Sheltie and Teen Handler With Big Dreams Turn Heads in Agility

15-year-old Sophie Weaver, from Parrish, Florida, is one of the brightest young talents on the US competitive agility circuit. Despite this, she remains remarkably humble about everything she and “Violet,” her 4-year-old Shetland Sheepdog, have achieved together.

At the AKC Agility Premier Cup in Philadelphia this June, the teenager will stand out for being the only Junior handler at the event. The Premier Cup is part of the 3-day AKC Celebrates USA 250 event, held at the Philadelphia Navy Yard to celebrate the 25oth birthday of the United States. Here, she’ll be taking on some of the sport’s top competitors, many of whom have decades of experience. What makes this achievement even more impressive is that she has reached this level while juggling a demanding schedule.

From Goldens to Shelties

Dogs have always been part of Sophie’s life. Growing up, her family owned Golden Retrievers, including their previous dog, “Sherman,” and their other current dog, “North.” She has also spent countless hours helping others with their pets. “I take care of puppy litters from when they’re born until they’re eight weeks old,” she says. “I also train other people’s puppies in basic obedience and Trick Dog titles.”

The family wasn’t planning on adding a Shetland Sheepdog to the mix. However, their neighbor, Susan Hayes, is a Sheltie Breeder, and Sophie regularly helps with her litters.

“We were around Violet since she was born, and we just fell in love with her,” Sophie explains. Violet and North were born just days apart, and the Weavers originally intended for Violet to simply be a pet.

When Violet was around a year old, Sophie and her mom, Dianna, enrolled her in obedience classes at the Dog Training Club of St. Petersburg, a long-running, local volunteer-run club. The pair were drawn to the agility classes in the neighboring ring and decided to give the sport a try.

Both mother and daughter were impressed with Violet’s intensity, intelligence, and work ethic. “She can learn tricks in 20 minutes,” Sophie says. “She’s super smart, and I love how high drive she is.”

Dianna laughs when describing the difference between North and Violet. “Our Golden Retriever is the happiest blonde you’ve ever met,” she says. “Violet loves to see you, but she’s always ready to work—she’s our pocket rocket.”

North never really took to agility, but Violet’s mom, Dana, also loves the sport. Her owner, Susan, graciously allows Sophie and Dianna to compete with her, so they don’t need to fight over who runs Violet. “Sophie learned quite a bit from Dana and took her as a novice dog up through all of her titles as well,” Dianna explains.

Violet’s Drive Fueled Their Dog Sports Journey

Once Sophie and Violet discovered agility, there was no holding them back. The tiny Sheltie, who measures just 11 inches at the shoulder, attacks courses with remarkable speed and enthusiasm.

However, this drive and turn of pace has also created some challenges. “We joke that we feed her rocket fuel,” Dianna says. “She is so fast and doesn’t slow down, so the dog walk is a challenge.”

Sophie spends hours agility training in the family’s yard to help Violet become more independent in the ring—and the hard work is paying off. “We’ve made an A-frame, and we’re making a dog walk,” she says. “I go out there and try to work on distance and contacts.”

Dianna says the agility community has embraced Sophie from the beginning, and her natural talent has led to other opportunities in the sport. “People have really stepped in to mentor her because they see how much she loves it,” she explains.

Longtime agility competitor and AKC judge Victoria MacVicker has been a wonderful mentor to Sophie ever since she approached her at a trial and asked if she would like to run her Brittany, “Amber.” She is also working with Violet’s half-sister, “Millie,” and “Fizzi,” a spunky Boston Terrier, while Fizzi’s owner recovers from rotator cuff surgery.

“I had a whole bunch of fun,” Sophie says. “Every dog runs differently. They all have their quirks, and it’s helped me grow a lot in agility.”

Chasing Cheering and Agility Ambitions

Sophie’s standout performances are even more impressive when you take into account her packed diary. In addition to agility, she has a busy homeschooling schedule, rides horses, and last year she was on two cheer teams. This meant spending four nights a week at the gym, along with weekend practices and competitions.

One of her proudest moments in the sport so far came at the 2025 AKC Agility Invitational. The competition was taking place during the same weekend as a major cheerleading competition.

“I had to run off the stage to my next class,” Sophie says. “I didn’t get to walk the course for two of them, and I wasn’t able to warm Violet up—we were just running cold.”

Even without walk-throughs, Sophie and Violet delivered exceptional runs, placing second and third in two classes, and showcasing their poise under pressure and deeply connected partnership.

“As a parent, I’m so proud of Sophie,” Dianna says. “I stand in awe watching some of her accomplishments and her talent with animals.”

The Sky’s the Limit

As the duo prepares for the forthcoming AKC Agility Premier Cup, Sophie recognizes what an exciting opportunity it is. However, she remains refreshingly grounded and mature in her mindset. “It’s really just about our teamwork and going out and having fun on the course with her,” she says.

The trip to Philadelphia will be a bonding girls’ weekend for Sophie and Dianna, and Violet is also going to travel in style. She’s flying in her own Sherpa carrier that will sit below Sophie’s seat on the plane. “We actually taught her how to get in her bag and settle,” Sophie explains proudly. “She loves it, as she loves tiny places,”

The family is also looking forward to hopefully welcoming another Sheltie into the household soon. Puppy “Tessie,” whom Sophie helped care for from birth, could eventually open up new possibilities in agility. Two dogs would mean Dianna and Sophie could compete together more often, and could consider different jump heights, given that Violet is particularly small for her breed type.

While reaching the Premier Cup is an impressive milestone, Sophie’s dreams don’t stop there. She hopes to compete in the National Juniors Team and eventually represent the United States internationally. “One of my biggest goals is to get into Worlds one day,” she says.

No matter what the future holds, it’s clear that animals will remain central to Sophie’s life. She hasn’t decided whether to pursue dog training, veterinary medicine, or both, but her passion for dogs is undeniable.