust herself,” Heather said. “After doing agility together for over 10 years, we know each other very well. I know her skill set, she understands my cues, and I am pretty clear on our strengths and weaknesses. There is a lovely confidence in the connection and communication we have. A greener team won’t have this knowledge yet; it’s something that comes with experience.
“For those running or starting a senior dog, trips to the vet for a wellness check are essential,” she added. “A physical fitness routine to keep them fit for the strenuous activities we ask of them is critical as well, and of course, a healthy diet and mental enrichment all contribute to a well-balanced and robust dog.”
Heather plans to keep enjoying the sport with Rowan for as long as they can play safely. Rowan will likely move to a lower jump height in the near future, and Heather is working on finding her next Sheltie to join the family with agility in mind. The pair lives in Connecticut with Heather’s husband and another Sheltie whom she calls “Rowan’s official cheering committee.”
“I would absolutely recommend IFCS to others and have been honored to be a member representing Team USA,” Heather said. “This year’s team came together and supported each other and other countries’ competitors like no other year I’ve experienced. Billie Jean King once said, ‘Pressure is a privilege,’ and I truly believe that. Whatever your passion, if you can find a way to challenge yourself to be better and work toward a goal, that must be good for you. Everyone should find something that makes them want to push, strive and achieve more.”