Dawn Weaver is proof that man’s – and woman’s – best friend is a happy hound.

The Portland woman is something of a dog whisperer – she has won titles at prestigious dog championships Crufts and Olympia through her unique style of handling.

Dawn says her beloved animals, which she thinks of foremost as pets, take part in the competitions because they enjoy it. She even has an agility course in her back garden for regular training and it’s obvious from her dogs’ sleek coats and bright, shiny eyes that they love to practise.

From Puzzle the papillon to Chelsea the miniature poodle, her dogs all have their own personalities and handling systems.

Dawn, of Weston, led Team GB to gold in two categories in the Dog Agility World Championships.

But it’s the taking part that really gives her the buzz, she said.

“I always think that the results aren’t that relevant to me any more. It’s the excitement of going into the ring with the dogs – people get very stressed about the results and for me it’s not about that, it’s about the time you have with the dog,” she said.

As an eight-year-old Dawn had her first dog, a black poodle called Snoopy.

“Snoopy was my first pet and my child soul mate,” she said.

Dawn started off working for the local council (“I hated it,” she said), and knew she wanted to do something with animals, eventually becoming a veterinary nurse.

Diagnosed with the painful condition fibromyalgia syndrome, discovering dog agility was her ‘saving grace’, she said.

“I learnt handling off my dogs. I think it should be the dog leading the way, we should be using the dog’s handling system,” she says.

One of Dawn’s biggest triumphs was with her bearded cross It’s Easy With a Beezy, known as Breezer, which was the only non border collie to win the Crufts Agility Championship Ticket and has won several other medals throughout the country.

“Everyone’s lifetime dream is to win Crufts. We went to the big American national finals and came third against all the border collies,” Dawn said.

In between competitions Dawn teaches agility classes in the US, has published a book on dog agility and is about to publish her second book.

“It’s very busy,” she said.

“What I enjoy about teaching is that I’m trying to help the relationship with the dog and the handler. People get upset just because they don’t understand their dog. As soon as they do, it’s a very different relationship.

“It’s not really a case of the dog trying to be naughty, they are always trying so hard to please. I just want to build the relationship between the dog and the handler.”

Recently as part of Team GB, Dawn came back from the IFCS World Agility Championships in Voghera, Italy, with a gold and four bronzes.

Dawn also extends her passion for canines by helping with rescue efforts for abandoned dogs in Romania.

Through running her Freeway’s Agility Break (FAB) shows, Dawn is able to raise money for causes she is most passionate about.

She is currently trying to bring two abused dogs over to the UK and is appealing for a good foster home for the dogs.

“A lot of our reasoning for running the shows is to help dogs in our country and all over the world.

“Last year we brought over a dog from Romania that was at death’s door.

“These dogs are in Romanian pounds and they get fed once a week.

“There are a couple of women in go in there twice a week and if we see dogs that need help we try and get them out of there.”

Dawn was devastated when her black and white papillon Dancer went missing on a walk in 2012, and despite many appeals, has never seen the dog since.

She thinks the secret of her success is giving a dog unconditional love.

Dawn added: “To make the grade to the top level of agility you’ve got to be physically able to do it.

“And you have to have the drive to do it. I give my dogs a toy at the end of the course. I’m very passionate about my dogs and I’m passionate about their welfare. It’s all about having an equal relationship with them.”

She said a lot of people take the intelligence of dogs for granted.

“I have a very close relationship with them and they know so many words.

“They are so intelligent. I wish that more people knew about dog language and they way they use it.

“They are like my children, they are my family, they are my best friends.

“It’s so hard that they age so much quicker than us.”

  • If you can help Dawn by providing a home for the dogs from Romania, email her at dawnweaver2@gmail.com