Classes, sports and titles?

Suds is an AKC Champion, has his RE and in CPE (agility) has his CL1-H.

Josie is 1 point away from her AKC Champion has in CPE her CL1, CL2-H & CL2-F, working on the teeter so she can do AKC agility.

Ella is in Kindergarten will enter the conformation ring in March.

First I don't consider my dogs working dogs.  My living doesn't depend on their abilities so that is the definition of working to me.  They both have the CGC's and have passed herding instinct tests.  I do agility with both and we basically do AKC as I spend enough money there and don't need to spend more.   Sprite has her UAG-1, NA, NAJ, OA, OAJ, AXJ, MXJ, NAP, NJP, OAP, OJP, AXP AJP, MJP, MJP2, MJP3, MJP4, MJP5, MJP6.  Timmy has his NA, NAJ, OA, OAJ, AX, AXJ, MX, MXJ, MACH1, MACH2 and is 95 points from MACH3.  They both did therapy visits to nursing homes in the past before I burned out on doing it.  I have considered taking them into obedience and rally but really haven't found the time or motivation to get them ready for the ring.

Sillysally- i had a similar problem with my Kodi..shes clear of displasia, but because she has a neurological disorder (that ultimately has caused her to slowly loose feeling in her back feet over the years)- she can still walk fine, but she does have an odd "off" gait, and bunny hops when she goes anything faster than a trot..and jumping can be messy sometimes..which was sad to me.  The vet Ok'd that shes not in any pain, and shes trained all the way almost though Utility (just never worked on the scent articles much), and can easily do everything in any level of rally, but because of the limp that started at 2, we had to stop agility before competing, and stop obedience after a CD.

Brindlewonderkid - mBiF, group winning, AKC Dual Ch (FC, Ch), RN (two first places, one second), SC, MX, MXJ, EAC, EJC, OGC, AD, ASFA FCh, TDIA  (I think I got them all.    )  He's also been ranked in AKC agility stats for his breed for 6 or 7 years running in the top 3.

Tri-ing - Ch, SC, AX, AXJ, RN, ASFA FCh, NAC, NJC, CGC, TDIA  

 The Malinois has her AX, AXJ and just got her first double Q this weekend.  I think she lacks one or two legs for her MXJ.

Zpuppy - at 10 months doesn't have any titles, but she has done a few nursing home visits and is pointed towards her CH and is in agility training. 

Well so far Bear or Jake don't have any titles.  We were scheduled for a CKC good citizenship but I got deployed to Afghanistan   But when I get back I want to finish that and then really get to work with them both.  I want to get Jake certified as a therapy dog.  And get Bear a weight pulling title.

Well, since an old thread got brought up, I won't miss a chance to brag.  *wink*

Luke has his NAC, NCC, NJC, TN-N, TG-N & WV-N -- All which add up to his Novice Versatility Award.

He's also earned his OAC and this weekend should finish up his TN-O and TG-O.

My dog center is having a CGC & Therapy Dog test next month and I've thought about putting Luke through it just to say he has it.  I don't see any problems with him passing it.

I wanted to get Kayla CGC certified and able to become a therapy dog but I can't afford the classes right now... :o( Any suggestions??

The CGC is only like $10 I think, you don't need to take classes for it, just pass the test.  Our local shelter offers the test a few times a year.  Same with pet assisted therapy.  I took a class, but it really depends on your local club and the requirements.  Many of the local places the therapy dogs go require certain classes or tests, but not all do.  I took a class and a test because most of our local places only invite dogs from the local therapy club, and to join the club you have to take the class and pass the test.  However, other places require you to be tested by Delta, which is a different test than the one our therapy club uses. 

I made another thread here called "Doggie Embarrassement?" and this is the main reason why I don't want to go take the test because I think she'd fail...

Very distracted it seems when in public... needs multiple times of me repeating the command and I can sense frustration.

Classes here are SO EXPENSIVE...

*goes to find other thread* 

No titles here. I am totally new to all of this. Veronica however has been in class since she was a puppy; and she is now 19 months.

We are having fun with obedience, rally obedience and especially agility. I have tremedous performance anxiety, but if we ever got good enough and there was something nearby I might consider competing.

I may try to have her get her CGC in the spring, but we have some major overzealous greeting behaviors to work on:

"Stand quietly at your side Mom?...and disappoint my adoring public? I don't think so!"

I also will  find the embarrassment thread!

Yay look at all these great doggy owners finding ways to spend time with their dogs!! :)

CGC - I'd like Logan to get it.  But, the only thing we'd need to work on is he doesn't like to be left with a stranger without me, a weim trait, but we're working on it.  Were up to about 30 seconds without him freaking out.

 Logan is now in Rally though and doing really well with it and I think I'm gonna add Nik into a "training tricks" class for fun, I think she'd love it.

Yay - doggies and titles good work guys!! I'm looking forward to picking all your brains when we hit a speed bump!
 

Sera_J

Hey, I started wondering, since we are all so passionate about our dogs and working with them, how many of us participate in organized sporting events with them or are actively in classes or attaining titles? How about therapy?  Working? And if not, what do you consider your dogs job? 

    My hounds are first and foremost hunting dogs, however I do occasionally enter them in field trials and conformation shows. I have one finished show champion who actually hunts (AKC/UKC CH. CCH. Camma Farms Vanity Fair) and another who has been placing in UKC and some AKC field trials. The show champion is currently being given time in the field and I may try her out at SPO trials next year. If not, then no skin off my back, because she still gets the job done for me  It's nice to see how my breeding stock stacks up against other good dogs of their breed, and can definitely be a thrilling experience for me and the dogs alike - they seem to know a trial isn't just an ordinary day out running bunnies.

     That being said, I don't raise or breed my hounds for the show ring or field trials of any format. There are always trends in the breed in both venues, judges that prefer certain types or styles of hunting that may not be best for the breed. I consider my dogs to be working dogs and companions, not competition dogs. There is nothing more satisfying than taking my own pack out and getting the chance to essentially run with them while they puzzle out the scent and give chase ... it's an experience that's difficult to describe, but very exhilirating. Sometimes trials suck the fun right out of it, depending on the other dog/people there or how far I have to travel, expenses, etc.
       

Since the start of this thread, Emma has gotten her RN. Yesterday, she got her first RA leg. We've decided to hold off on traditional obedience, for now. I'm  going to train her through Open, before I enter her in Novice. I want her to have more time to be comfortable with dog shows and strangers handling her. She's doing very well, but it'll always be tough for her to be approached by a stranger and accept handling. She's also VERY not ready to do two classes in one day. Dog shows are exhausting!