Adorable dog deemed ‘unadoptable’ by shelter becomes dog show superstar thanks to loving, patient owner and is now set to compete at prestigious Westminster show

The adorable dog that no one wanted because of his aggressive behavior just needed a chance… and after a kind woman gave him one, he’s about to become a superstar at the Westminster dog show.

Christine Longnecker, a horse trainer who teaches jumping lessons, wasn’t expecting much when she took her new rescue dog, Miles, to a riding lesson.

Miles, who had a reputation for growling and growling in the shelter from which he was rescued, seemed far from suited to a group environment.

But in a surprising turn of events, Miles charged into the ring, not to disrupt, but to dominate. He navigated the jumping obstacles with an enthusiasm that stunned everyone.

“He looked so excited,” Longnecker told the newspaper New York Times. “And then he turned around and barked as if to say, ‘That’s how you do it.’

That was the first day of Miles’ career as an agility dog. In agility competitions, dogs sprint through obstacles while the owner runs with his companion, instructing his dog what to do every step of the way.

Longnecker first enrolled Miles in an agility class at a local center in Pennsylvania. What started as a hobby grew into participation in regional and national competitions.

“It started out as something incredibly fun to do, and then it turned out he was great at it,” Longnecker said. “He racked up points.”

Miles will find his fulfillment at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in Flushing, Queens, a testament to both his natural ability and Longnecker’s unwavering faith.

Although dog shows usually only allow purebred dogs to compete, the agility competition is open to all four-legged friends.

Miles most closely resembles a Doberman mix, but his DNA test confirmed he was 40 percent cattle dog, 23 percent Labrador, 10 percent Border Collie and the remaining 23 percent a mix of different dogs.

At DailyMail.com, Miles took a DNA test himself and found that he was 100% safe. That good boy.

Miles’ journey wasn’t always smooth. At the shelter, he was known for his hostility, a stark contrast to the playful companion Longnecker found six years ago at the Because You Care animal shelter in McKean, Pennsylvania.

“To say he wasn’t receptive to new people is an understatement,” Becky Mancini, the shelter’s volunteer coordinator, told the NY Times.

But when Longnecker visited Miles, he calmly walked to the front of the kennel and lay down.

“And then he looked me straight in the eyes and said clear as day, ‘I just want to be a good boy,’” Longnecker said.

‘Suddenly I was overcome by an overwhelming sadness, the feeling that he couldn’t prove himself because he had been told he was a bad dog. My heart broke into a million pieces.’

The shelter staff said they had never seen Miles act so approachable toward anyone else.

“Miles is proof that you can overcome anything with a little faith and a lot of love,” Longnecker said. “You don’t need a ‘well-behaved dog’ to have a best friend to play dog ​​sports with.” You can find one down the street at the local shelter.”

With patience and training, Miles’ worries subsided and were replaced by a newfound joy for agility. He thrived in the fast-paced environment, maintaining laser-sharp focus as he weaved through tunnels and jumped over jumps.

His enthusiasm was infectious; Miles, a self-proclaimed assistant coach, enjoys demonstrating proper jumping technique to Longnecker’s students, or rather to the horses.

“When the horses jump and fall over a rail, Miles gets very upset,” Anna Buhl, 16, one of Longnecker’s students, told the NY Times. First he gets their attention by barking: ‘Then he’s going to take the plunge, to show the horses what to do.’

Maddy McLaughlin, 20, also a Longnecker student, described her coach as a “good cop” and Miles as a “bad cop.”

“It’s always been a joke that he coaches more than she does,” she said. “When she gives us pep talks, he comes and licks our faces.”

Now seven years old, Miles is working toward his third Master Agility Championship (MACH). The underdog (pun intended) has competed twice in the agility nationals and finished as the top All-American dog, the American Kennel Club’s name for mutts.

Longnecker’s expertise extends beyond traditional training methods. Known as an animal communicator, she helps pet owners understand their furry companions. She said Miles was the first dog she really communicated with.

When Miles first came home with Longnecker, he couldn’t stop shaking, his tail between his legs. Every time he got out of the car he threw up because he thought he was being taken back to the shelter.

“When we turned on the garbage disposal, he ran upstairs and hid for three hours,” Longnecker said.

She remembered talking to Miles, hoping to convince him he was safe.

“He didn’t believe me at first,” she said. “The way I finally had to express it was to say you’re part of my pack and my pack travels in a car. He immediately jumped in the car and he has been doing well ever since.”

This ability, while unconventional, has led to a deep bond between her and Miles, a bond evident in their seamless teamwork during matches.

Longnecker is a proud dog mom, who displays all of Miles’ ribbons in her bedroom in addition to her equestrian awards. The decorated duo is inseparable.

“They say you save a rescue, but a rescue saves you,” she said. “Miles is the best thing that ever happened to me.”