About Chance
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About Chance 🐕
🐾 Meet Chance: The Dog Who Started It All
Every great organization has a powerful origin story. For Fast-Dogs and the FKC, that story begins with a small dog named Chance, a spirited dachshund whose injury in an uncontrolled environment inspired a national movement for canine safety and structured fun.
💔 The Moment That Changed Everything
Chance, the beloved companion of the Fast-Dogs founder, was a typical, energetic small dog who loved to run. However, during a routine visit to a public dog park, he suffered a severe injury during an interaction with a much larger, high-energy dog.
This accidental, but devastating, incident was the turning point. It brought into sharp focus a painful reality for owners of small, senior, or specialized breeds: public dog parks are inherently unsafe due to the uncontrolled mixing of sizes and temperaments.
🛡️ The Promise: A Place to Run Without Fear
Struck by his dog's injury, Dad (the founder) made a solemn promise to Chance: "I will create a place where you and every dog like you can run free, safely, without worry."
This promise was not just about building a fence; it was about creating a culture of safety, structure, and fairness—principles directly adapted from Dad's military background. This promise became the blueprint for the entire Fast-Dogs organization:
Size-Separated Play Zones: To ensure no other small dog is injured by accidental contact with a large dog.
Structured Training: To teach discipline and safe interaction for all dogs.
The FKC: To create a level playing field where dogs are judged and compete by size, making it fair for everyone.
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Chance
⚠️ The Confirmation: The Fast CAT Incident
The need for the FKC's strict safety standards was tragically confirmed at a major, organized Fast CAT (AKC) event.
While Chance was unharmed, a similar-sized, small dog was injured in a terrible collision immediately after completing a run. The root cause was the lack of size-appropriate track safety and uncontrolled exits—common issues when a single 100-yard standard is applied to all dogs, regardless of size or stopping ability.
This incident galvanized Dad's determination. It proved that even in structured canine sports, general standards were not enough. It highlighted the need for:
Progressive Training: The FKC's mandatory 25-yard safety test to ensure safe deceleration before attempting the 100-yard run.
Size-Specific Safety: Track design and exit zones calibrated to the dog's speed and size.
The combined incidents of Chance’s injury and the Fast CAT tragedy confirmed that the only way to guarantee canine safety and fair competition was to establish a dedicated, size-focused organization: The Fast-Dogs Kennel Club.
🏁 The Champion and The Legacy
Today, Chance is much more than an inspiration; he is the heart of the Fast-Dogs Kennel Club.
He is proof that a dog's size doesn't determine their spirit. Every time a small dog sprints fearlessly on a secure 100-yard track, or a nervous dog gains confidence in a safe play zone, it is a testament to the safety standards inspired by Chance.
His injury became the catalyst for a dream: to see FKC facilities in all 50 U.S. states, guaranteeing that every owner can say, with confidence, "My dog can run safely here."
Chance's Story is our commitment. It is why we put safety first, always.
Chance's legacy ensures that every decision made at Fast-Dogs is filtered through the lens of safety and fairness. He is the heart of our past, and the drive of our future.
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🏆 Hall of Fame Inductee: The Champion of the Underdog
Despite the organization's focus on speed, Chance's induction into the Fast-Dogs Hall of Fame is not purely for his track times—it's for his unrivaled spirit and the standard he set for inclusivity.
As the muse behind our motto: "At Fast-Dogs, we love all dogs, even the slow ones," Chance stands as the ultimate underdog. He represents every dog whose greatest challenge isn't the competition, but the inherent dangers of the outside world.
His Hall of Fame status recognizes:
The Courage to Compete: He showed that a dog, even one facing physical challenges or slower speeds, deserves the same opportunity to train, run, and compete safely as the fastest racer.
The Resilience of the Small: His recovery and continued participation embody the toughness and heart of every small and specialized breed.
The Power of the Bond: His success is a testament to the trust and dedication between a handler and their dog, proving that a strong team bond is the most important element of any competition.
Chance is the inaugural inductee because he is the living promise of the FKC: Safety and fairness are for everyone, regardless of their speed. He is the reason we celebrate effort, perseverance, and the simple joy of a safe, happy run.
Chance is the Slow One. Grimm his big brother is the the Fast One.
In fact Grimm was the #1 Dachshund in the 1974 AKC Fast-Cat racing year. Before he hurt his back.