Friday morning, Sept 9, Kim and I drove to Hurricane to watch the dog show being held there. Though I’ve watched dog shows on TV, I’ve never attended one in person. It was a good experience.
When we got there, we unloaded our crates, took them in then brought our dogs in. There is a definite protocol that seems to emphasize order. No dogs were running amok! Handlers were practicing in the open area outside the rings but everyone was courteous and had control of their dogs. We met up with Loni and a little later Jessi and Gayle joined us to cheer on Team Loni/Shadow!
The building we were in had two rings. They were both going at the same time. I took turns watching each one. One was utility (I think that’s what they called it). It was fascinating to watch the dogs fetch objects, jump, obey hand commands, etc. I learned that if a major error is made it’s a disqualification. For example, one of the dogs failed to retrieve an item so that was a disqualification. I also learned the judge could allow them to finish even though they were disqualified. I thought that was interesting. I gave the handlers credit for not giving up and walking out. Only those who qualified went on to the next round. Then those who qualified entered the ring after competing, the scores were tallied and the places announced.
The other ring was for rally. The handlers took their dogs through what I’d call an obstacle course, following signs that prompted them to have their dogs obey certain commands. They were going in circles, sitting, jumping, backing up and so on. There were some disqualifications as the dogs did not respond to the command given but the handlers still finished the course, most with a smile on their face! In this particular ring, I learned time was also a factor. They received a score for the performance and the amount of time it took to complete. The fastest, most accurate team took the first place ribbon.
I also learned there is a steward posted at each ring. I’m not totally clear on what they do but it seems they are there to help the judge. It looks like they keep things moving, take care of administrative duties and keep an eye on the ring from outside.
For the most part, it seemed as though everyone was enjoying being in the show, regardless of the outcome. Whether they took first or were disqualified, they had good attitudes and kept on smiling. It was very classy!
Here are some general observations I made:
*When the judges were handing out awards they referred to the handler and their dog as a team. The first time I heard them announce a team number, it didn’t make sense. Then I realized they were talking about the handler and their dog. I love that! Roxanne often reminds me that Molly and I are a team. Now I get it! They definitely need to work together to be successful.
*There seemed to be a lot of dogs who are treat trained. The handlers had a fistful of snacks for the dogs as they warmed up outside the ring. Since we’re not taught to treat train, it was interesting to watch. Those dogs go nuts for treats!
*There were a wide variety of breeds in the same competition. It was fun to watch a tiny Dachshund run through the same drills as a standard poodle or a Golden Retriever.. They had to adjust the jumping post to accommodate the size of the each dog. It was entertaining to say the least.
*The EF was way different than how I’ve been trained. To let the dog know that an exercise is over, I’ve been taught to heel Molly in an AS. I was confused when the handlers ended an exercise by jumping in the air, petting their dog, letting the dog jump up on them and other playful behaviors. Then they’d calm the dog down to get ready for the next exercise. It’s just a completely different method of training.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the show. Even more exciting is how well Loni and Shadow did. Not surprising. They are an awesome team! I’m looking forward to attending another show. I know I’ll learn more each time I go.
