It is such a pleasure to stand at ringside being witness to a beautifully working team as they navigate around a rally course or follow the judge’s commands while making obedience look so easy. We know it isn’t just luck that got them to this point, let alone qualify with impressive scores.
Performance Rings And The Trials Within Them Read More »
During the month of May, Front & Finish celebrates pets. For me this seemed to be a perfect time to celebrate my own pets and to share with others some of the joy they have brought me and my family.
My Lifetime of Perfect Pets Read More »
I love doing obedience as a sport and I’ve been lucky enough to own biddable dogs. I’m proud of my dogs when people stop to watch my training, while marveling at the things they are doing. Even though my working dogs impress those who adore their pets, but aren’t really interested in formal obedience I am aware that I still have a long, long way to go to get to reach the top of the competitive obedience ladder.
Get Off My Property! Read More »
Years ago I was part of a drill team with my Golden retrievers and friends from our obedience school. We had a wonderful time and many of the people from that team are still good friends today.
Drilling for Motivation with Precision Paws Read More »
This article is not meant to be a lesson on how to obtain a trick dog championship. It is just the tale of my journey during the summer of 2020. A Canadian, senior, who loves playing and working with her dogs.
My Journey through the Pandemic Via Trick Dogs Read More »
To say that 2020 has been a difficult year is an understatement. The COVID pandemic disrupted the lives of millions of Americans, forcing them into their homes.
How Has COVID Affected Pet Adoptions Read More »
As we just released our most recent OTCH listing this month we though the following article would be fun. Initially published in September 1977 Front & Finish. Russell Klipple and His Golden Retriever “Morland’s Golden Tonka UD” accumulated enough points to become the first obedience champion on Saturday, July 23, 1977. The following day Topbrass Cisco Kid and his owner, Pauline Czarnecki, earned their obedience championship.
How it used to be… Southside All-Breed Dog Training Club Inc. held their 24th Annual Obedience Trial on October 31st, 1971, on the main floor of the spacious Amphitheatre in Chicago Illinois.
There was no witchcraft involved, but we were bewitched with an entry of 512, comprised of 420 dogs. Entries represented the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, and Iowa participated with n69 different breeds of dogs entered. Tied for first place for the largest entry were German Shepherd Dogs and Poodles with 76 dogs each.
Southside Entry 512!! Read More »
Remember Y2K? This one goes back a few years but their’s still some practical advice for Agility enthusiasts. ~ ~ ~ Welcome to Y2K! May this be a year full of fun and success for you and your agility teammate. The beginning of a New Year always makes us think of starting over fresh, beginning with a clean slate. So, in that spirit, let’s talk about starting off right with a new agility-prospect puppy. We get lots of questions from people who have never done agility before, but who want to do all the right things with their new pup. So, for those new handlers and new dogs here are a few good basics.
Look at this press release that came across my desk… Robots Could Replace Real Therapy Dogs ~ Robotic animals could be the ‘pawfect’ replacement for our real-life furry friends, a new study published today by the University of Portsmouth has found. Animals, especially dogs, can have therapeutic benefits for children and young people. A new paper, published in The International Journal of Social Robotics, has found that the robotic animal, ‘MiRo-E’, can be just as effective and may even be a better alternative.
Canine Robots Replacing Real Therapy Dogs Read More »
