Stockbury Dog Club Display Team 2009

Display at Godmersham May Fayre Sunday 3rd May 2009

For their first display of the year the team travelled to the Godmersham May Fayre which was being held in support of the local church at Godmersham Park Nr Canterbury .

Out of the team only two handlers and dogs had previously taken part in a display these "old hands" were Cheryl with Charles and Brenda with Chester. The other, most likely apprehensive, six handlers and dogs were Carol with Katie, Mark with Maise, Helen with Larry, Jo with Max, Phil with Millie and Di with Gus.

 
Starting at approximately 3:40pm the handlers and dogs soon settled in to the routine demonstrating how a group of pet dogs and can work well together in close proximity carrying out various obedience commands.

It is always nice to see the dogs left in position by the handlers and an opportunity for the spectators to not only see the good control but also to see the dogs more clearly and appreciate the variety of breeds within the team.

Mick who is the group's trainer gave the commentary and was very pleased with the way the team performed.

Unless we get an earlier request the next display will be at Labrador Rescue Fun Day on Sunday 5th July.
 

Display Lord Whisky Sanctuary Fun Day Saturday 13th June 2009

For the second display this year, the team found themselves off to the Lord Whisky Animal Sanctuary in Stelling Minnis, for their annual Dog Fun Day fundraising event.   Fortunately the weather was warm and sunny so the event was very well attended.

The team today was Cheryl with Charlie, Brenda with Chester, Carol with Katie, Mick with Maisie, Su with Max, Ann with Mizzi, Terry with Alfie, Teresa with Holly and Di with Gus.

The event was running on time so there wasn’t too much opportunity for any nerves before we started.  As Mark was still out of action, Mick had to do a bit of multi-tasking and work Maisie whilst giving the commentary at the same time.  He managed to make it look easy, doing an excellent job of both!  The team ran through their linked series of obedience commands with the dogs, who seem to enjoy performing and proved that it is possible for any dog owners to train their dogs to a reasonable standard of socialisation and obedience. Di with Gus joined in at the end, having got lost on the way, and arrived there thinking that we had just started, when in fact, we had almost finished!!  Well done Di!

With the performance over, Anne presented Margaret Todd of the Lord Whisky Animal Sanctuary with a donation from our club.

The team seem to be in demand this summer and the next displays will be in two weeks’ time on Saturday 27th June when we will be at Wateringbury School Fete followed by Trottiscliffe Fete.

Thanks to John for taking the photos and Su for the report.
 

Displays at Wateringbury School Fete and Trottiscliffe School Fete Saturday 27th June 2009

The team first went to Wateringbury Primary School’s fete arriving at 12:30 and starting their display at 1:00pm. The fete was very well attended with lots going on which was a good test of the dogs concentration. It was a very hot day which always makes working the dogs harder also Mick could not give his commentary as the PA system did no cover the display ring. The team completed their display but the dogs were not at their best and everybody was pleased to get back into the shade.

We then all moved on to a local road where we could park the cars and walk along a footpath crossing a field to a nice shady spot with a stream, just right for the dogs and handlers to relax and cool off.

All that relaxing watching the water flow by in the stream brings on a thirst. So next stop a pub!

Then on to Trottiscliffe Primary School Fete for the second display of the day which was due to start at 4:30pm

The weather was more overcast by then and a bit cooler, still hot but much more comfortable for the dogs.

With the team reassembled it was time to start the display. (Click for video - Warning 22MB - will take time to load - not suitable for dial up users file to large.)

Cheryl with Charles lead the team out followed by Carol with Katie, Brenda with Chester, Su with Max, Jo with Max, Phil with Millie, Helen with Larry, Judy with Jaz, Teresa with Holly, Carol with Megan and Di with Gus.

This time we had a working PA system, Mick was able to give his usual excellent commentary and the dogs and handlers responded by giving a good display appreciated by the people watching.

Before dispersing to make our way home we gathered for a team photo.

Thanks to the team for supporting the events and to our travelling spectators, it is always nice to see friends and family encouraging the team.

Next display will be at the Labrador Rescue Kent fete at Stockbury Playing Field on Sunday 5th July.

