About All Four Paws ATG
The group was conceived in September 2007, and after training sporadically for a few months, we finally began regular training over the summer of 2008. Since those early meetings, our dogs and handlers have gone from strength to strength, and we are extremely proud of all that our dogs have accomplished.
The majority of our handlers compete at Kennel Club, British Agility Association, and UK Agility competitions throughout the North of England, although some do travel further afield. We have 10-15 regular handlers, with around 15-20 dogs between them, and several more experienced "drop-in" handlers who train with us on occasion.
We occasionally run training days, workshops, and seminars.
About the Founders
All Four Paws was brought about by the hard work of three handlers.
Katie Ford has three dogs, a Large Lurcher called Poppy, a Large Crossbreed called Jet, a Whippet x Collie puppy called Fly. Katie began training for agility in 2003 with Poppy, who qualified for Crufts in two different events and was increasingly successful in agility before injury halted her career. She is now enjoying her retirement! Jet competes in Primary (BAA) and Grade 4 (KC). Fly was born in 2010, and will be doing flyball in the future.
Katie has also qualified for the National Cleverdogs Finals with both dogs, dabbled in competitive Obedience with Jet, and has qualified for the UK DiscDogs Finals with Poppy. However, her first love is BFA flyball; she dedicates most of her free time to training and competing with Jet nationally, and they have also competed at the European Flyball Championships.
Katie is currently in her fifth year studing Veterinary Medicine at the University of Liverpool.
Leanne Szostak has three dogs, a Medium Crossbreed called Kim, a Large Working Sheepdog called Dylan, and an Australian Shepherd puppy called Rio. Leanne got involved with pet obedience, agility and flyball in 2001. Initially Leanne was involved with BFA flyball, but she continued to train for agility. Since starting to seriously compete in 2006, Leanne and Kim have gone on to qualify for and compete at various national finals, and Kim also won the BAA Introductory Medium Dog of the Year award in 2007. Kim is now semi-retired, but occasionally still competes in Grade 6 (KC). Leanne's main dog Dylan currently competes in Grade 6 (KC) and Senior (UKA). Rio was born in 2011 and will be doing agility and flyball in the future.
Leanne still competes in BFA flyball with both her dogs, and occasionally also runs her mother's crossbreed rescue dog Mollie. She works in Huddersfield, and she designed and created the All Four Paws logo and website.
Emma Tasker has two dogs, a Medium Crossbreed called Bailey and a Hungarian Viszla called Diva. Since beginning to compete at agility in 2005, Emma and Bailey have brought home dozens of top-5 placings, and Bailey currently competes in Grade 5 (KC). Diva is competing in Nursery class and should make her Grade 3 debut in 2012.
Emma has worked with dogs and horses for many years, but has also cared for small animals, reptiles, and spent a summer working with wild animals in South Africa. She also competes in BFA flyball, and is currently working for the NHS.
We are also indebted to Sarah Mulley for her contributions in our initial 18 months. Sarah has three Border Collies; Floss, Sam and Skye. She has been involved with dogs for several years, training in pet obedience and ringcraft, and began agility in 2004. Sarah took a few years off to concentrate on showing her youngest dog Skye, but after a successful show career, she brought all her dogs back to agility and flyball. She is currently taking time off to get married.