Talking Dogs Rally

13/08/2024

Sherborne Vale Trial- 28/29 Sept still open, get your entries in. This is a new venue which we would love you to support

07/08/2024

Time for us to bid a fond farewell to another beloved member of the TDR family.
Linda and Neil have said goodbye to their dearest Molly the Collie following a recent diagnosis of leukaemia.
Molly was a fantastic dog who understood Linda perfectly. She was amazingly intuitive, knowing exactly what needed to be done and when. Molly excelled in TDR and I swear she knew how to read the individual stations as she seemed to always be one step ahead of the game!
The relationship between Linda and Molly was beautiful to watch and, at times, brought a tear to my eye.
It was so good to be able to see Molly one last time at Lisa’s trial when Linda and Neil brought her along to see her old friends. I will treasure the photo here of her with us who have judged her over the years.
Fly high darling girl, we all loved you dearly.
Our love to Linda and Neil.

07/08/2024

Isle of Wight trial now full!

05/08/2024

So it seems like not a month goes by when we don’t have to bid a farewell to one of the TDR family.
Last month, Sue on the Isle of Wight had to say goodbye to her darling Teddy the Collie at the age of 14. Teddy was a really special dog; he was kind,sweet and loving and all he really wanted to do was please his mum and family. Teddy was just brilliant at Rally and his intelligence shone through as he led Sue around the course, often seeming to read the stations as he went!
I always called Teddy ‘Fluffy’ reflecting his unusual haircut and I think this name speaks of the gentle soul he was.
Run free our Fluffy boy; we all loved you. Love to Sue and Charlie who I know are missing their boy dreadfully. Here’s to a life well lived!

02/08/2024

Isle of Wight September Trial now open for entries- see website

17/07/2024

Schedule for Sherborne Vale DTC Sept trial now live on the website. Enter quickly!

16/07/2024

Last week, we were saddened to hear that former TDR judge, Lorraine, lost her charismatic lurcher, Pyrate.
Those of you who were early ralliers, will remember his original rally days! Pyrate first started Rally in 2012. He brought his own unique ‘style’ to the sport. For the first few trials the Judges ‘suggested’ he didn’t do the bonus recall as the resulting zoomies and chaos didn’t improve his score!
Lorraine had great patience and determination though and slowly he calmed down, although there was the odd food bowl incident in L2! (He was so proud of himself running round the ring with one in his mouth, you couldn’t help but smile). Eventually he made his way up to successfully compete in L3 before retiring to Bulgaria.
Pyrate loved to show off and quickly became well known, not just in Rally but anything he tried his paw at including Hoopers and Agility (where he preferred to make up his own course but he always had such fun). His greatest love was the ‘Lure’ and his screams of excitement could be heard right across the show ground at Paws in the Park. The organisers still ask after him to this day!
Not always an easy dog, his early puppyhood in Ireland (where he was actually advertised as a Jack Russell cross) left him with resource guarding issues but always handled so well by Lorraine, it never stopped him getting out and about having fun. He always did his bit for other rescue dogs, attending many street collections and other charity events for Lurcher SOS Sighthound rescue and loved the attention. He could even carry his own collecting tin! He was certainly a real character and loved by everyone.
RIP you handsome boy! 😍
Thanks to Frances for her help with this tribute. (Actually she wrote most of it! 😘)

14/07/2024

Just been loading the Chichester results on the database. Well done everyone, some impressive scores. A big Thankyou to Armchair Pets for organising a highly successful trial, we know how much work goes into a smooth running event.
I have a few awards which I believe need to be posted, please let me know if you’ve already received these.
Maxine and Luna- Level 1 Title
Sue Hall and Louis- Level 1 Title
Vicky W and Poppy- PL2 Champ
Frances and Keena- 3 Plus AOE
Lindsay and Reefie- 3 Plus Title

13/07/2024

Apologies for the lack of photos from the Chichester Trial but I am sharing some from Armchair Pets fb page.
PLEASE do add any you have in the comments, whether from the day itself or of your dogs with their rosettes.
Huge thanks to Armchair Pets for hosting & to all our judges for their time, support & expertise.

06/07/2024

It's looking wet & windy for tomorrow at Chichester Trial. I wouldn't be surprised if The Diddy Van runs out of sausage rolls! There's not much shelter there so please come prepared.
In the afternoon, from 12, the centre bar is open & dogs are welcome in there.
Typically, Armchair Pets' TDR Trials are either boiling hot or pouring with rain. Safe travels!

- Welcome to The Fishbourne Centre - A community centre open to everyone! The Fishbourne Centre is open to all and looks out onto 17 acres of playing field including cricket and football pitches, tennis courts, a croquet lawn, a bowling green, a multi-sport court

04/07/2024

It is with great sadness that I write this post. On Sunday 30th June, one of our ‘Northern’ ralliers Jane Hagger passed away after a long battle with illness.

