Addison Connolly of Trempealeau County has achieved a dream come true. She earned a spot on Team USA for the Junior Open Agility World Championship in Portugal. The event brings together top youth handlers and their dogs from around the world.
Addison’s journey began at a young age when she attended her county fair. She started showing dairy animals as a Cloverbud before eventually joining the dog project. She credits her dog project leaders for helping guide her early on.
Her agility partner is Cooper, a black and white border collie. Cooper is 24 inches tall and full of energy and heart. “He’s a once-in-a-lifetime kind of dog,” she said. “He’s super easygoing but driven to do anything I ask.”
Together, the two train by reviewing past performances and fixing small mistakes. Training focuses on endurance, handling drills, and teamwork. Addison uses voice commands and hand signals so Cooper knows exactly where to go next during a course.
Dog agility competitions include jumps, tunnels, weaves, and contact obstacles like the A-frame and dog walk. Addison and Cooper train hard to master each one. While Cooper loves tunnels and jumps the most, he still works on his skills with the weaves.
To make Team USA, Addison submitted a video showing their agility skills. She also prepared Cooper with practice runs and strength training. Being selected was a dream come true. “It feels amazing,” Addison said. “I’ve always loved this sport. To represent both my country and Wisconsin is such an honor.”
Addison balances school, 4-H, and training with her busy schedule. She says her involvement in 4-H has taught her leadership and patience. Now, she helps younger kids in the dog project and dreams of opening a dog training facility someday.
