Blazer Is Princeton's Pet Of The Week

PRINCETON, NJ — Meet Blazer! He has been chosen as Princeton Patch's Pet Of The Week!

"Blazer was an under socialized 6 month old black and white Border Collie puppy when he arrived into our family. Born on a farm in Michigan and mostly raised in a horse stall, when he came to us, as loving as he was to us, he was a big social mess.

He was reactive to dogs, people, cars, motion, excitement etc. But with consistent obedience training he became an amazing athlete a the dog sport called Agility. First trained at home, then outside of his home, then in the condo complex playground area, then down town Princeton. That took 6 months.

Exposed to various distractions with good obedience training background, I could finally take him to basic obedience class where he could focus on me in a setting of many other dogs around him.

After one year of consistent obedience training, we moved on to agility, where again Blazer had to learn to behave and focus in a very exciting sport arena setting with hundreds of dogs around him all day long. Many failures led to successes, and both him and I (owner/trainer) ran our way in agility to the AKC Agility Nationals, Westminster AKC agility competition and even to the AKC World Team Tryouts in 2015 along with his sister Spice (Sheltie) and her 13 years old trainer (My daughter).

He earned two Grand Champion Titles (MACH 1 & 2). This year, Blazer (9 years old) proudly retired from the AKC agility trial competitions. While many people had given up on this dog, I never did.

He has been an amazing sport partner to me, a teacher and a best friend. Without a disciplined setting and an outlet for his high energy needs and intellectual development (Border Collies are very smart dogs), Blazer would probably have been constantly re-homed or ended up at a kill shelter. But with consistency, proper training and love, Blazer went on becoming a champion!

During his agility trial career as a 20-inch dog (including 24” and 26”), the following are his accomplishments:
(Note: Often competing against more than 100 dogs per competition)

56 - 1 st place blue ribbons
40 - 2 nd places red ribbons
28 – 3 rd place white ribbons
17 – 4 th place yellow ribbons

He qualified in over 100 Q in both Master JWW & STD runs. (Master Gold). He performed outstandingly well in Premiere JWW & STD runs."

— Princeton

Do you think your pet should be Princeton's Pet of the Week?

Participating in the Pet of the Week happenings is simple: submit your nomination by emailing alexis.tarrazi@patch.com with subject line "Princeton Pet Of The Week." Be sure to include a photograph or two of your pet, a paragraph about what makes him or her so great, and the town you're from.

You can choose to include your name, but you don't need to. Then just keep an eye out for a photo of your pet on the Patch!

The photo can be of a present pet, or it can be a baby picture of the adult pet you're so proud of today. All photos must be property of the submitter.

(Images submitted)

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

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