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This article explains why I do obedience better than I could. It can be applied to all performance titles...........Rita
What is an Obedience
Title, Really
by Sandy Mowery of Highland, Wis.
Not just a brag, not just a stepping-stone to a higher title, not just an adjunct to competitive scores, a title is a tribute to the dog that bears it, a way to honor the dog, an ultimate memorial. It will remain, in record and in memory, for about as long as anything in this world can remain. Few humans will do as well or better.
And though the dog itself doesn't know or care that its achievements have been noted, a title says many things in the world of humans, where such things count. A title says your dog was intelligent and adaptable and good-natured. It says that your dog loved you enough to do the things that pleased you however crazy they may have sometimes seemed.
And a title says that you loved your dog, that you loved to spend time with it because it was a good dog, that you believed in it enough to give it yet another chance when it failed, and that, in the end, your faith was justified. A title proves your dog inspired you to that special relationship enjoyed by so few; that in a world of disposable creatures, this dog with a title was greatly loved and loved greatly in return.
And when that dear, short life is over, the title remains as a memorial of the finest kind, the best you can give to a deserving friend, volumes of praise in one small set of initials after the name. An obedience title is nothing less than love and respect given and received and permanently recorded.
CH. Geigers
Painted Pony UD
(journey to the UD
title)
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Father and son
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L to R: CH.
Geigers Masked Bandito UD, Jan. 1995 and CH. Geigers Painted Pony
UD, June 2001
Obedience Trials test a dog's
ability to perform a prescribed set of exercises on which it is
scored. In each exercise, you must score more than 50 percent of
the possible points (ranging from 20 to 40) and get a total score
of at least 170 out of a possible 200. Each time your dog gets
that magic 170 qualifying score, he's gotten a "leg"
toward his title. Three legs and your dog has become an
Obedience-titled dog! There are 3 levels at which your dog can
earn a title and each is more difficult than the one before it.
You may see levels divided into "A" and "B"
at a trial; "A" classes are for beginners whose dogs
have never received a title while "B" classes are for
more experienced handlers.
Novice: The first level, Novice, results in your dog
earning a Companion Dog
(CD) title. The title actually describes
what is expected of your dog: demonstrating the skills required
of a good canine companion. The dog will have to heel both on and
off leash at different speeds, come when called, stay (still and
quietly!) with a group of other dogs when told, and stand for a
simple physical exam.
Open: The second level, Open, results in your dog earning
a Companion Dog Excellent
(CDX) title. He must do many of the same
exercises as in Novice, but off-leash and for longer periods.
Additionally, there are jumping and retrieving tasks.
Utility: The final level results in a Utility Dog (UD)
title. These are the cream
of the crop. In addition to more
difficult exercises, the dog also must perform scent
discrimination tasks.
U-CDX CH. Geiger's Masked Bandito UD CGC Bandit was only the 5th breed Champion to obtain the UD title doing it in only 5 trials, quite a feat for any dog! He made breed history by being the first Chihuahua to go 'High Combined' doing so at the Chihuahua Club of America National Specialty in 1994 and again in 1996. He is the first recipient of the Utility High Average award offered by the Chihuahua Club of America with an astounding 190.8 average out of 200 for 1996. He earned it again in 1997. He is the first Chihuahua to be awarded the distinction of 'Super Utility Chihuahua' by the obedience magazine Front and Finish. He ended his career with 5 UDX legs. (Utility dog Excellent). Bandit crossed over the Rainbow Bridge on March 22, 2001. |
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CH. Geiger's Painted Pony UD- CGC Following in his sire's paw prints, Tonto went High Combined at the Chihuahua Club of America National Specialty on Oct. 4th, 2002. Tonto and his late sire CH. Bandit UD are the only Chihuahuas to accomplish this extremely difficult feat. He completed his Utility Dog title requirements at the Rapid City KC dog show/obedience trial with a 1st place in Utility A in late October, 2002. He earned his UD in 14 trials having been trained solely in the backyard. Tonto was awarded the 2002 High Utility Average award at the Chihuahua Club of America National Specialty in October, 2003. He was the #1 Chihuahua in Utility for 2002 and tied for #7 Utility dog from the Toy Group as reported by Front and Finish obedience publication. |
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Happy 15th Birthday on 9-6-08 !!! |
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Chihuahua Club of America National Specialty obedience trial history
On October 4, 2002 half brothers Geiger's Silent Show Marceau CD aka Henry (owned, trained, handled and loved by Cindy Deuser) went High in Trial from the Novice B class with a 195 and CH. Geigers Painted Pony CDX aka Tonto (owned, trained, handled and dearly loved by Rita Geiger) went High Combined from the Open B and Utility A class earning his 2nd Utility leg. |
This is the first dog I trained, circa 1962. |
Geiger's Pugnacious Pearl CDX Pearl was never out of the ribbons for her CD and earned High Toy twice. With an excellent beginning at the Chihuahua Club of America's National in Oct 1997, Pearl received a 197.5 in Open A to tie for High in Trial. Pearl finished her CDX on July 5, 1998 with an average score of 190+ . Pearl is a daughter of my late BISS CH. Geigers Twinkie of Hurd CDX. Pearl and Cindy wowed the crowd at the Chihuahua National Specialty in Open B garnering a score of 197.5 for High in Trail. They then came back in to compete in Veteran Novice and again taking 1st place with a 196.5!! Cindy said Pearl is now retired. What a way to go out.......In style!! Pearl crossed over the Rainbow Bridge on March 27, 2002.
