On the 12th December we had a morning of games and competitions to end off training for the year. We got to put some of the training into practise when we timed the puppies and intermediate dogs to see which dog could be recalled the fastest to its owner and which could sit and lie down the fastest on cue. The advanced dogs had great fun in a retrieve competition with the finalists, who had successfully retrieved a toy, a dumbell, a scent cloth and a plastic bottle, having to retrieve a piece of dried chicken!
Our advanced dogs also performed a short demonstration so that the younger classes could see what we are aiming for in training. Perhaps what was most impressive about the advanced dogs though, was that when we got them to compete to see which dog would remain in a down stay for the longest despite all sorts of distractions being thrown at them (including the owners clapping and running on the spot, those of us without dogs calling them, pushing a trolley in front of them and throwing a ball past their noses) none of them moved!
A definite highlight of the morning was when Debbie, the fundraising manager for The Emma Animal Rescue Society, came to accept our Christmas gift for TEARS and to chat to us briefly about the organisation. We handed over more than 28 Rogz half-check collars for walking and training the TEARS dogs, as well as 6 beds specially suitable for the kennels, blankets and an assortment of tinned and dried foods. Thanks so much to all of you who gave so generously towards this worthy cause!
