NAFA 2014 Region 5 MVP

Texas Jack Liberty Belle (Liberty)
CRN: 071064
Breed of Dog: Jack/Parson Russell Terrier
Dog's Club Affiliaton: DogzRule!
Owner of the Dog: Danielle Prince

Nomination by Lauren Noland:

I think most of you might know Miss Liberty-Belle. After all she's been seen on TV commercials and in magazine ads..currently being the cutest model for Neiman Marcus' Cusp Magazine. 

But the reason "We" love this prissy little Jack is when it comes to flyball she is all business. You wind her up with a little cheese, put her on the 15 foot line, and let her rip. She will run any position, with any handler, and literally never comes back without her ball. She has patiently taught many dogs and handlers the art of a nose to nose pass. 

She will fearlessly pass into new dogs over and over until they are confident enough to pass the larger dogs. And she makes a new handler feel the thrill of achieving their first "check" pass. What a special girl she is! From prissy actress to determined Tom·boy she does her job. 

Liberty has earned her Onyx and is a valuable asset to Dogz Rule! and all of region 5. She deserves MVP. Please vote for Miss Cuteness...Texas Jack Liberty-Belle.

Photo by Ambient Photography.

NAFA 2013 Region 5 MVP

LJ
CRN: 040537
Breed of Dog: Golden Retriever
Dog's Club Affiliaton: Texas Twisters
Owner of the Dog: Richard McClellan

Nomination by Mike Smith:

All of us know that there is that one dog, that someone special, that only comes across once in a lifetime. For RJ "Mack" McClellan, that dog has been LJ, his beloved Golden Retriever. 

After LJ's training as a service dog, he headed to the home where he's been loved and cared for ever since. Mack decided that LJ would be a great dog to run in flyball. It took LJ no time at all to pick up the game and he started running in 2004 and earned his FGDCH on June 11th, 2011. 

LJ has helped many dogs in his flyball career achieve their own titles as well. He is a rock solid dog in the lanes and all those who have had met LJ know his heart to be pure. 

Most, if not all of us have fallen down in the flyball lane from time to time. LJ immediately goes into action helping his beloved owner, Mack, when this has happened in the past. LJ is really a site to see, in the flyball lanes or just in passing. He is everything that makes up an MVP, loyal, loving, and a great flyball racer! 

Mike Smith and the Texas Twisters

NAFA 2012 Region 5 MVP

Laser
CRN: 030581
Breed of Dog: Border Collie
Dog's Club Affiliaton: Top Dog Racers
Owner of the Dog: Karen Erz

Nomination by Elizabeth Currin:

Laser, was born to play flyball. There are lots of black and white border collies in Region 5, but I believe Laser loves the sport even more than most. 

You can't help but notice Laser in the lanes; yes he's barking like a banshee, but he's also literally smiling! Of all Karen's dogs, Laser was the easiest to train. 

At his very first tournament, Laser was supposed to only warm-up, but as it turned out, he ran full time-- flawlessly! Laser has the smoothest, most consistent box turn I've ever seen. It's the lucky person who gets to pass Laser in a line-up. When TDR starts to train new dogs how to pass, Laser and his easygoing attitude make him the go to dog to get the job done. 

After 9 years running on Top Dog Racers, Laser now plays with several Region 5 Open teams like ARC and DFA whenever needed. If he's not helping new dogs learn the sport or running on Open teams to help other dogs earn points, this Iron Dog is dreaming about being in the lanes barking, smiling and playing flyball to his heart's content. 

Yep, Laser was born to play flyball!

NAFA 2011 Region 5 MVP

Katy

CRN: 070655
Breed of Dog: Border Collie
Dog's Club Affiliaton: C.I.A.
Owner of the Dog: Diane Bissell

Nomination by Teresa Turner:

Katy was picked up in a raid, undernourished and afraid, when she was 3 months old. She was taken to a kill shelter which then called Forgotten Friends (a rescue organization). 

Forgotten Friends was given an hour to come "get the dog" or she would be put down. After 6 months, Katy was put up for adoption by Forgotten Friends and went to her forever home on October 10, 2005 with Diane. They began Flyball training the very next weekend. The ball, box and pattern were easy, but "do the pattern when you're supposed to" was an issue.

Katy would head for the box then veer off running in circles to visit anyone in her view. At tournaments, she lets everyone know it is almost her turn with incessant barking. She seems to have forgotten that she had to learn the game and is now convinced she invented it. Katy earned her FGDCH at Reliant this year. She runs with several teams and can run in an position, just let her go and she is a happy Border Collie.