Kathleen Keller: It was magical. I was so very proud of Willie! Despite the crowd, all the lights and the noise, he was not nervous at all when we set up for the demo. He did a beautiful Drop on Recall and joyfully retrieved his dumbbell. He even got a little silly, retrieving his leash. I could not have asked for more from him.
Kathleen Keller: I started with two Shetland Sheepdog puppies in a pet obedience class, and one of those puppies became my first competition dog. I have been competing in Obedience for 30 years. During that time, I have had Shelties, Aussies, Tollers, and Papillons. All of them were trained and most of them were shown. I have (4) UDs, (4) OTCHs, and my youngest, another Sheltie, just earned her CDX.
Kathleen Keller: It is the challenge of getting precision and accuracy without sacrificing motivation. I love training! Competing at trials helps me to set my training goals.
Kathleen Keller: It is his ability to stay focused on me to the point that the environment around us disappears. Australian Shepherds are known to be “Velcro Dogs” and Willie is true to that trait. We have an inseparable bond.
Kathleen Keller: Find joy in the journey. Titles and ribbons don’t come easy in Obedience. It takes time and dedication, but the reward is 100-fold. My dogs have taught me just as much as I have taught them. Along the way, you develop a partnership with your dog that is demonstrated in the ring.
Notifications
