Limited Obedience Show ~ October 5th 2008
Pre-Beginner & Novice Critiques

Judge - Annegret Tack-Benton. Steward - Tracy

My thanks to Sheilagh Hyde & the committee for asking me to judge at their Single Breed with Limited Obedience show. This was my first official judging appointment at a KC Show. I have enjoyed my day, as I hope everyone else has. We were well looked after by Sheilagh and the Committee. Thank you!

BIG THANK YOU TO TRACY for stewarding & putting the competitors at ease. Some of them very new to the obedience ring as were their dogs.
Tracy did her first ever stewarding appointment for me at this show, stewarding 2 different classes. I hope she hasn't been put off by the rain today. I would like to congratulate her on an outstanding performance! The first of many? Thanks mate.

Our lunch was most appreciated! Best Sunday lunch we had in a long while :) We’ll come again, Sheilagh ......

Pre-Beginners (6 entries, 6 worked)
Now for the important results. First of all: No broken stays today at all!!! That's a novelty, I think. :)
1st. DODGIN AMBER GAMBLER, WS handled by Miss A Duesbury. Lost 1.
Little wide on about turn in both sets of heelwork, a slight crooked sit in heel free and a slight off centre present in recall lost them their marks. An impressive performance from this young handler and dog team who will certainly go far based on today's picture. I believe they also left their mark in their second class today. Very Well done!

2nd. BOWSHELLA WALNUT OF GINNYLANDS, Golden Retriever handled by Mrs C Charlesworth. Lost 2½.
Little wide on about turn in both sets of heelwork, slight drifting in heel free and a slight off centre present in recall lost them their marks. Work on this & you will progress well with a very able dog and capable gentle handler. Lovely to see a different breed in my line up! Well done!

3rd. ANNIES SONG WS handled by Mrs C Archer. Lost 7½.
Crooked sits and very slow sits during and at the end of both sets of heelwork, a fair bit of drifting in both sets of heelwork but less in heel free. A couple of very wide about turns and a messy present and finish were very costly today. Most costly though were handler errors. Watch those long coats and crooked lines as well as stepping into your dog.

4th. LITTLETHORN ROLLS ROYCE AT BROOKSBID, BC handled by Mrs J Lloyd. Lost 17.
A lot of drifting & wide turns as well as very loose heel free and untidy present & finish in recall the main faults. Lovely attitude from a young dog and handler new to this game. Well done for having a go.

5th. DORVALE CUSTOM MAID, BC handled by ??? (Sorry your name was washed away :)). Lost 24.
This team have a nice relationship, with a reasonable recall. This lovely dog probably wasn't too sure what the handler wanted her to do. Don't give up on her, teach her the basics and enjoy your dog. Well done on having a go!

6th. JOHNASTA DANC N DOLL, King Charles Cavalier handled by J Williams. Lost 37.
This team certainly won the cuteness prize! Lexi came for a day out and her mum thought she may as well have a go in the obedience ring. Well done. Unfortunately mum used a rather short lead, so we had lots of tight lead with Lexi coming on and off mum's leg all the way through. In heel free, Lexi decided to have a good old wander and sniff about and her recall was interesting too, with a little sitting up for beg. She certainly is a character. Thanks for being a good sport, both of you.


Novice (21 entries, 6 worked & 2 trained)
Now for the important results. First of all: No broken stays today at all!!! That's another novelty, I think. :)
1st. SHEPWOOD ALL GOOD AND GRACE, BC handled by Mrs S Hyde. Lost 1½.
A slight crooked sit at the end of heel on lead, little wide on about turn in second set of heelwork and coming off the handler's leg, with bit of mouthing and slightly untidy finish lost them their marks. The only clear recall of the day saved the day for this team! Very well done!

2nd. DYNAMO JOE, WS handled by Mrs J Duesbury. Lost 2.
A slight crooked sit at the start of heel on lead, little inconsistency on turns in second set of heelwork, with bit of mouthing and slightly untidy finish lost them their marks. The recall was just a touch untidy on finish, second best recall of the day saved the day for this team! Very well done!

3rd. SHEPWOOD MORNING SHADOW, BC handled by Mrs H Dodd. Lost 2½
Again a slight crooked sit in heel on lead, little inconsistency in second set of heelwork, with bit of mouthing and slightly untidy finish lost them their marks. The recall was just a touch untidy on finish. Very well done! This dog was my favourite, as he offered to kiss the judge, so he certainly passed my temperament test :)

4th. GOYTRE CHANCE TO DREAM, BC handled by Mrs J Chance. lost 30.
Another dog, which had a go at obedience, I believe. Certainly a nice dog to look at and if the handler keeps up the work that she has started on, she will get much enjoyment out of this dog. Heelwork needs the basics, whereas set exercises need only polishing to give you better marks than today. Well done for giving it a go.

Only four competitors in line-up, as some withdrew before stays or gone home before stays after a long cold and at the start wet day.
One word on another lovely dog: Sheilagh Hyde's young dog, Tanner, a lovely Golden Retriever, worked a lovely round with bags of attitude and style to die for! He was on the next best mark after the round in the ring! Unfortunately, Tanner doesn't do stays yet, so Sheilagh very sensibly withdrew him at the point of going into stays, not to spoil it for everyone else. Thanks, Sheilagh and good luck for those stays in the future.

Thanks to all competitors for accepting my judgment and for being patient with us, when we had to wait for breed judging to be done first.