Kanga jumps. Photo © Walter Wrobel
Ted searches containers. Photo © Robin French
Ted alerts to bag on table (exterior) Photo © Robin French
Levi running with dumbbell.
Nosework title. For an Exterior search, Ted found 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 4 hides on 7 cars and trucks while ignoring 2 distrac- tions (beef jerky!) and do it in less than 8 minutes. Ted did his first search in 3 min- utes, 28 seconds and his second in 4 minutes, 30 seconds. Th at second search was among 4 large pickup trucks, one large, unwashed and smelly horse trailer and 2 mini-vans. Th ere 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? Pomeranians have noses! FLYBALL is sometimes called “drag racing for dogs.” Th is is a team relay e ff ort, with 4 dogs going over 4 jumps, catch- ing 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. ( Th ere is yet a 3rd Pom doing Flyball from that household, Second Chance Alfie FM MBDX. All were
rescues.) If you have heard the loudest bark- ers 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 grandmother had a black Pomeranian and I adored “Tot- ty.” Fast forward to 1987, when I decided to get a dog with which to do Obedience compe- tition 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 Obedience 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 fi rst 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 during that year and my Ti ff any became the fi rst RE and then the fi rst RAE Pomeranian. In March of 2013, I was honored to be one of the judges for the fi rst
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 fi nd 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 American Pomeranian Club. Besides AKC Rally, I judge UKC and ASCA Rally and Obedience. I do Pet Th erapy with two of my current dogs and am a Tester/ Observer for Th erapy Dogs, Inc.
Barbara McClatchey. Photo © Springfield Photography
196 • S HOW S IGHT M AGAZINE , M ARCH 2015
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