Mary Engstrom
Mary currently shares her home with three Shiba Inus – Mayday (11), Thunder (8), and Iris (3). She got hooked on dog sports in 2001 when her first obedience instructor said, “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but your Shiba, Koshou, is a really good obedience dog. You need to keep working with him!”
Over the past 20 years, Mary and her Shiba partners have earned titles in agility, rally, trick dog, coursing ability tests, Fast CAT, Fit Dog, fetch, and barn hunt. Koshou went on to become the fastest Shiba ever in the 60-weave pole challenge. Mayday, who all the girls love, was her first barn hunt champion. Thunder was the 2023 top Shiba in master barn hunt and held the lifetime record for the fastest Shiba in Fast CAT, with his best run at 29.35 mph for several years. (Thankfully, Mary worked with great trainers to ensure he has a solid recall!)
They have been recognized by the National Shiba Club of America for their top performances across multiple sports and were awarded a special NSCA Versatility Award for the breadth of their accomplishments. Iris joined the pack near the end of 2023, and Mary has enjoyed discovering Iris’s talents and finding activities she loves.
Currently, they are competing in Fast CAT and enjoying barn hunt classes. Mary believes that the enrichment provided by canine activities is essential for having a happy, healthy, and confident dog. There are many options available for dogs and handlers of all abilities and limitations.