2024 OBEDIENCE AND TRIALS OCTOBER 19 & 20 , 2024
Obedience trials are designed to test the dog’s suitability as a good companion. Basic tests include heeling (on and off lead), Sit, Stand, Stay and coming when called. At more advanced levels, dogs are asked to jump, retrieve, respond to signals, and identify and retrieve articles carrying their handlers’ scent. Each level of Obedience competition ‑Novice, Open and Utility – requires mastering a specific skill set, which increase in difficulty, before advancing to the next level. All contestants in a class are required to perform the same exercises in substantially the same way so that the relative quality of various performances may be compared and scored.
The objective of Rally is to provide a fast-moving and motivational activity that demonstrates the competency of handler and dog in performing basic obedience exercises. In Rally, you and your dog heel through a timed course of stations and perform the specific obedience exercises indicated on each sign. Each sign displays a skill to perform, such as turns or behaviors like sit, down, or stay. The dog and handler work together and should show a sense of teamwork and enthusiasm throughout the course. The performance is timed, but it’s not about being fast. Instead, it’s about accuracy, control, and teamwork. As the class levels progress, so does the difficulty and therefore the training required. There are four different levels of Rally Obedience to work through; Novice which is performed with your dog on a lead, then Advanced, Excellent and Masters, all of which are performed off lead.
JUDGES
Marie Sawford (OB, RA)
Marie Sawford Marie has been training dogs since 1987. She has competed with her BC’s, Golden Retriever and Norwegian Buhund earning GMOTCH, OTCh’s and over 500 HITs along the way. Her first dog OTCH McCann Megan AG.X Am UD was the #1 Obedience dog in Canada in 1998 and her Golden GMOTCH Windrows Do U Believe in Magic AG. I WC RE Am CDX WC was the #1 Obedience dog in Canada in 2005. Currently BC’s “Jett”, “Trew” and young “Rhys” are doing Obedience, Rally, Scent and Herding at various levels. Marie began judging Rally Obedience in 2007 and Obedience in 2013.
Susie Bell (OB, RA)
I want to Thank the Caledon Kennel Association for asking
asking me to judge Rally Obedience and Obedience.
1980 we had our first Labrador Retriever litter under the prefix “Pinebank Kennel” and in 1984 Pinebank Kennel became Permanent Registered with the CKC. Since then we strive to produce Labradors that can do it all! We had a couple of Irish Water spaniels and I trained a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in Obedience. I love to work with my dogs and they teach us a lot about ourselves and life.
Training my pups has lead to teaching and now judging. I have enjoyed judging all levels of CKC Obedience, Rally Obedience, Working Certificate Tests, Hunt Tests and Canine Good Neighbour Tests and I have judged the Puppy Stake at the LOC Field Trial and Junior Handling for both Obedience and Conformation as well as Sweep
Stakes for the Irish Water Spaniel Association of Canada and Atlantic Labrador Retriever Club. I have been the Canine Good Neighbour Rep for Zone 6 and have been the Obedience Rep for the CKC. A few years ago I was a Director for University of Guelph Pet Trust and held positions on the Board of LOC and Hamilton Dog Obedience Club and Labrador Retriever Club of Canada.
My dogs and I have worked together to achieve Conformation Championships, Grand Master Obedience Trial Champion, Rally Master Obedience, Grand Master Hunter, Working Certificate Excellent Titles, TDX Tracking Titles and Canine Good Neighbour Titles. Five different dogs I have trained have been in the top 10 Obedience Dogs in Canada; 11 different dogs I have trained in Rally Obedience since it started and 12 Utility titles on different dogs, with 7 of those dogs received their
MOTCH.
Now that I am retired, my time is spent having fun with my dogs
and helping others with their dogs, training my dogs and I love it.
To do performance sports a dog has to be put together properly with good
Conformation and kept in good condition and loved!
Susan Bell
LOCATION: Agility World, Acton Ontario L7J 2X3