Peggy, the three-legged pooch, moves in leaps and bounds in the obedience training world.

On the weekend, the cattle dog-cross was fifth in the Port Stephens dog obedience competition.

Peggy finished with 92 points, three shy of the winner in the 29-dog competition.

“They’re all able-bodied dogs and she’s got a distinct handicap,” her owner Karen Pryor said.

“It is harder for her - things like the sit. She has to sit on one hip and they frown on that a little.

“It’s all extra work for her.”

When Ms Pryor found Peggy, the pup looked like anything but a future champion.

The six-month-old canine was in agony as she struggled down the New England highway, dragging a badly broken leg behind her.

Ms Pryor picked her up and took her to the RSPCA where vets had to amputate the leg.

The were unable to find Peggy a home and, with the threat of euthanasia hanging over Peggy’s head, Ms Pryor took her home.

“It was fate,” she said.

The Mercury first came across three-year-old Peggy at the Maitland Show where she won a second place.

At the Port Stephen’s competition, Peggy had to show off several skills,
including a heeling pattern, sitting, standing, staying down and coming
when called.

“She’s good. She loves it. She enjoys the work,” Ms Pryor said.

“She’s been doing dog schooling for probably 18 months now.

“She just took to it like a duck to water. She wants to do things to make you happy.

“She’s a real people dog and she loves attention. She can’t see anything bad in anybody.”

Peggy is trained at the Telarah Obedience Dog Club where she’s completing her novice training after passing her community companion certificate with
flying colours.

“This time she has to work off lead for the whole thing,” Ms Pryor said.