MHADAIDH

DOGGY DANCER

UD ADX

TINA is my second dog and was

purchased from Mhadaidh Kennels

at the age of 10 weeks.

Goldens have always appealed to me

And apart from Border Collies and

German Shepherds are the only other breed

in WA anyway who are working with style and consistency in the Obedience ring.

SO A GOLDIE IT WAS

'Tina' is the complete package deal, she makes me laugh, is a delight to own, a challenge to train and completely different from the Border Collies.

Probably the main difference is energy levels. The Borders always seem to be on the go and whilst sensitive to train you can almost see their brains working things out a repeating the exercise you are training before you can help them, they adore showing how clever they are.

'Tina' on the other hand is very amiable and quite happy to be trained if that is what I want, but she is equally content to have a pat and cuddle and sit and watch the action!!! So her training has always been geared to high motivation and enthusiasm, lots of praise and food rewards for good work.

Thankfully she is very easy to get along with and well conformed so heeling and being in the correct position has not presented any problems.

2001 WHAT A YEAR

Tina has worked consistantly and happily right from the start, and she gained her Novice and Open titles quickly and with great scores, our next challenge was to be utility class, Tina is only my second dog and whilst the theory behind UD is definitely there putting it in to practice was our next step. Thnakfully Jill Houston is my coach and was on hand to make sure that silly little errors did not creep into our training. Tina enjoyed her training which started over the summer of 2000 with little seekbacks, short distance box training and tied down scents. As the months progressed and Tina became more confident the only problem we really encountered was phasing out the treats that I gave her and still keeping her motivated. Our first trial of 2001 was still in Open class as we were preparing for the Western Classic, and what a night that was, Tina was superb competing against the best in the West, she heeled brilliantly and performed each excercise with speed to win the Pal Western Classic trial judged by Ms Mckay of Victoria on a score of 198. With her confidence running high it was the right time to step into the UD arena, first try and first pass on 190 points. By June of 2001 Tina had the title of UD, the champagne flowed that night!!.

In the agility arena we had gained our AD title at the end of last year, but speed was still our problem, I decided to join an agility club so that we could practice over the correct equipment, and what a difference, the confidence in her training has been great, as she has learnt in training to cope with the other dogs being around whilst still concentrating on the A frame and dog walk. In May we had achieved our five passes and had our ADX title. Entering my first Masters was a bit scary, more obstacles faster times could we do it? Yes of course we could, we now have two legs to our masters.

Tina is great to own and fun to train, we have also in our spare time competed in the two Heelwork to Music competitions, for this she had to learn some tricks to make it look like she and I were dancing, she took to this like a duck to water and is a real performer, she is part of the Doggy Dancers demonstration team, where she is a crowd favourite with her gold coat and lovely nature, kids and the senior citizens adore her. IN SHORT SHE IS THE PERFECT GUNDOG

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Won State Obedience Title for Novice Class 1998

Placed third at the Perth Royal Show Novice 1998

Qualified for the Western Classic Obedience Challenge in Novice 1999

Qualified for the Western Classic Obedience Challenge in Open 1999

Gained the perfect score of 200 points in Open Class judge Cheryl Bedggood.

Gained the perfect score of 200 points in Open Class at the State Obedience Trial judge Brian Pratt

Gained the perfect score of 200 points in Open Class at the Perth Royal Show judge Honey Gross-Richardson.

Top scoring dog at the 2000 Perth Royal Show.

Top scoring Golden Retriever at the State Obedience Trial in 1998 and 2000

Won Western Classic Pal Obedience 2001 judge Lorraine McKay (Victoria)

Gained Utility title with two wins and a fourth scores all over 190.

Gained her ADX title before four years of age.

Well on her way to her masters agility title.