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Lankhorst's Lady Penelope CD
Fluffy completed her CD in Oct. '98. In Nancy's words... " It takes courage for a small dog to stand for examination and to stay for long sits and downs with larger dogs. When you're a chihuahua they're all larger!. We're so proud of Fluffy, not only for working so hard but also for her brave heart." Fluffy passed over the rainbow bridge on Jan 13, 2006. She would have been 17 yrs old in March.
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CH.Geiger's
Cut T The Chase CD
Chase was shown at the Chihuahua Club of America National Specialty in the Novice B class on Friday, October 1st placing 2nd with a 186.5. Having never trained in a formal class and his first time in the ring, he shows great potential in the obedience ring. Chase earned his 2nd leg toward his CD on April 7th at the 1st Kansas Toy Club dog show and obedience trial with a 190 in the Novice B class. Chase finished his CD at the Chihuahua Club of Oklahoma Specialty trial in May, 2005 doing it in 3 trials. Chase and Nancy have been 'invited' to attend the Novice class at the Sioux Empire Kennel Club training classes! |
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Geiger's Silent Show Marceau CDX "He will be a stellar obedience dog" quoting Cindy. Henry is a half brother to CH. Tonto UD. See his mom CH. Daisy CGC above. Cindy and Henry won the Novice B class at the Chihuahua National Specialty (Oct. 2001) with a score of 196. They came back in 2002 to go High In Trial with a 195! Cindy and Henry were awarded the 2002 High Novice Average award by the Chihuahua Club of America with a score average of 194.6. Henry was the #1 Chihuahua in the 2002 Novice rankings reported by Front and Finish publication. On Dec. 6, 2003, Cindy and Henry completed the CDX title with a 194.0 and 1st place in Open A. They came back on Sunday the 7th and again placed 1st with a 192. They finished up the year with a 193 average which earned them the 2003 High Open Average Award offered by the Chihuahua Club of America. |
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Aesaga's Solo
Flight CD- CGC At 6 yrs of age, Dash went to live with Mark and Sharon Perkins in Des Moines, IA where he attends the Des Moines Obedience Training Club. Dash earned his CGC title in November, 2000. He earned his first Companion Dog 'leg' at the Des Moines Cluster, Sept 2002 and a second leg at the Mason City, IA. in October. Dash earned his 3rd CD leg at the Nebraska KC obedience trial on November 21st, 2002. Dash was ranked #10 Chihuahua in Front and Finish for 2002. Watch for Dash on Hallmark cards! |
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Team Chihuahuas 2001 Late in July, 2001 the idea to form the 1st team of obedience Chihuahuas was born. Coming together from 3 states (Colorado, Iowa and Minnesota), dogs and handlers had only two practice sessions before competition at the Des Moines (IA) Obedience Training Club event on Sept. 8, 2001. T-shirts were quickly made up to wear and keep as momentos. The team placed 3rd (missing 2nd by 3 points), was a real crowd pleaser and had a wonderful time! Watch for this team in 2003! As an added note: By 2005, 2 of the Chihuahuas had UD's and 2 had CDX's. Now isn't that amazing?!?!?!
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 L to R: Sharon Yon Perkins and Mickey(IA), Judith Bores and Lynn(CO), Rita Geiger and Tonto(MN), Mark Perkins and Minnie(IA) |
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Team Chihuahuas 2003 Here they are again! Same dogs, same exhibitors just a bit older<g>
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Team Chihuahuas 2004
The team earned a 2nd place this year!!!
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