Meet Zari and her amazing owner and handler Rachael!
We had the absolute pleasure of interviewing Rachael about her talents Antinol® Athlete Zari! They have recently received the very top title in Australian Dog Agility and we asked her all about it!
1) Who are you and Zari and how long have you been doing Agility for?
My name is Rachael, and Zari is my amazing dog and also my agility (and many other dog sports) partner. She’s a crazy, high drive and quirky Border Collie with a huge personality, and together we’ve been competing in agility for about 8 years, though COVID lockdowns put a stop to all of it for about 2 of those years unfortunately. What started as something fun to do together to give her a physical outlet for energy and craziness has grown into a huge part of our lives, and she continues to surprise me with what she’s capable of every time we step into the ring.
2) How did you get into agility and why did you choose this sport to pursue?
I originally got into agility because I was looking for something that would challenge both me and my dog mentally and physically. It was actually my very first dog that got me into agility. She was a Shar Pei and we accidentally fell into a 'come and try' workshop when she was 7yrs old and she loved it. As soon as we got home, I looked it up to find regular classes for her as I thought it was so valuable for her physical and mental wellbeing and I loved the idea of building a real partnership—where success depends on communication, trust, and teamwork rather than just obedience. Unfortunately she suddenly passed away shortly after we started but I loved how the sport developed our bond and our relationship. As soon as I got my next little Shar Pei puppy, she was enrolled into agility foundations as soon as she was old enough and she blew people away with how quickly she took to the sport, especially being a Shar Pei. It wasn't long before she started competing, and again, she exceeded all expectations and became the first ever Shar Pei in the world to attain her Agility Championship title.
After starting competing with my Shar Pei, and then mum's Shar Pei shortly after well, agility quickly became addictive. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of running a course where everything just clicks. It’s fast, technical, and constantly evolving, which means you’re always learning. For me, that combination of strategy, athleticism, and connection with my dog is what makes the sport so special.
After competing with two Shar Peis for a few years, I thought it was time for a new challenge and then happened to come across a baby 6 week old rescue dog at the Dog Lovers Show one year. I fell in love with her on the spot. Zari came home with me a few days later and the rest is history.
3) What is the Agility Champion title and how do you qualify to get it? What does the journey from start to finish look like?
The Agility Champion title is one of the highest achievements in the sport and reflects consistent performance at the top level. In Australia, under Dogs Australia rules, it requires dogs to compete in the highest classes and earn multiple qualifying scores under strict criteria—typically clear rounds within time at Masters level, often against very strong competition, with placings determining the number of points awarded towards the title.
The journey to Agility Champion is a long one. Teams begin in Novice, building foundation skills, confidence, and ring experience. As you progress through the levels, courses become increasingly technical, the margins for error get smaller, and the time allowed becomes tighter. It takes years of training, setbacks, small wins, and learning to perform under pressure.
For us, the journey wasn’t just about ribbons or titles—it was about developing a true partnership and helping Zari build confidence in big, often busy and chaotic environments, as well as life skills she initially found very challenging. Every challenge we faced helped us grow as a team and learn to trust each other a little more each time. Reaching Agility Champion felt like the culmination of that shared effort and showed just how far Zari had come since the tiny little rescue dog who joined my family years ago.
In 2025, Zari then went on to achieve her Agility Games Champion title, marking a particularly special milestone in her career. She was the first dog in NSW to earn this title—and remains the only one to have done so—which is something I’m incredibly proud of, especially being that NSW typically doesn't hold many Games events each year. The Games classes test a wide range of advanced skills, from independence and distance handling to precision, obstacle discrimination, and self-control, including the ability to work in close proximity to another dog and handler team and even cooperatively in relay formats. This title really reflects her versatility, intelligence, and consistency as an elite-level competition dog.
In 2026, an even higher title was introduced—the Grand Agility Champion. This sits above Agility Champion and represents an exceptional level of achievement. It recognises not just excellence in standard Agility and Jumping, but true all-round ability across the full spectrum of the sport.
To earn this title, teams must continue competing at Masters level and accumulate further qualifying results across multiple events. This includes standard Masters Agility and Jumping classes, as well as Open classes—which introduce distance handling challenges, requiring the handler to direct the dog from behind a set line—and Masters level in the Games classes.
What makes the Grand Agility Champion title so significant is the breadth and consistency it demands. It’s not just about being fast or technically skilled in one area—it’s about maintaining elite performance across multiple disciplines, under pressure, over time.
Zari was, again, the first dog in NSW—and still the only one—to attain the Grand Agility Champion title, as well as just the second dog in Australia to achieve it. To date, she remains just one of three dogs in the country to hold this prestigious title, which really highlights how rare and difficult it is to achieve.
The journey to Grand Agility Champion is less about reaching a single milestone and more about sustaining excellence. It requires longevity, resilience, and an incredible level of partnership. At that stage, success comes down to refining the smallest details, staying competitive against the best dogs in the country, and keeping your dog happy, sound, and motivated throughout. It represents not just peak performance, but an enduring commitment to the sport and a truly exceptional partnership.
Zari is an extraordinary partner who gives everything she has, asking for nothing more than the chance to have fun and run. She truly loves what she does, and these titles represent so much more than results—they reflect years of memories, time spent together, moments of frustration, and moments of pure joy, all woven into the journey we’ve shared over the years.
4) Now you have this title, what’s next for you and Zari? What are your goals?
Achieving this title is incredibly special, but it’s definitely not the end of the road for us. If anything, it’s motivated me even more.
Our focus now is on continuing to build our consistency, strengthen our teamwork, and refine the small details that make a big difference at the top level. Our next major goal is to compete at the 2026 Agility National Championships in Queensland in June, which is something we’re really excited to be working towards.
Most importantly, though, I want to keep enjoying the journey with Zari. She loves the sport so much, and as long as she’s happy, healthy, and still running with that same enthusiasm, we’ll keep setting new goals and seeing how far we can go together.
