WHEN horse lover Lee Harfield picked up a new puppy she never expected the tiny dog would go on to be a world-class competitor.

But five years on, Bonnie and her owner have been picked to represent England in the World Agility Open Championships.

Bonnie will race against the clock to complete obstacle courses by jumping through tyres, balancing as she walks across seesaws, and navigating through tunnels.

Miss Harfield bought Bonnie from a family in Didcot, after answering a newspaper advertisement.

The 41-year-old runs stables and looks after horses at her home in Ginge, near Wantage, and discovered her dog’s talent by accident.

She said: “I was sent a racehorse that had lost its confidence jumping and I put up lots of tiny little jumps. When Bonnie came over to me, she jumped straight over three of them.”

On the way to Wantage the following day she noticed agility training equipment at a farm she was passing and booked lessons with the owner.

And her spring-heeled pet has not looked back since then.

Miss Harfield added: “I was brought up with horses and I have competed at high-level showjumping and eventing and I have even raced them.

“But none of that gives me the buzz this gives me.

“I don’t know what it is. It’s very addictive.

“It’s very competitive and exciting.

“You don’t start agility and not carry on with it.”

Five-year-old Bonnie is a cross-breed, with parts of Yorkshire terrier, Pomeranian and Patterdale Terrier.

She is rated grade seven, the highest agility level in the country.

Last year, Bonnie was crowned United Kingdom Agility Toy Masters Champion.

Miss Harfield, who wants Bonnie to qualify for next year’s Crufts, said: “She absolutely loves agility – she goes crazy. It’s a good thing for a high-energy dog. It gives them something to get their teeth into.”

The pair were selected out of 180 others to represent England at the world championships, which take place at Clevedon, in Somerset, on Saturday, May 14. She added: “It’s a really challenging sport to train a dog at. We have just finished our fourth competitive season and we have to train at least once a week. It’s a lot of work.”