Nancy Carey’s adopted 7-month-old puppy was way more active than her six past Corgis.
“Lily got into everything and was so fast I couldn’t catch her,” Carey said. “She is smart, agile and athletic with a huge herding instinct.”
After many stolen socks and shredded paper towel rolls, a dog trainer suggested Carey take Lily to the Gated Dock dog training facility in Shelby for a fun run in September 2023.
Fun Run Opens Doors to New Hobby
“We got out of the car and Lily just went bonkers. It was like she was going back to her favorite place – even though she’d never been there before,” Carey said. “She just took right off. Someone mentioned her time was really good.”
When Lily was a year old, Carey took her back to try the 100-yard dash. The Gated Dock holds official American Kennel Club Fast CAT (Coursing Ability Test) trials. Dogs take turns chasing a lead and are timed. After that first weekend in April, Lily scored in the top 10 fastest Pembroke Welsh Corgis in the nation.
“We started it for fun, but when she showed skill, I wanted to give her every chance possible,” Carey said.
In addition to finding a new way to tire Lily out, Carey found a new hobby and new friends, including two trainers from Marion: Linda Brammer and Ellen Schuster.
“Other dog owners at the Gated Dock are very helpful and kind. We’re there for the fun and for the dogs,” Carey said. “They helped me learn. It wasn’t worry that my dog will do better than their dog. It’s a very supportive community.”
Racing Around the United States
Carey and her husband, Mark, have taken Lily on the road to combine competition with adventures. Carey and her mother, Mary Ann Davidson, have entered Lily in Fast CAT races around the state and the nation.
“We went to a competition in Erie, Pennsylvania, and then went to Corgi Fest the next day,” Carey said. “In the fall, we drove through the Shenandoah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Mountains. We got to see beautiful foliage on the way to Fast CAT runs in Virginia. We planned to go to a trial near a friend I hadn’t seen in forever. We put as much in the basket as we can for each trip.”
Lily Ranks Nationally
Lily has ranked as high as the second fastest Corgi in the nation. In 2024, Princess Lily Ann Fox ranked third at 24.27 miles per hour.
(Photo by: Glenna Felty, Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of the Potomac)
“Just like the Olympics where it comes down to a thousandth of a second – that’s how this is. It’s a track event. She was in third place by 3/100 of a second over three trials. She was in second place by 2/100 of a second. That dog jumped her again,” Carey said.
If Lily remains in the top five Corgis nationwide in 2025, she will compete at the AKC FastCAT Invitational this October.
Each participating dog also earns points and a ranking starting with B-CAT ribbon at 150 points. After just one season, Lily had earned her F-CAT3 title.
End of Season Leads to New Challenges
After the season ended in the fall, Lily found other ways to amuse herself at home, including shredding a tissue box so it looked like it snowed inside the house and stealing a gingerbread house from a table.
“When she was running FAST Cat, she was better behaved. A tired dog is a good dog,” Carey said. “I teach her tricks to keep her mentally stimulated.”
Dog Owners Encouraged to Try Fun Runs
While Carey continues to train and exercise Lily, she encourages other dog owners to consider a fun run at the Gated Dock.
“If you wonder- just how fast is my dog? This is a way to find out,” Carey said. “We are lucky to have the Gated Dock just 30 minutes away. Some dog owners travel from states away to compete.”
Next season, Carey looks forward to entering Lily in some of the dock diving competitions.
Ohio Corgi Picnic: Sept. 13 at Kaufman Dog Park
Carey is also the lead volunteer for the Ohio Corgi Picnic coming up September 13 at Kaufman Dog Park to raise money for wheelchairs for Corgis with a disabling degenerative disease. Proceeds are donated to CorgiAid, Inc.
The annual event includes:
- Demonstrations by a World Champion frisbee-catching Corgi
- Food
- Games
- Prizes
- Photos
“We offer a good bang for your buck!” Carey exclaimed.
Admission is just $10. Dog owners are invited to bring their pets.
Volunteers Needed
Volunteers interested in helping plan this year’s event can join the Ohio Corgi Picnic Facebook group.
MarionMade! is a program of Marion Technical College.
