Agility!
Gizmo has accomplished quite a bit since her first agility fun matches and she is having a blast. She loves agility, and is such an enthusiastic participant. She enjoys every obstacle, but especially loves the weave poles. Gizmo has earned several Agility titles with the CKC and UKC, and has earned her Agility Dog of Canada and Starters Games Dog of Canada in AAC as well.
Gizmo earned her UKC UR01 title June 2013 at Premier in Kalamazoo. Since she also received an Award of Excellence in the Conformation ring this qualified Gizmo for the UKC Total Dog Award, and was the only Berger Picard to qualify. With all of Gizmo's successes in the conformation ring and her enthusiasm for Rally-O, she has received several Total Dog Awards. Gizmo is so cheerful in the Rally ring, I have had ring stewards and spectators comment on how happy she is, and how she smiles all the way through the course! She loves to learn, and she loves to please. Rally Obedience offers us a nice variety of behaviours with a new course every time, which really appeals to the dogs as they dislike too much repetition. Finding CKC Rally trials has been more difficult for us, but Gizmo has earned her CKC Novice and Intermediate Rally Obedience titles. She also has her first leg towards her UKC UR02 title, which is done completely off leash with more difficult exercises. We really put her to the test for her first UR02 trial, with a trial ring that had a cat show behind the curtain all along one wall, and pony rides behind the curtain along the end wall! If she can qualify in a ring like that, I am confident that her UR02 title is in her near future! With the scarcity of UKC and CKC rally competitions, we are now working on Rally Obedience in CARO as well, and Gizmo has earned her Novice title with CARO. |
Herding!
Gizmo easily passed her Herding Instinct Test in April 2012. She loves herding, and has a wonderful intuition for her traditional job. It is amazing to see a dog that has never seen sheep go in the pen and know so intuitively what they are there to do.
Berger Picards are traditionally perimeter herders, as well as guardians of the flock. We were fortunate to be able to take Gizmo to a border tending clinic which gave her the opportunity to practice perimeter herding. This is unfortunately not something we have been able to find close to home. |
Nose Work!
While at the UKC Premier in 2013, the dogs had a chance to try a Nose Work demonstration. It is a wonderful activity that combines using their nose and solving a puzzle. Gizmo loves food and puzzles, so it was the perfect activity for her! We have recently begun training with the Sporting Detection Dogs Association, and Gizmo has already earned her first certificate!
Another fun nose game we tried at Premier was Barnhunt, where the dogs have to find a (well protected and completely safe) rat which has been hidden in a course of hay bales. Both Ekeko and Gizmo were successful and enthusiastic, but my hands were full, so sadly, no pictures! We have recently located Barn Hunt classes and are looking forward to more of these types of activities. |
Dock Diving!
Gizmo tried her paw at dock diving this summer. The facility where we train for agility and rally installed a wonderful dock diving pool and the dogs joined in the opening celebrations. Although they love water, and have spent lots of time jumping in and swimming in the lake, jumping in a clear blue pool is something that takes a bit more coaxing. Gizmo enjoyed her dip in the pool, but I think we will leave the dock diving competitions to the very enthusiastic Retrievers, Gun Dogs and Water Dogs.
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CKC Canine Good Neighbour!
Temperament is very important to us, and so we are particularly proud of Gizmo earning her Canine Good Neighbour certificate this summer at the CKC show in Kars, Ontario. The CGN test is a series of obedience and temperament tests which includes meeting strangers, other dogs, staying alone while the owner is out of sight, recall from a distance, walking through crowds, reaction to distractions, with a total of 12 different tests.
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