Veteran agility competitor Barb Davis, of West Palm Beach, Florida, is after the heart of agility. In other words, she loves the sport, but even more so, she thrives on the special bond she shares with her dogs.

That connection served Barb well as she handled her two agility superstars to three prominent wins at the United States Dog Agility Association’s (USDAA®) 2025 championship.

A joyful, reliable 4½-year-old male Border Collie, Brewsky (Rb Crafted Brewsky TMB AAD), who Barb describes as “just coming into his own,” was the star. A strong-willed, wicked-fast, 6-year-old male Border Collie/Whippet, Cappy (Cappuccino! TD AAD), delivered his own thrilling performances.

“It was an unforgettable experience,” Barb says, with bubbly excitement. “Running both dogs in the finals with the crowd cheering was exhilarating.”

At the Cynosport® World Games Presented by Purina® Pro Plan® Oct. 15 to 19, 2025, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Barb tapped into more than 30 years’ experience while dealing with less running speed than in the past after a foot surgery and knee replacement in 2023. She relied on her dogs’ skills and her ability to cue them to capture three podium performances.  

Their colossal success stood out as the Purina® Pro Plan® Dog Agility Steeplechase® champions, with Cappy winning the 20-inch class and Brewsky the 24-inch class. The momentum started as Brewsky won the Purina Pro Plan Masters Challenge BiathlonSM and then later took bronze in the Purina Pro Plan Grand Prix of Dog Agility.

“My mantra is to try and get them to land every jump headed toward the next obstacle. If you can do that, they keep up their speed,” Barb says.  

“That’s partly how Cappy won so brilliantly and Brewsky, too,” she says. “They landed the right way on the back jumps, especially Brewsky in Biathlon Standard, which was full of spots that are difficult to get right without layering.”

An advanced skill, layering trains a dog to not take unintended obstacles between himself and the handler. It requires a handler’s ability to set the line and help guide the dog with cues often given from a significant distance.

“The Biathlon Standard course is laid out in such a way that if you try to run with the dog, it’s really hard to show them the way because they run faster than you do,” Barb explains. “Brewsky was right where he needed to be with effortless heavy layering. He made it look easy.”

Meanwhile, the Steeplechase course also had challenges.

“It was not an easy course,” she says. “There was a wall jump toward the end where a dog couldn’t see around the jump and most dogs were turning wide. I chose to rear cross and layer the jump, so I could be on a better line to indicate where to go for the ending.  

“I knew Cappy had the skills to run that particular Steeplechase because of all the distance work we’ve done and his weave pole entry. Getting my cues out right and at the right moment so he can land in the right direction can be pretty tricky.”

“Many of the Cynosport courses leaned toward international style layouts with distance handling and backside jumps,” Barb notes, putting her in her element.

“I particularly like those courses,” she says. “I spend a lot of time with my dogs training those skills and training them to run independently.”

Additionally, Barb has accrued experience taking dogs to Europe as members of 10 world teams. One high-flyer, Flex, a Border Collie, was on Team USA for USDAA in 2019, placing fourth in the 24-inch Individual overall competition at the International Federation of Cynological Sports (IFCS) World Agility Championship (WAC) in the Netherlands.  

Barb has also competed at nine national championships, including having won the Grand Prix at the USDAA National Championship in 1999, 2002 and 2010 with Shetland Sheepdogs, Shimmer, P.J. and Rock-It, respectively. In 2010, her Border Collie, Zesty, and Sheltie, Rocket-It, won the Canadian National Championship.  

As a dog lover, Barb began with Wire Fox Terriers in 1970, showing them in conformation and obedience. In 1979, she got her first Sheltie, Mia, who earned a breed championship and obedience trial championship; and in 1995, she achieved a Best in Show with her Sheltie, Zinger. She started in agility in 1993, first having notable success with her Shelties, and then got her first Border Collie, Zesty, in 2001.  

“I got really hooked on agility because there’s a lot to like,” Barb says. “You start communicating through your body movements, sounds, hand signals and motions. The relationship you get with your dog is amazing. I slowly became addicted to the sport.”

Besides competing herself, Barb teaches agility to clients at her home. She also presents seminars on topics such as, “Setting Lines for Success” and “Aligning Cues,” sharing skills that have helped her to be successful.

Reflecting on Brewsky clinching Biathlon, she says, “I was over the moon. His joyful spirit and need for connection kept us in sync. I had won three Biathlons with my Sheltie, Skecher, and once with my Border Collie, Flex, Brewsky’s great-uncle, who was from Denmark. When Flex passed, both my husband and I were filled with grief, as he was an amazing dog. That loss led us to get Brewsky, who has helped us so much.”

Barb recalls the performance of Cappy, her Border Collie/Whippet, who is a two-time Purina Pro Plan Incredible Weave Champion, having defended the title in October 2025. “He stayed with me throughout Steeplechase,” she says. “I was thrilled. It was a true honor to win the 20-inch class among such talented and skilled teams.”

Barb’s wins at Cynosport are the kind of success most people dream about.  

Chasing goals into the future, she says, “Mainly, I want to stay healthy and fit to run these two talented dogs.”  

Her connection with Brewsky and Cappy takes us to the heart of the sport: the love Barb has for her dogs and the special bond they share.