Updated: February 9, 2008 9:40 PM
Updated: February 10, 2008 8:28 PM
I took three new clients and their dogs to an AKC Obedience trial today. Each has trained with me privately and has participated in my group proofing classess. Today was show time and they were out to show what they had learned. Two of the dogs are rescues and one is a pedigreed AKC registered dog. Two Chocolate Labradors and one German Shepherd. As was to be expected the handlers were nervous, but well coached. No major handler errors were made and all three dogs qualified. The highest possible score is 200. The youngest of the three dogs scored a 189 1/2 and the other two dogs scored a 192 and 192 1/2 respectively taking second and third place in the trial. All three dogs are capable of better scores, but a combination of nerves and first show snafus added up the lost points. I expect that all three dogs will score better tomorrow, but I am most certainly pleased with the results from today.
I was very happy with the Judging. AKC is making a concerted effort to make sure the first time handlers get the information and encouragement they need to continue in the sport. I am very supportive of their efforts and hope that they continue this trend. This trials entries are much higher than it has been in the last few years. So, there is hope that this trend will continue and more and more people will see the benifits of this type of training.
David Harris
Update: February 9, 2008 9:40 PM
Sorry for the late check in. We arrived got up early Saturday and trained at the hotel around 6:00 A.M. and were over to the show grounds around Seven. Nov A started at 8:00 AM and the place was already filling up.
Today the place was a madhouse. Very tough conditions for young dogs. Sally and Sasha were third in the ring today and put together an amazing routine losing only three points on their on and off leash heeling. Full points for the stand, sit and down stays. The recall was very fast and straight. Unfortunately due to noise level in the building Sally gave Sasha a hard recall command that Sasha didn’t know exactly how to react to. She came running, perfectly straight to Sally, then got within about four feet, slammed on the brakes and did a perfect front, just far enough away to NQ! Ouch. First place down the tubes 
The judge was very, very slow and the place was so crowded you could not approach the ring without bumping into dogs. It took close to three hours before the next dog in our group was ready. Max was excellent, a little shaky on his first sit, but a very clean run, beautiful recall and finish. Then more and more waiting. About 45 minutes later he entered the ring with eleven other dogs for sits and downs. The judge put them on the short side of the ring and they were about two feet from each other. Max and the GSD next door struck up a love connection and out they went. Second place out the window. Max had a great score doing up to that point. Ouch!
Poor Ellie is the baby of the group at nine months of age, but she came to the rescue of the Novice A crowd and turned in a 193 1/2 score. Not a placing out of the twenty some odd dogs entered, but very close. I think 195 took it, but their were four dogs in that range. So, Ellie was close to placing, but no cookie. But, she does now have two CD legs to her young name.
We all sat and marveled at the crowd and the super slow judging. Nov B went on and on. Ron and Stretch did not enter the ring until after 4 PM. But, out of the 25 plus, Nov B dogs he turned in a score good enough to tie for second place. Unfortunately Stretch was stretched to thin to make a good showing in the run off. So, Ron and he settled for third place. An awesome day in Nov. B for a dog with almost no practice. Two legs down, one to go.
Ron played around with that Rally stuff again today and got something like a 100 point (perfect) score, but I will leave it to him to toot his own horn about that.
So, all in all we had some ups and downs, but a very educational day for the new show people. They will never face a crowd like that again unless they go out of their way to do so.
Your worst day showing dogs is better than your best day at work. So, we had a great time.
Afterwards I took the Eppersons, Paige, Ron, Sally, Anita and the Gorbi’s on a tour of Indianapolis. Teach them to trust me with directions! The first restaurant we had been directed to by the hotel staff was closed, out of business so we decide to go down the road and settle for Olive Garden, but the wait was so long we spotted a older Italian Restaurant across the street and decided to take a chance on it. We made a super choice, the atmosphere was perfect for our kind of doggie banter and the service and food were superb. We had a great meal and the fellowship was the best of all. We had one big round table and the room basically to ourselves. So, we tore it up and had a great time.
