Today was Merry's 6th birthday, and Eddie came up with the perfect present by winning his first Obedience class, after a run of places, (and let's be honest some misses!). This gave him the final points he needed to add (subject to KC confirmation), the letters Beg Ex to the Working Trial CD Ex after his name. Maybe not earth shattering, but pretty good for a Beagle! Thank you little man. I love you.
Congratulations, Eddy! Beagles are my choice. Pikey has become a great companion. We never miss our morning walk, rain or shine.
Please forgive my pride, but I've just got to share ....................... Since the result above, Eddie has won a Second, a Third, and then yesterday at Derby, another First in Obedience! This now puts him, (and me), out of Beginner classes for good, and we have to move up to working at the next level. Ta Daah! (but don't expect any more trumpet blowing in the near future). Great credit must go to our Obedience Club and the Trainers, they really are worth their weight in gold for guidance and support.
Well done you and well done Eddie! All my past glories in Obedience were with easy breeds to train (border collies and poodles) and you should be really proud of yourself and Eddie for such success. (Most Beagle owners I know are thrilled to bits if they can get the dog to do a recall!)
Yesterday we went to The Houndshow at Stafford, to watch the Beagle judging, and to try our paws at the Hound Scenting Test. When I made enquiries last year, I was told that the track could be either aniseed or cooked sausage laid, so we have been practising with mashed hot dog in a mesh bag. However, it seems that the KC have stipulated that qualifying Hound Scenting tests must use aniseed, so I feared the worst. This did throw Merry, and she only scored 46/80 on her 100 yd. Intro track. (Poor Merry, last week it was her Good Citizen test - she must wonder why she suddenly has all this new stuff to learn). Superdog Eddie scored a perfect 80/80 on his 220 yd track, I'm sure he must have ignored the aniseed and tracked the track layer's footsteps. Unfortunately his qualification will not be used as, being a rescue Beag, he only has KC Activity Registration, but we really enjoyed our day, and learned a lot about another dog sport.