Peter de Wit started agility training with his first dog Sarah, a GSD, in 1987 as a founding member of the Canterbury Canine Agility Training Society (Canty CATS) in Christchurch.

Peter's next dogs Ascki and C (both NZ heading Dogs) have been incredibly successful over a long period of time and are both Agility Grand Champions.

Ascki started competing in 1996 and retired in 2006 at the age of 12. C began in 2001 and is still extremely competitive against much younger dogs.

Winning Interzone Team 2004

Peter represented Zone Four in the NDTA Teams event with Sarah in 1989, 1991 and 1992. Peter represented Zone Three with Ascki in 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005 and with C in 2004, 2006 and 2007.


Ascki has won NAC Open twice, and both Ascki and C have been finalists numerous times. With Sarah, Ascki and C Peter have won many events at the NDTA. Ascki and C have both won the Sarah Top Dog trophy for the most consistent dog at the NDTA.

Peter has had the opportunity to experience agility in many countries. Peter first judged an event in Australia in 1997. Peter took the opportunity to visit an agility event near Louisville, Kentucky while visiting the University of Kentucky with his daughter Nicola.

In 2006 Karen and Peter visited an agility club in England and went to an agility event.

ICFS World Agility Championships

After visiting the UK they went to Holland to watch the IFCS world agility championships in Oosterhout.

Adelaide ANKC Nationals 2006

In 2007 Peter competed in the Australian (ANKC) Nationals in Adelaide and judged the ADAA Grand Prix event in Uralla, NSW.

"These amazing experiences have taught me an immense amount about agility", says Peter.

Peter discovered positive reinforcement training techniques in 1997 and has been using these ever since. Why? They make sense and work better than any other method!

Clicker Training Course UK 2006

In 2006 Karen and Peter attended a clicker training course in the UK at Learning About Dogs with Kay Lawrence. This course covered the process of training using positive reinforcement and using the clicker as a marker in depth. It was a thoroughly worthwhile and enjoyable experience.

The use of rewards for dogs is very important in Peters training and he focuses on active play with dogs.

Karen and Peter first hosted an agility seminar in 1999 at Deb Jackson's holiday park in Papamoa. Since then they have held seminars everywhere from Auckland to Invercargill.

Peter became an agility judge in 1990, retired from judging in 2000 and returned to the panel in 2006.

In 2006 Karen opened PAWS in the City in Wellington focusing on "doggy day care", dog grooming, and dog training.

Peter has also been privileged to work in TV. Peter has participated in and worked on the sets of; Tux Wonderdogs, Superdogs, What Now, and the Goodmorning Show.

Peter has a daughter, Nicola who is studying law and pharmacology at the University of Otago and a son, Jono, who is finishing his last year of high school before heading to university.

Below is a picture of Peter and Sarah competing at the NZ Nationals in 1989.

Peter and Sarah Competing at NZKC National 1989
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