THE SMITH FAMILY WEB PAGES

THE SMITH FAMILY WEB PAGES

Canine Obedience Page

Here at Tassietay we have always been more interested in Obedience competition than showing, though we have dabbled in the latter! I have had dogs since I was eleven years old when I had Border Collies, then went into Whippets which I both bred and showed. When my daughter Amanda (she prefers Manda) was two years old I decided I would like another dog to try my hand at Obedience competition. Having always loved the old 'shaggy mongrel' type, I fell for the Bearded collie, which in those days was not quite the 'glamour model' we see in the show rings today.

I bought Yager Isolda Twiggy in 1976 and at only eleven months old she won the local obedience clubs' (The Epsom Canine Training Society) pre-beginners trophy. Then at the Southern Counties Bearded Collie Clubs' first open show in l977, when still only 17mths old, she won both the pre-beginners and beginners obedience classes, as well as taking home the trophy for 'most promising dog and handler'. Unfortunately when only three years old Twiggy got sick and after six months of the Vets battling to find what was actually wrong with her and trying different treatments she sadly died. It was thought of either blood or brain disease, possibly autoimmune.

My daughter Manda carried on the obedience tradition when she purchased Penbury Magic Tassels at Tassietay Tassel in l991. She proved to be a really keen worker and amongst her many wins she has also won the pre-beginners and beginners classes at the S.C.B.C.C. open show in 1994 as well as taking the trophy for 'most promising dog and handler' - repeating what I had achieved 17 years earlier. Tassel has won 'novice' and 'A' at later S.C.B.C.C. shows and has her 'Senior Working Test'. She also holds a 'Herding Instinct Certificate' and took 1st place in the first pentathlon organised by the S.C.B.C.C. Unfortunately Manda never had the time to compete at Open level, but was urged to on many occasions. Has passed her Kennel Club Good Citizens Dog Tests at Bronze, Silver and Gold. In 2004 she came out of retirement to win the speed retrieve at our clubs' show - see her page (click here). Manda has gone on to be a qualified APTD trainer and runs puppy training classes for Elham Dog Club. Tassel died suddenly in December 2004 and is sadly missed by all.

Natterjacks Live four Love at Tassietay (Taya) had a very difficult time as a puppy, suffering an unexplained illness at five months old which lasted until she was eleven months old. This turned out to be a Proteus bacterium in the urinary tract, which was eventually treated with appropriate antibiotics once a correct diagnosis had been made. Unfortunately during this time she ate very little, as she felt sick all the time. This resulted in her suffering malnutrition which it was felt affected her later behaviour and although doing extremely well with her training she never managed the confidence needed for the temperament tests in the higher classes and tests. She did however take the 'Beginners' obedience class at S.C.B.C.C. open show in 1996 and also has both her Primary and Junior working tests together with some places at exemption shows and interclub matches. I think her best achievement was probably fourth place in the first pentathlon organised by the S.C.B.C.C. This was particularly good as it turned out later she had been suffering for some time with hormone problems which culminated in a closed pyometra, which caused her to be spayed. Has passed her Kennel Club Good Citizens Dog Test at Bronze.

Moonhills Baby Its You for Tassietay Rosa was placed 5^th in the Novice Obedience class at the S.C.B.C.C. open show (31 entries) in 1997, that being her first try at an Obedience competition. She later went on to win several places at Exemption Obedience shows until an attack by a Rottweiller in January 1999 ended her career. She had a litter in 1998, from which we kept Echo and Joka. She passed her Primary and Junior working tests. Has passed her Kennel Club Good Citizens Dog Test at Bronze.

Tassietay True Magic Truly has won a class at the Elham Dog Clubs' inter-club match when she was only 11 months old; has passed her Primary and Junior Working tests and has several firsts and places at exemption obedience shows. She was never given the opportunity to progress further because of Rosa's litter and my back injury. She now acts as Manda's demonstration dog for her Obedience Classes. Has passed her Kennel Club Good Citizens Dog Test at Bronze & Silver.

Tassietay Flashdanca Merlin, owned by Kim Smith. Kim works Merlin in agility competitions and has obtained quite a few rosettes for clear rounds and two judges specials . He has been placed in two events. Has also passed his Kennel Club Good Citizen dog scheme at both bronze and silver standards. He has also passed his Southern Counties Bearded Collie Club Primary working test.

Tassietay Joker Dex - Joka was the first of our Beardies to gain his Kennel Club Good Citizens award at Gold Level on his first time of trying.

Unfortunately due to a severe back injury in l999 I have had to temporarily give up my training activities, but hope to get back to something in the future - watch this space! Manda has also been forced to put things on the back burner at the moment due to a change of job entailing much longer hours and weekend work. But I like to think we have contributed a little to showing that (despite what a lot of people think) Beardies can work, if trained in the right way. We use kind reward based motivational methods.

All the Beardies that have lived with us have been obedience trained, although not all have competed. We feel it gives them something to think about and they do enjoy it, otherwise we wouldn't do it! Six of them have taken their Kennel Club Good Citizen Awards and passed. Only Sparkle, our working bred Beardie, has not yet had the opportunity.

In April 2005 two of our older Beardies (Truly and Taya) gained 1st and 3rd places in the Veteran Obedience at the Elham Dog Training Club companion dog show. The spaniel is Spyda, our working Cocker Spaniel - visit her web site.

Obedience page. Maintained by Jacqueline Smith. Updated 1 July 2005