Crown Classic Dog Show

Thursday, January 1st, 2009 | Obedience | No Comments

Since I started taking obedience classes, I have thought about entering the Crown Classic Dog Show obedience trials held in Cleveland at the IX Center in December every year. After a lesson with Kathy Sutliff this fall, she told me to consider doing just that this year. I decided to enter the Toledo Kennel Club trials in November, and based on how that went, I would make my decision. The qualifications in both Rally Excellent and obedience made me decide to go for it.

The Crown Classic is an AKC all-breed show held by four kennel clubs over four days every December. There are nearly 3000 dogs entered every day of this show in conformation, obedience, rally and agility. The excitement in the air is palpable. Additionally, there are dozens of vendors, great for Christmas shopping. This is where I had Wynnter’s photo taken by the Winning Image last year.

I decided to enter Lorain County Kennel Club rally on Thursday, Medina County Kennel Club obedience on Friday, and Richland County Kennel Club rally on Saturday. We arrived early Friday for our 9:15 ring-time for Rally Excellent. I must have walked a mile from the parking lot to the obedience area carrying the crate. Conformation was well underway. After setting up the crate, I went back to the car to get Wynnter. There were nine entries in the “A” class, and many more in the “B” class, so the walk-thru was very crowded. We were the last in our class, and now that we are nearly finished with rally, I find myself being very relaxed in the ring. The course was challenging but laid out in a manner that gave us an opportunity to move out. Our honor was a true test also. The dog we were honoring had just started the course, when the ring steward accidentally knocked a roll of paper towels off of the table just outside the ring right onto Wynnter. She jumped slightly, looked at the towels and then at me, and settled back without ever getting up. Whew! And we placed second with a 97. Our best ever qualification!

On Friday we did our second leg in novice obedience. There were fourteen entries in Novice A. Our heeling was so much worse than it was in Toledo. I thought, “we are in big trouble here” when I did my about turn and passed Wynnter going in the opposite direction. Now THAT is lagging! But she caught up. She did beautifully on her stand for exam, losing no points. She lost 1/2 point on her recall, and did a beautiful finish. The judge even commented that her recall was beautiful. Fast again, sliding into her front without a bump. She lost no points on her stays. So all but 1/2 point was lost on our heeling – on and off leash. Trialing is meant to show where we need to work, and I certainly know that! Even so, we placed third of the five people who qualified. With so much going on at this show, again, I was elated.

On Saturday, we finished Wynnter’s Rally Excellent title with her third qualification. No placement, but it was a fun course, and I feel like we have graduated from Rally. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SWkgiPtvtQ

Now we will take the winter and work on that heeling!

BPIMBS U-Gr Ch Hallmark’s Wynnter Moon for Neil, RE, PT, JHD, TT, CGC, OFA (h,e,c,th), PennHIP

TOLEDO KENNEL CLUB

Thursday, January 1st, 2009 | Obedience | No Comments

On November 21, 2008, Wynnter, Taylor and I traveled to the Toledo Kennel Club Rally trial to begin the excellent level.  Wynnter and I have not been in the ring since April when she finished her Rally Advanced title.  But somehow, thanks to Kathy and Kelly and our recent herding tests, when we got into the ring, I seemed to relax more than I ever had.  The run went well; we only had one slip-up where we re-did a station.  Much to my surprise, we earned a 96 and third place.  I was thrilled! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MU0iJvpJiOw

On Saturday November 22, Wynnter and I drove back to Toledo to give obedience a try. We have been training for this day since Wynnter was six months old, and I have never done anything so scary in my life! The judge was understanding of a first-timer, and walked us through everything. Our heeling was pretty bad, Wynnter was sniffing when she shouldn’t have been, and when I signaled to finish after the recall, she jumped up and kissed me! But that recall was awesome, and I saw the smile from the judge. She flies!! Her stand for exam and stays were also great. And we qualified! We have a leg toward her CD title!

This success means we will enter the Crown Classic at Cleveland next month.