Introducing Sweetbay's 2007 Titlists

Introducing Sweetbay’s 2007 Titlists

We'd like to introduce you to the Newfoundlands and their special owners who achieved titles in 2007.

Nova and Jean work briskly through the off-lead heel pattern.

Sweetbay’s Nova CD U-CD RAE TD WRD CanWRDX TDD CanDD, OFA NF-8113, EL-2111
Call name: Nova
Born: 11-15-01
Sire: Sweetbay’s Cheechako AmCanCDX TD WD TDD, OFA NF-4603, EL-173
Dam: Sweetbay’s Esme AmCanCD TD WRD AmCanDD, OFA NF-7215, EL-1456
Owners: Jean & Mark Ochsner, Lake Oswego, Oregon
Title earned: CD (AKC Companion Dog obedience title)

Obedience was never Jean Ochsner’s favorite activity. She much preferred the flashy sports: water work, draft, tracking. Nova seemed to echo these preferences. Although she earned two legs in shows early on, neither was at the level Jean had seen in their training. Nova could do superb obedience if she felt like it, and Jean decided she owed it to Nova to train her to a level that let her show off her style and drive. It took some time, because Nova pays attention to everything around her, and distractions would take their toll. But Jean’s a smart trainer, and after training regularly in very distracting venues, she felt confident that Nova was ready to perform competently in an actual trial. Nova did better than “competent” – she was stellar, earning her third CD leg at the PNNC Regional Newfoundland specialty in January with a simply stunning first place finish.

Fiona

Sweetbay’s Fiona AmCanCD RE TD WRD AmCanDD, EL-1924
Call name: Fiona_Born: 3-17-01
Sire: Ch Ralee’s Winddancer, OFA NF-4890, EL-247
Dam: Sweetbay’s Parmalee AmCanCD AmCanTD AmCanWRD TDD CanDD, OFA NF-5341
Owners: Judi and Ellis Adler, Sherwood, Oregon
Title earned: RE (AKC Rally Excellent title)

Every once in a while, you see a dog that seems born for a sport. It’s like watching Michael Jordan play basketball or Tiger Woods in golf. Fiona was made for rally. The crisp quick moves, the ever-changing patterns, the exuberance that judges watch for and are allowed to reward in their scorings, all were right up Fiona’s alley. But it wasn’t until she and Judi reached the excellent level of competition that Fiona truly reached the nadir. Excellent has more stations to perform, and a higher level of difficulty, and Fiona has always loved a challenge. Judi trained well, working in distracting venues and training for much harder courses than they would encounter in actual trials. And it paid off. Fiona earned her RE title in three straight shows, capping the journey with a superb 98 at the PNNC Regional Specialty show in January in Portland. As her judge said as he handed Judi her qualifying ribbon, “My but your girl sure likes this, doesn’t she.” She does, indeed.

Darby

Sweetbay’s Darby AmCanCD RE TD WD AmCanDD, OFA NF-6811, EL-1205
Call name: Darby
Born: 4-30-98
Sire: Ch Ralee’s Winddancer, OFA NF-4890, EL-247
Dam: Sweetbay’s Scout CD TD WRD DD, OFA NF-5140, EL-323
Owners: Judi & Ellis Adler, Sherwood, Oregon
Title earned: RE (AKC Rally Excellent title)

Darby is all about precision and focus. If she were human, she’d be the high-tech engineer working on secret projects and achieving miracles with her micro-tools. She demands a lot from her humans, and Judi Adler realized early on that for Darby to do good work, she (Judi) would have to train with precision and reward only the best efforts. Once Darby realized that they were both in sync in their thinking, her rally work took off. She earned her three rally titles in quick succession, passing at every trial, and always in the ribbons. Her final leg for her Rally Excellent title came at Portland’s huge Rose City circuit show at the PNNC Regional Newfoundland specialty. It was a very proud moment for the team when the judge handed them the blue first-place ribbon, a lovely trophy – and announced their perfect score of 100 to the crowd.

