Producer of multiple Group Placing & Best of Breed winners, futurity & maturity winning and/or placing, specialty major winning offspring as well as Champion, Senior Hunter & Versatile Excellent get. Show, agility, obedience, tracking, field & therapy work, our dogs do it all.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Savi learns to swim!
Savi had a great swim lesson with my friend, Esther, and her terrific Vizsla's Wes and Stevie. It was a perfect day and we went to a lake in Harriman State Park. We were thrilled to see that Savi is a natural swimmer and retriever but hey, she is savvy!
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Trudy at the Nationals
Trudy, Grayhart's Special Reserve, handled by Pat O'Brien, in the 12-18 mo class at the WCWDC Specialty during the WCA Nationals week, where she went 1st place in class.
Mia-belle's Show-n-Go
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Mia-belle (Trixie-Zeke) and Jessica at a recent Show-n-Go, where handlers have the opportunity to practice in a show like setting and corrections are allowed. The pictures are of Mia-belle and Jessica doing a run through of a Rally Excellent course, all exercises are done off lead.
Getting Started in Rally
Rally is a sport in which the dog and handler complete a course that has been designed by the rally judge. The judge tells the handler to begin, and the dog and handler proceed at their own pace through a course of designated stations (10 - 20, depending on the level). Each of these stations has a sign providing instructions regarding the next skill that is to be performed. Scoring is not as rigorous as traditional obedience.
The team of dog and handler moves continuously at a brisk, but normal, pace with the dog under control at the handler's left side. There should be a sense of teamwork between the dog and handler both during the numbered exercises and between the exercise signs; however, perfect "heel position" is not required. Any faults in traditional obedience that would be evaluated and scored as a one-point deduction or more should be scored the same in Rally, unless otherwise mentioned in the Rally Regulations. After the judge's "Forward" order, the team is on its own to complete the entire sequence of numbered signs correctly.
Unlimited communication from the handler to the dog is to be encouraged and not penalized. Unless otherwise specified in these Regulations, handlers are permitted to talk, praise, encourage, clap their hands, pat their legs, or use any verbal means of encouragement. Multiple commands and/or signals using one or both arms and hands are allowed; the handler's arms need not be maintained in any particular position at any time. The handler may not touch the dog or make physical corrections. At any time during the performance, loud or harsh commands or intimidating signals will be penalized.
Rally provides a link from the Canine Good Citizen® (CGC) program to obedience or agility competition, both for dogs and handlers. In addition, rally promotes fun and enjoyment for dogs at all levels of competition.
What is Rally?
AKC Rally is the new dog sport that is taking the nation by storm, a successful stepping stone from the AKC Canine Good Citizen® program to the world of obedience or agility. Rally offers both the dogs and handlers an experience that is fun and energizing. The canine team moves at their own pace, very similar to rally-style auto racing. Rally was designed with the traditional pet owner in mind, but it can still be very challenging for those who enjoy higher levels of competition.
A rally course includes 10 to 20 stations, depending on the level. Scoring is not as rigorous as traditional obedience. Communication between handler and dog is encouraged and perfect heel position is not required, but there should be a sense of teamwork between the dog and handler. The main objective of rally is to produce dogs that have been trained to behave in the home, in public places, and in the presence of other dogs, in a manner that will reflect positively on the sport of rally at all times and under all conditions.