With the Eppersons, Ron and Paige having to make a run for home we begrudgingly parted company and the rest of the group and I headed back to the hotel for some indoor training in the hallways of the hotel. We had more fun than we should have a pissed off a few of the neighbors, but we got in some good training on stays with doggies RIGHT next to you and some work on Sasha’s recalls. So, we are all set for another adventure in doggie land tomorrow. I will check in with a full report on Sundays activities after I return home from the show.
Thanks for all the support from those of you at home. We miss you. Hopefully we can bring a big group to our next multiple day show and knock out some more titles while have a great time in the process.
David Harris
Update: February 10, 2008 8:28 pm
Sunday was better than expected. All three novice dogs qualified we excellent scores. Two well enough for placings. Sally with Sasha finished her CD with a first place win and Anita with Max took third place. Our youngest competitor finish her CD requirements in three straight shows with a 185, 189 and a 192 1/2. Lots more work ahead for her to become as focused as she needs to be for top scores, but you could be much more pleased with a young dog that knows many parts of the open and utility routines already and has a great, happy attitude towards the work. I will write about each dog individually. See you in the blogs!
David Harris
1 response so far ↓
1 Anita // Feb 12, 2008 at 8:23 am
The Indy Show was a first dog show for Max and I and without super training I don’t think that there is anyway we could have gotten through it. The First day we were at the show at 8 a.m. with a walk through at 9. The judge was very thorough and patient with the Novice A handlers and gave us a good walk through and tips. The first thing he told us was to breath and keep breathing, a good thing to remember in any show ring. Max and I did well, blew the first sit, but recovered and went on. I was pleased with the fact that Max stayed with me off leash with everything else going on around us (Open, Utility, Rally, food, people, dogs). much less the Second Place finish. I told David that if we had tried this when we first started training in October, Max would have been jumping through all five rings, going for the corn dogs, and retrieving the jumps from Open on the way back through.
Day 2 we were up at 4:45, training at hotel at 6:15 and on show grounds at 7 a.m. Show started at 8 and based on the way the previous day went I was planning on being back to take a nap by 11:30. Judging was a little slower. Max was entering the ring the first time at 11:30. He did well OK. Blew the first sit again, but better everywhere else. 45 minutes later we entered for sits and downs and had maybe 2 feet between us. Twelve dogs in the ring on the short side, crowd four feet away to our right. Max turned his head and noticed to cute GSD to his left and it was over, both dogs excused from the ring. Disappointed, but I know well enough when working with animals you never know what to expect. When e returned to the room Max finally ate breakfast and then was out cold for his siesta. Late that evening we had a practice session on how to stay in a sit and down in close quarters. Basically, we made a Max sandwich in the hall, Max in middle and dog on each side shoulder to shoulder, and put him on a sit stay. Train for every situation. He got the message.
Day 3, up again at 4:45, meet at 6:15 and check out of motel. Show starts at 8 again, Judge gave good walk through and pattern was changed. Now the heeling went from gate with left turn, and back to gate. New problem, big opening and they know they can leave if you don’t have the attention. Recall done on back side of ring toward the Open ring. Max did well on heeling pattern and Figure 8, Stand for Exam. I need to work on about turn. Only sits and downs left. So we put Max on a sit/stay and get the young lab next to him and David starts tossing Ellie food and having her go around Max and over Max. Max doesn’t budge. Judge today only puts 8 dogs in the ring at a time, and we are on the end, only one dog next to us. It was the longest minute and three minutes of my life. Max proved that good training does work over time and made it through. Those on the sidelines said the look on my face was one of “you move you die”. Finally over, and results posted. We are out and on the road by 11:30.
Thanks for all the help from David. The patience he showed with Max and I from the beginning of training in October through the show is amazing. What I formerly called my ADHD dog has become a well-behaved member of the family. Thank you also to everyone else that has helped both before and during the show. Joey and Amy who came and supported on Saturday, and who have helped train the recall in group sessions. Ron and Paige who were showing their own dogs, but also gave good tips about being in the ring. Sally and Lisa who were there as Novice A also and gave support and friendship. Dogs and friends, what a better way to spend a three day weekend.
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