Sometimes your friends go above and beyond to be a distraction helping to proof attention in the obedience ring 😎
Lexi was 6/6 in Master B earning her RATCHX47 and earned 450/500 possible crazy 8 points this weekend to earn her CZ8P11 (22,000 lifetime points) titles.
She is the #1 Boston in the sport by 400 Master Q’s and leads in crazy 8 points by 11,000 points over the next Boston.
Big news from today's Barn Hunt trial:
The amazing Violet earned her RATCHX7.
This ties her for the #1 English Shepherd spot in the sport of Barn Hunt!
🤩🤩🥳🥳
Congratulations Jeanne & Violet
Here is an amazing achievement from our member Elizabeth Staley and her dog, Taylor
Taylor qualified and won the 8” Master Preferred JWW class today at 13 years 11 months and 10 days young 🙂 She LOVES agility and her mom is so grateful to see her running happy after 12.5 years.
We run for the memories and for our friends who no longer get to compete with their dogs. Every moment we step to the line is a gift.
Good Saturday morning!
Today we have a video of some field work that yes, even poodles participate in! Poodles were originally gun dogs before they were put into the Non-Sporting group in AKC and still remain as gun dogs in other registries.
Our member, Julie Kolberg and her dog, Trident have been training at the Retriever Academy in Miami, Oklahoma for the past 11 days with a group of other dogs and handlers, honing their skills for upcoming Master Hunter tests. Master Hunter is the highest level of achievement in AKC hunt tests.
In this video Trident is working what is called a "blind". In a blind, a pile of birds or plastic dummies called "bumpers" are put out at a pre-determined location and distance. The handler knows where the pile is, but the dog has to trust the handler to guide him to the pile. The handler uses a series of commands called "casts" to direct the dog where he needs to go. The initial command is "back" the dog knows that means to go straight out where the handler directs and don't stop until he hears a whistle. When the dog hears the whistle he stops and sits on land or stops and turns in water, treading water to stay in place facing the handler waiting for the next command.
The handler will direct the dog where to go with their arms. Left or right straight back, left or right angled back, over casts and come in casts.The dog has to turn in the correct direction of the cast.
In this video, Trident and Julie are negotiating a 205-yard blind with a pass-through water. The dog must go where the handler directs it using whistles and casts. As you can see, after the initial back command, Trident only needs to be redirected by Julie one time until he makes his way to the pile. Trident then must come in a straight line back to his handler.
As always, we encourage all Merrimac members and students to submit photos and videos of accomplishments with your dogs. It does not even have to be a title or a qualifying run but any activity that you and your d
Check out this double time video of one of our agility classes.
Fun times 🏃♂️🏃🏃♀️
Don't forget Tuesday May 9, 2023 at 5pm is the deadline to register for the Saturday May 13th obedience and rally run-thru.
Email Jim Swimme at [email protected]
Include:
Your name & dog's name
Dog's breed
Jump height
Phone number and email address
What classes -- obedience $8, $7, $5 per run for each dog
Rally $5/run per dog
Next run-thru will be Sunday June 4, 2023
Merrimac Dog Training Club is an AKC licensed club in Hampton, VA offering obedience, rally, agility