Display at Labrador Rescue Kent Fun Day Sunday 5th July 2009

The team was lead out by Cheryl with Charles followed by Carol with Katie, Brenda with Chester, Carole and Katy, Helen with Larry, Jo with Max, Phil with Millie, Carol with Megan, Teresa with Holly and Di with Gus.

Once the line up was complete the first part of the display which requires the dogs to go in the down at intervals so ending up in a diagonal across the display area.

Another part of the routine requires the dogs to walk closely together in a group so demonstrating the socialisation training they have had.

After forming up with the dogs in the sit the next exercise is to leave them and then recall the dogs simultaneously. 

Charles ended the display with another one of his special 'kisses' for Cheryl with the other dogs and handlers looking on.

Well done to the team for another display, fifth this year and also to Mick giving his usual informative commentary.

Display at Chart Sutton Saturday 11th July 2009

Display at Stockbury Village Fete Saturday 15th August 2009

 Time for the main display with Mick again doing the commentary he introduced the team into the arena. Cheryl with Charles, Brenda with Chester, Carole with Katie, Mark with Maise, Helen with Larry, Carol with Megan, Terry with Alfie and Di with Gus.
Once formed up in to a line they started the first part of the display, the diagonal downstay.
Another part of the display comprises recalling the dogs together but with alternate dogs going in opposite directions. The dogs can be seen in the photo ready to be recalled.
A new part was added to the routine for this display which required two lines of dogs to cross in a diagonal. This worked well and will probably become a regular part of the display.

The display ended with Charles doing his party piece before the team left the arena, well done team.
Mick commented that it was the best display this year. No pressure then for the next one at Lord Whisky.
 

Display at Lord Whisky Sanctuary Fete Saturday 12th September 2009

Also leaving Jack in the stand position and Roger walking around his dog at a distance of a few paces and leg weaves. In addition to this a couple of jump routines were added for this display to show off lead control and create more movement.

Then on with the main display, as there was an odd number Roger with Jack joined the main display for the first time another first time appearance was Sophie with Brenda's dog Chester as Brenda as unavailable.
So the team for this display was Cheryl with Charles, Sophie with Chester, Carole with Katie, Mark with Maise, Judith with Jaz, Carol with Megan, Terry with Alfie and Roger with Jack.
Expectation was high after a good display at Stockbury and the team performed well at least maintaining the standard.
All the dogs worked well hardly putting a paw wrong.
Click to view video clip (9MB) of some of the elements in the display.
For this display a couple of new elements were added. After the group downstay the dogs are called out into a circle at this point a recall cross over has been added plus after Charles has completed his party piece the dogs are now sent through a tunnel before exiting the ring.
Thanks to Mick for the informative commentary which makes the display 'come to life' also well done to the team for supporting the event and putting on such a good display and a special well done to our young handler Sophie who did a great job standing in for Brenda.

The team have now completed eight displays this year have the last venue, Belmont House Country Fair, to attend on Sunday 27th September where they are scheduled to do a display in the morning and the afternoon.
 

Display at Belmont House Country Fair Sunday 27th September 2009

The display format was the same as Lord Whisky with Roger with Jack doing a short routine of basic commands then a couple of tricks followed by sequences using jumps and a tunnel.
This was followed by the main display with Cheryl with Charlie in the lead followed by Brenda with Chester, Carole with Katie, Mark with Maise, Carol with Megan, Helen with Larry and Di with Gus.

For the afternoon display the format was the same but there were a few team changes. Mark with Maise dropped out as Mark had to return home but Terry with Alfie, Anne with Mizze, Jo with Max and Phil with Millie joined the team.
Mick gave his normal informative commentary and the people watching seemed to enjoy seeing the team working their dogs. As many of the spectators were dog owners they could appreciate how difficult it is to get a group of pet dogs of various breeds to work with all the distractions going on around them. Well done the team.

This completed the team's 2009 display season which again was well supported by the members and showcased the type of training and the commitment put in by the handlers to get their dogs to a level of social obedience to cope with everyday situations.
In summary the team gave 10 displays during the year at eight different locations involving 17 different handlers and 15 different dogs with team size varying between 7 and 11 at any one display.