Watch This Huge Mastiff Slowly, But Surely, Complete an Agility Course

In the dog show world, agility competitions are mostly dominated by Border collies, Jack Russell terriers and Australian shepherds. With a trifecta of speed, grace and hyperactivity, these breeds zip through tunnels and glide over poles, making the competition look fairly easy.

So, when Zeus, a massive Bullmastiff, showed up to an agility competition at the Rocky Mountain Cluster Dog Show in Denver a few years back, he was considered an unlikely contender in the dog show circuit. He also had about the same enthusiasm for the whole thing as we do on a Monday morning, pre-coffee —  which honestly only made him even more endearing.

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And since we all love an underdog story (yeah, pun intended), we had to share this video. It’s not just adorable, but also kind of relatable if you’ve ever slogged your way through a 10K “fun run” or, heck, even a long work day.

At the competition, Zeus lumbered his way through the course, getting just enough giddy-up to leap over jumps (he knocked just one over). He shimmied through a tunnel that was about the same circumference as his body. And he leisurely sauntered through the poles. Speedy? Not so much. Graceful? Ehh, not quite. But Zeus’ can-do attitude? Winning.

While he may not have placed first at the dog show competition, he was certainly a fan favorite. You can hear the crowd cheering him on as he slowly but steadily completed the course.

Considering his size, his completion of the course is quite an impressive feat. On average, Bullmastiff’s weight about 120 pounds, according to the American Kennel Club. They’re also described as affectionate, loyal and brave. The breed, a mix of Bulldog and Mastiff, was developed in England by gamekeepers for protection against poachers, so being a guard dog is probably more in Zeus’ wheelhouse.

The takeaway here, though? Zeus’ performance was a sweet reminder that it’s not always about the destination—it’s about the journey.

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If you love this story, also check out this adorable little guy wipe out during his agility course. No worries though, the speedy Jack Russell Terrier, Olly, hopped right back up afterward and finished the course!

[h/t: Laughing Squid]