Obedience Trials

[jenn D]

Who here is competing in obedience trials? What age was your dog when you started obedience training and how old are they now?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Are we talking about AKC Obedience Trials with the goal of an Obedience Championship Title? I wish more doodle owners would do that. I do know of one doodle who has an Obedience Title, but the owner is not active here. 

[jenn D]

Yes, Karen that is what I am talking about. Brisby passed basic obedience class and will be starting advanced obedience class with the goal of doing trial/getting an AKC CD (companion dog) and eventually CDX (companion dog excellent) title (or whatever is equivalent for mixed breeds). I think Jake would do great with this as well as he has a strong work drive and an excellent heal position but we are still working on consistent come command before we start obedience class work with him.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I will be following your journey and cheering you on! 

[Cathy, Fozzie & Shaggy]

Fozzie and I started training when he was about 11 weeks old and went to classes sometimes 3 days a week for the first year.  We competed in our first Obedience trial when he was just over a year old.  I wish I had waited a bit longer, I was so very new at the sport, but....  Anyway, we didn't go to many trials, I didn't know what I was doing, we competed in 4 and Fozzie earned a CD and RN (Rally Novice) and has the first leg in Rally Advanced.  I've not trained like that in a couple years but hope to in the future and finish our Rally Advanced and maybe the next Obedience level.  I'm not sure when Shaggy may be ready :)

I did enjoy doing them but they can get costly.  Good luck!!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Oh wow, we do have a titled doodle here on DK! WTG! 

[Cathy, Fozzie & Shaggy]

Thanks, Karen!  

I really did enjoy the training and the bonding I had with Fozzie doing this together.  Then we started doing therapy work, which is where my heart is and what Fozzie does so well and priorities shifted:). Even if I don't compete again, I'll continue training to stay connected with other dog lovers and continue to have that bonding time with my boys.

I did think though, that others had a CD or Rally title...?  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

If so, I wish they'd honk their own horns a little bit about that, lol. These are accomplishments to really be proud about! 

[Cathy, Fozzie & Shaggy]

I agree!  Is there or was there ever a goup for "Doodles with Titles"?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

No, it would be a very small group, lol.

There is a therapy dog group, though. 

[Cathy, Fozzie & Shaggy]

I do love the Therapy Dog group and wouldn't be surprised if some of those dogs had obedience titles.  Perhaps one day there will be enough titled doodles to start a group of their own :)

[jenn D]

That's awesome! Thanks for sharing!