Video: Mitzi and Sue make Team GB for European Dog Agility Championships
She's a scruffy little terrier – and a European superstar.
Meet Mitzi, who has been picked to represent Team GB in the European Dog Agility Championships.
Next month she and her owner Sue Cooper will leave home for a six day trip to Rieden in Germany.
The dogs, directed by their owners, have to tackle a special obstacle course of jumps, tunnels, poles and other equipment.
Sue has had the three-old since she was a pup and said she never dreamt that she would one day represent her country - especially at the age of 62.
"I am easily the oldest member of the GB team, old enough to be most of my team-mates' mother, if not grandmother," she joked.
Sue, of Llanyblodwel near Oswestry, describes Mitzi, a Yorkshire Terrier cross, as a "scruffy little mutt".
She added: "I took her in to foster her when she was about five weeks old after her owners, a young couple, they could not keep her in their second floor flat.
"I had just lost my own terrier and I ended up keeping Mitzi. Then, when her legs started to grow I decided to introduce her to dog agility and she has never looked back. She certainly has the X-Factor.
"We went to Crufts last year and have qualified again for next year.
"Mitzi is very gregarious, although can be a little shy with strangers."
Mrs Cooper and her husband, Don, have no less than 12 dogs living with them at their home.
She runs dog obedience, puppy classes and agility courses in the village. Anyone interested can contact (01691) 828033.
"The other competitors will have their grooms travelling with them to Germany but Mitzi and I are going by outselves as my husband has to stay at home to look after the other dogs."
The team will travel on a coach from Kent, across the Channel to Rieden.
"The dogs will all be in special crates on the coach and we will stop at regular intervals to check on them," she said.
Training for the European championships has been tough but for the dogs and their human companions.
"We have all been to Nottingham Trent University for special performance training and squad days.
"You have to be able to run pretty quickly to keep up with the dog and give it instructions, as it goes over the course."
The team travels out to Germany on July 21.