Sadly, prior to this, Janes’s husband Jonathan had passed away unexpectedly in May, leaving no immediate family. Jonathan would always accompany Jane to Talking Dogs Rally trials and was always happy to take on the role of efficient table steward.

Jane was involved with dog sports for many years including competitive obedience, agility and more recently Talking Dogs Rally. Over recent years she developed a love for Talking Dogs Rally which she competed in with their border collies Quiz and Edric. Both dogs are sensitive souls requiring encouragement and motivation. It was clear Jane spent lots of time training them and in different situations to allow them to confidently work with distractions. Jane’s handling skills brought out the best in them both including Edric gaining a 210 Perfect score last year.

Jane was a kind and caring person, liked by everyone she knew, and will be sadly missed.

02/07/2024

Blogs for Isle of Wight and Risby Trials now live on the website!

01/07/2024

I have a sad announcement from our newest TDR judge, Lisa on the Isle of Wight. I have copied Lisa’s tribute to her darling Finlay, a very special boy.

So today Finlay (AKA Bobbers) has checked out. He's not been right for a while & further tests showed a tumour on his spleen & abnormalities on his liver. We decided to take the tough decision to let him go.
We've had this boy 11 years. He started as a nightmare puppy & took me down a whole new path & into a whole new career!
He loved his tricks & games, tried his Paw at Treibball, earned his Gold CHUK good hoopers award & gained his Level 2 TD Rally Championship gaining some 210 Perfect scores along the way.
Our nightmare puppy became a pretty decent all rounder!!
More recently he's helped in class as my demo dog, passing his skills onto the next generation!
RIP Finners! It's gonna be quiet around here without you......🐾

Our thoughts are with Lisa, Adam and the boys. I’m so glad that I got to see Finners one last time at the recent trial. Fly high handsome; we will never forget you xx

30/06/2024

Please note
Jacky R will not be available between 6-14 July due to tapir commitments!

28/06/2024

Intro to Talking Dogs Rally today at FurryTails Dog Training.

28/06/2024

We had a fabulous day introducing Jo and her training team to Talking Dogs Rally today. If you are looking to learn or re-start TD Rally and you are in Yorkshire, please reach out to Jo who is based at Easingwold just outside York.

SETTING YOU AND YOUR DOG UP FOR SUCCESS

26/06/2024

All rosettes posted second class this morning. Let me know if yours hasn’t arrived next week.

23/06/2024

Another lovely morning at Risby. (Ok, we did have a little rain yesterday.)
Good luck to all those taking part. 🐾🐾

23/06/2024

Online Trial- A big thank you to Jayne, Cris and Amie for judging and Gemma for her superb admin. work.
These trials are a nightmare to organise but it’s always so rewarding to see the teams working. Anyone who received an NQ please don’t be despondent but rather use this as a learning opportunity.

22/06/2024

June Online Trial results now published! Scoresheets and certificates on their way.

22/06/2024

Laura sadly lost her beautiful big Newfie earlier this month. Kahn competed in TDR on the Isle of Wight until Laura moved to Scotland. I have copied Laura’s tribute to her boy as I think it sums up everything about Kahn.
Our thoughts are with you all.

Colwell Bear Kahn: 28.02.2013 - 05.06.2024

Sadly I had to say goodbye to Kahn last wednesday.

He was often overshadowed by his more flamboyant brothers, but still managed to fit a lot into his just over 11 years with us. He was such a gentle boy, emotionally intuitive; the only one of our pack I'd trust to take mum out for a walk unaccompanied. he'd seek out those more vulnerable and match his pace and energy to theirs. I have fond memories of watching him and mum bimble gently across the common, or of him pushing his way between our dog trainer and her mum to walk along with her mother( starting to struggle with dementia), cheerfully holding onto his harness handle and smiling down at him. He sailed through the aptitude tests for his PAT (pets as therapy), when the tester (rather elderly and on 2 sticks) took his lead, he automatically took one step forward, waited for her to shuffle a few steps to catch up with him before taking his next step - the lead never even went taut!

looking back through photos it was always Kahn out with new pups their first few walks - Kahn with Ronin exploring Fort Victoria woods and playing on the beach, Kahn with Samuel, stepping between him and any approaching dogs, Kahn with Buddy (Paul's pup) showing him how to cadge sausages from cafe owners, and how to pose up on obstacles for a picture and a treat.

