Showing and Obedience Competitions

Show venues abound throughout the state. A few hours south puts me in the Tri-Cities area which hosts several shows a year. Locally, we have 2 AKC double shows a year in conjunction with an Idaho double show making them 4 show weekends for obedience.  Seattle is 5 hours away and Portland an 8 hour drive.  When we do move to full acceptance, the area will afford me a very active show schedule be it obedience, conformation or agility, my latest endeavor. Currently, Abbotsford, BC is 6.5 hours away and allows me to show in Canada with full recognition. We are close to the Canadian border and a few "local" shows are held just across the border each year.  Calgary is a two day drive but well worth the effort and something we plan to continue in the future.  It is a beautiful show, well organized and of good size.

My husband and I plan to continue competing in obedience and confirmation.  We have been in classes of one kind or another for eight years as a recreational pursuit.  Additionally, I also was tracking with our female GSD's while in California with the plan to join a SAR's team but our move to Oregon pre-empted those plans. Klamath Falls did have a fantastic training facility so we had many opportunities both through classes and seminars to learn much more. Now we are ready to step into the competitive realm. We are both relatively new to the obedience ring and I am brand new to the confirmation ring. Stuart just began competing in 2005.  I have two ISD's nearly ready for Novice A now. When it comes to obedience, Stuart has his preference for German Shepherds and will likely always be working with his own GSD's. However, his patience and quiet, steady demeanor make him an excellent trainer and handler of my "softer" pups.  Once Stuart begins communicating, working and bonding with one of the dogs he generally follows through into the obedience ring.  He is currently working with Katina along with his dog VooDoo.  We are a nice balance as I prefer the harder animals with a little more independence.  I enjoy working with both the males Odinn and Midas as well as our youngster Samba.  All three demonstrate more spitz temperament, can handle correction and are mentally tough when compared to Katina and Nakita. I believe Stuart will be working with Nakita this spring.  This is likely to be the pattern in our kennel for years to come.

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