She has only been training in dog agility for two-and-a-half years but Sammy Pegg will be representing Great Britain at a European competition.

Eastern Daily Press: Sammy Pegg and Blaze.Sammy Pegg and Blaze. (Image: Archant Norfolk Photographic © 2016)

The 16-year-old from Diss will travel to Slovakia in July and will take part in the individual and team agility and jumping events at the European Open Junior Agility Championships.

The Diss High School student impressed at two try out days held by the Young Kennel Club and was pleased to qualify with both her dog Blaze and her trainer Jayne Widdess' dog Rave.

Sammy said: 'I did not expect to get through with either of the dogs so to get through with both was surprising. I am excited but I am also nervous.'

The teenager, who is currently studying for her GCSEs, started junior handling when she was five.

After seeing her mother taking part in dog agility Sammy decided to try it out herself and has been working with Mrs Widdess who runs DB Dog Training.

Mrs Widdess said: 'Sammy has really worked hard with Blaze and showed a natural flare. They have a great connection between them. She has done phenomenally well and I back her all the way.'

Held between July 7 and 10, the championships will see 19 countries from across the world, including the USA and Canada, competing.

Sammy said she is hoping to prove a few people wrong when it comes to competing with her black and white border collie Blaze.

She said: 'He is a show collie and people think they cannot do agility so it is nice to show they can.

'He is a lovely dog and he has a fantastic temperament. He hasn't got a bad bone in his body.'

The youngster now runs her own agility session at Anvil Park Stud in Larling, near Norwich, where she helps teach the basic skills.

'I used to be really shy and doing agility and the competitions has helped me,' she said. 'I now teach my own class about how to build a relationship with your dog and getting started with agility.'

She added: 'I have also started teaching my 15 month old collie Remix. I want to make a career out of this in the future.'