Ted searches containers. Photo © Robin French
Kanga jumps. Photo © Walter Wrobel
Levi running with dumbbell.
Ted alerts to bag on table (exterior) Photo © Robin French
a bag on the picnic table and lay on top of it to indicate his find. To pass the Master Vehicle search, “Ted” had to find four hides on seven cars and trucks while ignoring two distractions (beef jerky!) and do it in less than eight minutes. Ted did his first search in three minutes, 28 seconds and his second in four minutes, 30 seconds. That second search was among four large pickup trucks, one large, unwashed and smelly horse trailer and two mini-vans. There were three “hides” on the second search, one on the horse trailer and one on the front and one on the back of the same pickup truck. His handler thought there could not be two hides on the same vehicle, but she trusted her Pom’s nose. Can they do nosework? Pomera- nians have noses! Flyball is sometimes called “drag racing for dogs.” This is a team relay effort, with four dogs going over four jumps, catching a ball that pops out of a spring-loaded box and racing back over the jumps again. Second Chance Kanga ONYX is currently rated #6 in Flyball Pomeranians. His retired “brother,” Second Chance Pippin FDGCh MBDCh Iron Dog AXJ still holds the #1 spot for Flyball Poms. (There is yet a third Pom doing flyball from that household, Second Chance Alfie FM MBDX. All
were rescues.) If you have heard the loudest barkers ever, all in full voice at the same time, you may have heard the excitement that dogs feel as they anticipate their turn to run. Can they do flyball? Pomeranians love to race! ABOUT THE AUTHOR When I was very young, my grand- mother had a black Pomeranian and I adored “Totty.” Fast forward to 1987, when I decided to get a dog with which to do Obedience competi- tion and selected a Pomeranian. Since that time, when I tell people why I got a Pom, they blanch, turn silent and back away. (“Maybe it’s catching!”) But my ignorance proved bliss, since all of my Poms have enjoyed Obedi- ence work and have done well and I enjoy training and showing them. When Rally came along, I found it an interesting counterpart to Obedience and began training for that as well, becoming a Rally judge as soon as that was possible. I was able to judge the first AKC Rally titling class in the state of Texas on January 7, 2005, at a cold, windy outdoor trial south of Houston. In addition to judging, I showed and titled my own four Pomeranians dur- ing that year and my Tiffany became the first RE and then the first RAE
Pomeranian. In March of 2013, I was honored to be one of the judges for the first AKC National Rally Competition in Tulsa, OK. I continue to train and show my current three Pomeranians and one Papillon in both Obedience and Rally, sports which I find to be complementary to each other. In addition to training, showing and judging, I founded and run Second Chance Poms, a 501c3 Pomeranian Rescue group in south Texas. I am also on the Board of Directors of the Amer- ican Pomeranian Club. Besides AKC Rally, I judge UKC and ASCA Rally and Obedience. I do Pet Therapy with two of my current dogs and am a Tester/ Observer for Therapy Dogs, Inc.
T op N otch T oys , F ebruary 2017 • 67
Powered by FlippingBook