Sport Dog of the Week: Rafiki the Border Collie
I first met Rafiki the Border Collie at the 2024 DOTCORNY Fast CAT in Canandaigua, New York. I love that Rafiki lives so close to me because it means I have had the chance to photograph him several times and get to know him and his mom, Beverly!
Photo of Rafiki by Charlotte With Dogs
Rafiki found his mom after she lost her Lab, Mongo, unexpectedly from a twisted small intestine. A breeder in Philadelphia had a litter of Border Collie puppies that would be ready for their homes about two months after losing Mongo. When Beverly went to meet the puppies around four weeks, Rafiki crawled right into her lap and fell asleep. I think it’s pretty clear that Rafiki chose Beverly to be his mom!
Like many Border Collies, Rafiki needs a lot of stimulation and exercise, so Beverly started doing dog sports with him to give him the enrichment he needs. He and Beverly now do Rally, Herding, and Fast CAT together. Rafiki loves anything that involves running, so I think they should give Fetch a try too! (Hint hint, Beverly!)
Photo of Rafiki courtesy of Beverly Constantino
Beverly shared that her funniest dog sports memory with Rafiki was the first time we met at the DOTCORNY event. Rafiki is very well trained and that includes going to his mat. When he finished his run, he ran straight for the towel I was laying on and waited in “place” for his mom’s next direction! Unsurprisingly, everyone at the end of the lane burst out laughing!
Rafiki is a fast boy and has broken 30 miles per hour during Fast CAT. You won’t be surprised to learn that he has his DCAT Fast CAT title, as well as his Canine Good Citizen and Trick Dog Intermediate titles!
Beverly and Rafiki have dealt with two main challenges in dog sports. First, Rafiki is high strung and loves to do his “job”, so Beverly has had to learn how to help Rafiki stay calm and keep his head in exciting sports situations.
And second, Beverly has had to remember that Rafiki “is special and has his own talents [and] he is not Mongo, who had different talents.” Losing a dog, especially so tragically, is devastating, and it can be tempting to compare them, but Beverly reminds us how important it is to remember that each dog is an individual.
Some of Beverly’s advice for people just starting out in dog sports:
“Be patient. Don’t focus on the competition. Focus on your dog’s joy.”
Wise words!
