Online K9 Dogs, Training, Joys, Frustration and Life

The APDT Rally top 20 Rankings came out this weekend.  I know we did A LOT of rally last year.  We love it, I judge it, all three dogs enjoy the venue.  Kestrel is the #8 overall top 20 dog, #1 labrador in APDT rally for 2011, and Hawke, our dear stubborn, taught me ever so much Miss Hawke is the Top Veteran #1 RLVX dog for APDT 2011.  Kestrel is also the #5 ARCHMX dog and #20 RLV veteran.

Kestrel had to miss quite a bit of last year due to various injuries that still persist, she’s on a 30 day no jumping program right now.  To get to the top 20 , not even doing every single trial she could, is a great tribute to her willingness to work, and eagerness to do it right.

For Hawke to be the top veteran, it’s a dream come true.  2011 Was a great year for Hawke, she won her veteran’s class at the Lab Club of Greater Boston Specialty and earned her time in the sun in the Best of Breed ring, she finished her BN, and she did a lot of Rally that she really enjoyed, and earned her CD-C and one leg towards a U-CD.  She’s never been an easy dog, she’s not willfull or rowdy, she’s just stubborn.  She took puppy kindergarten multiple times, partially because of her clueless owner, partially because Hawke will do things when she’s good and darned ready.   She likes APDT Rally, and she likes CDSP obedience.  Probably because there are treats involved, if Hawke was a salesperson, she’d have to be on commission, she wants payback for everything she does.

At nearly 11 1/2 she still has it all going on, she likes to work, she likes to show off, and somedays she does a really good job.  She’s in the midst of recovering from a partial cruciate ligament tear on January 4th, but today she did CDSP obedience, with a jump heigh modification, and did really well.

I will cherish Hawke and Kestrel’s accomplishments for 2011.  To be nationally ranked is a true privilege.  These are dogs who are pets and companions first and foremost, but to see them achieve in competitive venues, its double chocolate dipped icing on the cake!