Rayla from TG achieves Rally O Versatility Title
Rayla was adopted December 31, 2000 by Lorna, my friend and trainer who devotes so much time and energy to Turtle Gardens. Rayla has her Championship Title with the Agility Association of Canada and has been competing in Rally O Obedience for two years. On February 10 Rayla and Lorna achieved the highest tiltle in Rally O - Versatility !! Dogs competing in Versatility have to do the exercises from either side of the handler ( heel on both right and left) while executing the course with several changes of side throughout - all off leash . Rayla and a little poodle named Pepper are the first two dogs to achieve this title in Rally west of Ontario !! Congratulations Rayla and Lorna. But what really is astounding is the fact that Lorna trains alone. She does not have the luxury of a training facility or other like minded people to train with. She is alone. With the Canadian Rally O site as her guide and articles from the Dog Sport Magazine
Lorna trained herself and Rayla.. What an accomplishment for Lorna and what an ambassador for Turtle Gardens!
Pictures taken bt Sheldon Pineo http://www.icenrye.com/
©Turtle Gardens Animal Rescue Society. Have your pet spayed or neutered today.
What organisation did she compete under? Maybe Kip could give it a try? I kanoe of the Agility Assn but is there a rally group which offers titles to ‘All Canadians’ (ie mixed breeds).
Comment by Sharon — February 23, 2007 @ 7:43 am
The trial was held in Prince George by Pawsitive Steps - http://www.pawsitivesteps.ca/Home.html Pictures were taken by Sheldon Pineo http://www.flickr.com/photos/icenrye/sets/72157594528951335/
She competes under Caro - Canadian Association of Rally Obedience.
Comment by yvette — February 23, 2007 @ 9:20 am
Congratulations to Lorna and Rayla! What an inspiration !! I’ve been training Annie (aka Diedrie, adopted in Dec 2002) and Merlin the Aussie for the past couple of months on my own using the CARO rule book just to go beyond normal obedience exercises simply for fun. I never thought of going to trials, but it is indeed eye-opening for me to know that you can achieve the highest title by training on your own. What an accomplishment !
Comment by Masako — February 23, 2007 @ 5:46 pm
Thank you for the congratulations. We competed with CARO, the Canadian Association of Rally Obedience, which allows purebred and mixes, also dogs with disabilities, (my Aussie mix Tassie got her Novice title when she was around 13 years old, was quite deaf and a little stiff with arthritis in her hips. They make allowances for that, turns can be wider and in classes with a jump they can be lowered. It is user friendly. The CKC is just starting a Rally class but that of course is purebred only. The website is http://www.canadianrallyo.ca and has all the information about exercises, trials etc. There is also a yahoo group which is a good resource if you have questions. More and more dog clubs and organizations are offering classes and trials, there was one in Burnaby in August 2006 in association with the Agility Association of Canada National Championships (I met Masako there ). We got our first leg there on the first Versatility course we had ever seen, and would have got 2 if I had handled her better. It’s a lot of fun and gives you lots of info about your dog, Rayla had her agility title and yet had a LOT of trouble learning to move her rear end while her front stayed in one place. Backing up straight in heel position also took a lot of work. I’m going to start Kitsa my young dog in the exercises too, I think it will be very good for body awareness, and in the trials in Novice and Advanced you can carry food and reward at the end of an exercise and talk to them throughout so it is a nice way to start competition, you can give lots of positive feedback.
Lets get some more Turtle Garden dogs out there in public!!!!!!!
Lorna
Comment by Lorna — February 23, 2007 @ 7:41 pm