NORWEGIAN BUHUNDS
It is a long time since I wrote about Rally in these notes, so I was very pleased receive a piece from Bethany Guillod Rees telling me that she and Ruby aka Draccus Obsidian had taken part in Talking Dogs Rally (TDR).Launched in 2010 TDR is the only rally organisation in the UK specially devised for Pet Dogs and their owners, allowing natural movements so maintaining balance throughout the course with dogs working on both the left and right sides. The organisation colour codes their signs to show clearly what level of difficulty the teams can expect, they also print on the back of each sign what is required. The competition is based on Rally-Obedience started by Charles Kramer in USA in 2000.The TD version, brings fun, practical challenges to the teams with the sport helping them to learn practical challenges. Competitors start with 200 points and try to lose as few points as possible as they do the various exercises round the course .TDR welcomes handlers of all ages and abilities, pedigree dogs and crossbreeds, with puppy classes starting at 6months and veterans. The main difference between RKC Rally and TDR is that in TDR teams compete against their own previous scores rather than each other and is it solely for pet dogs with no profession trainers or handlers taking part. Like RKC Rally there are six levels but with TDR there are also nine different classes, so dogs and handlers will be kept busy for years .
Bethany wrote , “Ruby and I obtained an outstanding achievement on 26th January at Risby Village Hall, Risby, Bury St Edmunds ,where we achieved our first Rally Title (TDR1) .We had 2 out of 2 qualifying scores, one of which was outstanding on the 23rd June last year ( Ruby’s third birthday).Then at the competition on the 26th Jan which was my 10th birthday we again had 2 out of 2 qualifying scores which gave us the Level 1 title, at our first attempt 100% success. It all started as a result of Jacqueline Cobb’s ‘Have A Go Rally’ at the Bu club fun day back in Spring last year where we won the class, narrowly beating Ruby’s mum Eris ! We also had another go at the ‘Family Dog Day at Ben’s Yard’ in Ely Cambridgeshire, they had a ‘Have A Go Rally Ring’ hosted by TDR, who spotted our enthusiasm and suggested we registered and signed up for a trial.Ruby behaved well, and the judge of the 4th qualifier said she was highly intelligent and has great potential in Rally”. Congratulations Bethany and Ruby will look forward to hearing of more successes.
Back to showing, on the same day but much further west in Wales, Cardiff Canine Society held a 200-class open show in the Merthyr Leisure Centre, Merthyr Tydfil. BOB and G3 was Konner Owens Leggatts Night Fever (Kuma) handled as usual by Millie Lambert. RBOB & BOS was Sue Crocker’s Leggatts Voulez Vous (Tissy) the judge was Dr Ian Gabriel (Gaybryl),who judged the Group and all the breeds in the group except the Boder Collies, so had a busy day.
The following weekend it was the Isle of Ely Canine Society Two Day Premier Open Show held at the Oakridge Arena ,Collinghan, Newark Saturday 1st February was the Gundog , Working & Pastoral Day. Jenny Shorer- Wheeler took her Ch Koromandel Tusen Takk JW (ai) (Muchly) and puppy Knytshall Thistle Ink It up Koromandel (Inky), no breed classes so they represented the breed in AVNSC judged by Pauline Luxmoore-Ball (Hushwing). Inky was BP AVNCSC gaining a Junior Warrant point and was shortlisted in the Puppy Group also judged by Pauline . Muchly was BOB gaining another point towards his Show Certificate of Excellence, so another good day for the breed, although Jenny said it took her a while to thaw out fully as it was another cold show!
The following day it was down south for the 312 class East Kent Canine Society Show, held in The Market Hall, Lockmead Market Maidstone Kent. Again, first in the ring but rather colder than Manchester as it was -2 but at least it was light! The show had breed classes for the first time which the club supported. The judge was Penny Roberts (Archaeus) who gives CCs in 4 Utility Breeds and 3 Pastoral and is on our judges list. BOB was Maddie Norman’s Ch Arnscroft Delilah at Veekay (Lottie) with RBOB & BOS Marie Corin and Adam Camm’s homebred Mazads Nom De Plume(Dexter). Iain Forbes (Wellneuk) judged the group awarding G4 to a thrilled Maddie’s Lottie.
MargaretDeuchar margaretdeuchar@gmail.com
Any views expressed in Margaret’s Breed Notes are hers and hers alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Norwegian Buhund Club of the UK