The Companion Dog title: My journey

My beginner novice obedience title at 11 months old

Selene’s diary: The first time in the obedience ring, I was 11 months old. It was a local show, so I got to come home every night. It was big and noisy. Mom took me there the day before to practice showed me around. The exercises were not difficult if I pay attention and the judges are not scary like Sophie said. They just barely touched my head. I got my obedience title with a 195.5/3rd plac, 196/2nd place and a 197/1st place.

Mom and I continued to go to clas and practiced at petswest on Fridays. I like going to petswest since mom will usually pick up some pig ears for us.

A month or so passed by, and we went to Abilene. It was scary, I had never been there, and no practice, we went into the ring. Right after the stand for exam exercise, I was so scared that I ran out of the ring and back into my crate. I felt better on Saturday and I got a Q (qualifying score). Mom told me a long as I pay attention, I can do it. I almost Qed Sunday but I lied down on the sit exercise. I was very tired and ready to go home. This is also the first time I stayed at a hotel with mom without Sophie and Spencer.

We continued to practice and another month passed. This time we went to Oklahoma City and stayed with dad’s parents. They have a big yard for me to run around. The also have a cat who wants to run me off. We got to the show site the day before, and we practiced and mom showed me around, telling me not to run out of the ring again. Our ring was next to a ring with dogs chasing rats (barn hunt) and it was very interesting and there were people walking around with food. I was distracted and only got one Q.

A 3rd plac score in Abilene 

Then mom said, we need to work harder to get me out of novice so we can learn more new things. She said I need to pay more attention and not look around. Another month or so have passed by. This time we went to Leander. This place is very packed and small. But we got there the day before and I got to practice some. Mom said I just need to do the same thing the next day.

We got there on the morning, and mom kept saying to me that I need to pay attention. I finally got my last Q needed and got my Companion Dog title. I could have gotten first place but I sat up during the long down just a tad too soon. Mom said this is my obedience goal for this year, and we celebrated going to the Golden Arches.

2nd place and CD title.