Mitzi was my first dog and I didn’t know anything about crate training, etc. I thought we’d never make it through puppy-hood. Out of desperation, we started walking. It became part of our regular routine and we both enjoyed it. We would walk to the nearby park where we would play games and she first surprised me by climbing a tree! That turned out to be one of her favorite pastimes. Mitzi was part Chihuahua and her personality really showed. I’m sure she felt my lap was her throne from which to rule her subjects. As Katie so poignantly put it, "She was the Queen of all she surveyed." She kept our household in line even though she was the smallest of the pack.

When Mitzi was about four years old, I saw an agility-like demonstration at the State Fair and started searching for the local club. As much as she liked to climb, I knew she’d love it. She had a lot of fun in her beginner’s class and I was hooked. She never had much drive, she just wanted to have a good time.

We seldom made course time in the beginning. Mitzi loved to visit the judge and ring stewards and really enjoyed the view from the top of the A-frame. The table was our biggest nemesis! She loved to just look at me and wag her tail. Mitzi could be a stubborn little dog! She finally managed to her get her AD in 1995 and her AAD in 1997. What a triumph! I’m sure she mostly did agility for me so we always tried to have fun. She really still loved chasing squirrels, and curling up in my lap whenever I sat down. She was my constant companion. As long as she could be near me, she was happy.

Her death was sudden and I’ll miss her tremendously but I know she’s having a great time chasing squirrels and climbing trees. One day we’ll walk through the woods together again and she’ll run ahead then stop and look back to make sure I’m keeping up. I’ll be seeing you, Doodlebug. I love you.