Kahn wasn't just a gentle soul though, he was bright enough in his own way.. he sailed through his KC Good CItizen Awards achieving Bronze (twice - once with Paul, then repeated with me back in the days when the 'team' had to gain the award to progress), Silver and Gold as well as working with our training club towards their own Platinum Award (which he didn't pass as when a tictac was dropped on the floor to simulate a lost pill, he went over sniffed it then stepped back looking apalled that there was human sweeties on the floor, but because he moved towards it first before discarding it he was deemed to have failed sadly). He also joined with his brother Beau competing in Talking Dog Rally with some brilliant results. He mainly came away with red (Ace) rosettes, a handful of purple (outstanding) ones and only ever one single NQ - due to me forgetting to remove my treat bag from my belt, not because Kahn put a foot wrong!

Kahn was never the best 'put together' dog, his conformation was all wrong, he 'paced' like a woodentop, no matter how we tried to correct his gait, Had a laparotomy for an undescended testicle (the vet even years later would say Kahn was the only dog he'd ever had that just rolled onto his back and lay there calmly letting him remove stitches one by one without flinching) he then had an argument with a landrover aged 3 where surprisingly he didn't break anything, but did have a few tweaked discs in his back after that. Despite all that I don't know that I ever heard him growl at another dog (unless he was protecting one of 'his' puppies), and didn't have a bad bone in his body.

his last 18 months back up in Scotland were limited by mobility, but he loved that we had way more visitors to the house up here, from his 'own' visitor, Claire the dogwalker, that came in several days a week while I was at work, to my family just an hour away to piping friends cadging a bed for the night. He always looked forward to treats and a fuss from anyone, even poor tradesmen who usually left with a coating of white hair on their trousers from Kahn's attentions!

I'm so glad his first family handed him back to the breeder just 5 days after we collected his brother Beau, as it meant we had 11 great years of making memories and sharing times together. from the terrible twins as teenage giants, to them developing their own personalites and interests. Kahn was always easygoing, and calm - other than the one time he and Beau set off at a sprint down a forest path, met an elderly couple coming round the corner who clung together as Beau and Kahn parted like water round a rock midstream and then crashed into each other past the couple of walkers and bundled their way on down the path. My balm to his more boisterous and trickier brothers.

Last weekend he was just tired out, and although he was still wagging his tail for a treat and a clap his body was just plain done and it was time to say goodnight, rest easy gentle Kahn xx

22/06/2024

Good Morning, all entries for the online trial have now been verified. If you have not received an email from Gemma regarding your rounds being verified, please let her know as soon as possible. Please check your junk folders first.....thank you 😃

21/06/2024

Entries have now closed for the Online trial. Well done and thank you to everyone who has entered. We will aim to get the results published as soon as possible, hopefully no later than Monday.

18/06/2024

Gillity Pop up shop is having an outing this weekend to Risby Talking Dogs Rally.

16/06/2024

Rookley Rally, IOW - early day 2.
Some great results & useful learning yesterday. Good luck to all the teams today!

11/06/2024

Last month we learnt from Gary that our beloved Wilson The Cockapoo had sadly crossed the bridge.
What can I say about Wilson? He was Simply the Best- Gary’s best friend, the best family dog and one of our best TDR dogs.
In all my years of knowing Wilson I saw only kindness in his eyes and behaviour fitting of a gentleman.
Wilson, you meant so much to all of us and it was a joy to watch you work with Gary who was your constant companion. You taught your family so much and have certainly left a huge hole but wonderful memories behind.
Thankyou for letting TDR be part of Wilson’s world Gary, Michelle and Cameron. We look forward to welcoming young Walter in the future.

Run free our darling little man; in the words of Gary ‘you’re a good boy, yes you are!’

09/06/2024

If anyone is waiting for a rosette in the post please let me know. I’ve sent all I’m aware of to date.

09/06/2024

Ponteland Trial blog and photos now on the website.

A big thank you to you Cris, Gemma and everyone who helped organise this successful trial held in such a great venue.
The friendly supportive atmosphere made this a pleasurable and memorable day for all.
A big thanks also of course to Judge Jayne for her time and expertise.
Here’s to next time!

07/06/2024

Important announcement regarding the online trial - Please ensure you set up and film your round in a space that is big enough for the course and enables flowing movements that can be accurately and fairly judged.

Whilst we can accept some degree of shrinkage to accommodate rounds being filmed in your own gardens, please do consider that the higher level rounds contain a significant number of exercises, some of which require specific distances, eg nose touch cone 1m and call to heel 4.5m and subsequently you might be better filming the higher level courses somewhere other than your garden.

Regrettably we have already had to reject a higher level round which is something we would rather not have to do again 😢
Thank you 🙏

03/06/2024

Judge Jacky's L3+ course looked challenging but it worked well and all of the dogs enjoyed the variety of new exercises.....even Snoopy came out of semi-retirement to do this round and the joy on his face when he came out of the tunnel at the far end and turned to return back to me was priceless.😊