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It’s not every day you see a breed like a Portuguese Water Dog, and even rarer to see a Junior Handler on the other hand. But that’s exactly where you’ll find 13-year-old Maggie Hoddick from Valashia, New York: competing in AKC Rally and Obedience with her 5-year-old “Windy.”
Hoddick’s mom was always into dog training, so the segue way into dog sports felt very natural. When Hoddick got her dog, her mom instantly began taking them to training classes together. And together they’ve come a long way. Windy recently passed the test to become a certified therapy dog, which Hoddick says creates opportunities to give back to their local community.
Committing to Learning AKC Rally
Hoddick began teaching Windy basic obedience skills and then worked up to training in AKC Rally. “We go to classes on Sunday morning, so we do stuff every week, and sometimes we practice at home between classes,” Hoddick explains.
While Hoddick enjoys competing in obedience, she prefers AKC Rally. “Even though the courses are always changing, the signs tell you what to do,” she says. Sometimes, she jokes, she still has trouble remembering her left from right despite the signs.
This friendly and welcoming environment with AKC Rally competitions is part of what keeps Hoddick engaged in the sport. Hoddick was quick to add that any time she’s gotten confused on the course, the judge has always helped her remember what to do next.
Hoddick says that she thinks that Windy’s favorite AKC Rally sign is doing “a front and then going to heel position.” When Windy isn’t competing, Hoddick says she is a lapdog, and really likes to cuddle. She say that Windy also enjoys a game of fetch — if her family’s other dogs don’t try to take the ball. When Hoddick isn’t training with Windy, she’s an active seventh grader who enjoys running Cross Country.
Exploring the World of Dog Sports
To get ready for obedience competitions, Hoddick and Windy had to overcome some training challenges. “My dog hates doing figure 8s,” Hoddick confesses. At one obedience trial, they attempted it, but Windy kept going to the other side instead. This sort of training setback can be challenging for handlers of any age, but for Hoddick, it just represented an opportunity to work harder with Windy.
She’s figured out a method that works for her and Windy for when they’ve hit these kinds of training challenge. “You give them a minute break to do something fun,” she says. “Then you can get attention back, and try it again.” Hoddick says this helps reset the situation to help the dog start from scratch.
In addition to training for AKC Rally and Obedience, Hoddick and Windy have begun taking AKC Scent Work classes. She decided to take on AKC Scent Work as a challenge and says it has been fun to get involved with a new sport.
“Porties are known for not having noses,” she jokes, adding that Windy often struggles to find treats even if they are right in front of her face. The two are having fun with their AKC Scent Work classes, though Hoddick notes that when it comes to Windy and those tossed treats, she still has trouble finding them.
A Natural at Therapy Work
Hoddick is putting Windy’s obedience skills to work with her new journey as a therapy dog. Therapy dogs are specially trained to be calm in a variety of situations. After being certified, they can visit people in hospitals and nursing homes to provide comfort.
She says that Windy is very patient, and understands commands like “leave it” very well. She says they didn’t have a “super hard” time getting certified because Windy is such a natural.
Although many dogs understandably struggle with ignoring food distractions, this is one of Windy’s superpowers. “For some reason, she got it in her head that if someone doesn’t tell you to eat the food, you sit there and stare at it,” says Hoddick. This comes in handy for therapy work because Windy’s able to stay very focused.
Hoddick and Windy have been practicing their therapy dog skills by regularly going to visit an elderly neighbor along with her dad and his dog. In the future, Hoddick and Windy look forward to going with Windy to visit nursing homes.
Connecting With Other Junior Handlers
Even though Hoddick comes from a family where both her parents and her aunt are active in dog sports, she especially values the opportunity to connect with other junior handlers.
Having friends your own age at dog shows means a lot to Hoddick. “You have someone to talk to that’s not an adult who will understand what you are saying,” she explains. “My friend does dog training stuff with me, and we often do the same things when we are competing.”
At competitions, Hoddick says that she and Windy are just there to do their best. When it comes to competing against other junior handler friends, it’s not about the competition. They’re there to cheer each other on, even when they are technically “against” each other.
This friendship also led her to bringing Windy home in the first place. “My friend and I do training together and her grandma is the breeder,” she explains. Hoddick advises any prospective junior handlers curious about getting started in dog sports to find a patient dog who will grow and learn alongside you.