One of our lovely Ambassadors for Paleo Ridge, Kat Farrants and Australian Shepherd Gracie, recently represented Great Britain in the German-led sport of IGP.
Here is her amazing story:
Representing Great Britain is always an honour and a privilege, but doing so in one of the toughest, most disciplined canine sports in the world? That was our audacious dream. IGP (formerly known as Schutzhund) is a demanding, German-led sport made up of three disciplines: Tracking, Obedience, and Protection. It was originally designed to test which German Shepherd Dogs were suitable for police and military work, so precision, power, and mental resilience are key. To even qualify is tough, to compete at the international level is something else entirely.
No Australian Shepherd, anywhere in the world, had ever competed at the International Championships. For us, it started as a fun, almost impossible goal. After all, Aussies aren’t “supposed” to be built for this kind of work, it’s a sport dominated by German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois, with the occasional Rottweiler, Doberman, or Giant Schnauzer in the mix. But Gracie didn’t get the memo! In fact, she’s the only Australian Shepherd in UK history to achieve IGP3, the sport’s highest qualification. That alone was monumental. But representing GB on the world stage? That was the dream.
We travelled to Spain for the International Championships, joining teams from across the globe, the US, China, Japan, Korea, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, the UAE, and so many more. Handlers had flown their dogs halfway around the world to be there. The atmosphere in the stadium was electric. We’ve been to Crufts before, but nothing compared to the roar of that crowd, loud, supportive, and buzzing with anticipation as 140 of the world’s best canine athletes took the field.
When Gracie walked onto that field, she was greeted like a rock star. Everyone wanted photos with the “audacious Aussie” who dared to take on the GSDs at their own game. The heat was intense, hotter than anything Gracie had ever experienced, but she rose to the challenge. I’ll admit, I was nervous about the “test of courage” in the protection phase, where the helper charges at full speed, simulating an attack. But Gracie held her ground, full of confidence and self-belief. When she met that challenge head-on, the crowd erupted. It was one of the proudest, most emotional moments of my life, seeing her so happy, powerful, and brave.
And she didn’t just hold her own, she smashed it! Gracie achieved the highest marks on Team GB and an incredibly strong score overall among the world’s best. She proved that mindset, heart, and determination can be just as powerful as muscle and might.
A big part of her success, I believe, comes from how she’s been raised and nourished. Gracie has been fed raw since before she was born, with her mother fed a paleo diet throughout pregnancy and weaning. That foundation gave her the physical strength, stamina, and vitality to take on challenges like this, to stand tall among the world’s elite and show what’s possible when health and belief go hand in hand.
This journey wasn’t just about competition, it was about defying expectations, believing in what seems impossible, and showing that courage and connection can take you anywhere. Gracie didn’t just represent GB, she represented every underdog (literally!) who dares to dream big.
Check out Kat and Gracie on Instagram @thesdogsportscoach