Sharon and Sonnet pose with their qualifier’s ribbon

Sweetbay’s Sonnet CDX U-CDX RE TD WRD CanWRDX, OFA NF-8250, EL-2224
Call Name: Sonnet
Born: 3-28-02
Sire: CanCh Sweetbay’s Kyak CD CanCDX WRD CanWRDX DD CanDDX W-FD FDN, OFA NF-7189
Dam: Sweetbay’s Darby AmCanCD RE TD WD AmCanDD, OFA NF-6811, EL-1205
Owners: Sharon and Michael Marcus, Portland, Oregon
Title earned: RA (AKC Rally Advanced title)

Sonnet earned the first two rally advanced legs at the Vancouver Kennel Club shows at the Clark County fairgrounds. Despite the crowded rings and the noise level, she worked with concentration, qualifying easily. Her third leg, the one earning her the RA title, came at the PNNC regional specialty in Portland in January. She and Sharon made short work of the course, and their 96 score found them firmly in first place.

Nova

Jean has Nova’s attention during a rally course

Remy

Sweetbay’s Remy CD RN WRDX, OFA NF-9157
Call Name: Remy
Born: 5-19-04
Sire: CanCh Sweetbay’s Kyak AmCanCDX WRD CanWRDX DD CanDDX W-FD FDN, OFA NF-7189
Dam: Sweetbay’s Darby AmCanCD RE TD WD AmCanDD, OFA NF-6811, EL-1205
Owners: Judi & Ellis Adler, Sherwood, Oregon
Title earned: CD (AKC Companion Dog obedience title)

At eight weeks old, Remy was a go-er. She simply never stopped. She was wired, driven, full of enthusiasm and speed. Judi Adler worked hard to instill some control. Remy quickly realized that working with Judi was a lot of fun, and that it was never boring. She learned the CD exercises quite quickly, then found herself on the sidelines for a year while Judi recovered from a nasty car accident. As soon as Judi was back to walking, she and Remy resumed their journey. Lots of quick training sessions in parks and stores followed, and it was clear that Remy not only thoroughly enjoyed obedience but was getting trial ready. The next shows were in Albany, just south of Portland; Remy qualified at both trials with lovely performances. Saturday she scored a 193.5 (second place). Sunday was the trial of a lifetime; Remy’s 196.5 (first place) tied for High In Trial. One month later, they were back at it, at the Linn Kennel Club trials. On Saturday, she placed fourth in a huge class (192). And Sunday, she capped the journey with a 195 and second place. Clearly, the wild child had come into her own.

Tanner

Sweetbay’s Tanner AmCanCD RN AmCanDD, OFA 7777, EL-1867
Call name: Tanner
Born: 1-21-01
Sire: Sweetbay’s Cheechako AmCanCDX TD WD TDD, OFA NF-4603, EL-173
Dam: Sweetbay’s Talisman CD, OFA NF-6525 EL-1016
Owners: Judi & Ellis Adler, Sherwood, Oregon
Title earned: RN (AKC Rally Novice title)

Judi and Ellis hadn’t intended to train Tanner for rally, but he made it very clear he deserved his turn. As if to make sure they didn’t regret it, Tanner was stellar from the get-go, heeling briskly, doing those tricky turns and pivots with gusto, and simply nailing the complex positional moves. He earned his RN in three straight trials with solid scores, always in the placements in each class.

Maisie

Sweetbay’s Maisie CD RE DD, OFA NF-8251, EL-2225
Call Name: Maisie_Born: 3-28-02
Sire: CanCh Sweetbay’s Kyak CD CanCDX WRD CanWRDX DD CanDDX W-FD FDN, OFA NF-7189
Dam: Sweetbay’s Darby AmCanCD RE TD WD AmCanDD, OFA NF-6811, EL-1205
Owners: Judi & Ellis Adler, Sherwood, Oregon
Title earned: RN (AKC Rally Novice title)

Judi Adler had learned about rally by training her two older Newfs, Fiona and Darby. By the time they finished up, Judi had the moves down. Maisie was next in line, and she made the sport look easy, doing complex patterns as though she’d done them every day of her life. But doing well at home is not the same as doing well at shows, and Maisie and Judi took their rally signs to many novel training spots, practicing their pivots and turns in Petsmart, Home Depot, and even at the local daycare in front of a hundred rowdy preschoolers. With that background, it didn’t seem like much at a trial would faze Maisie – and that proved to be true. She earned her RN title in three straight shows. She scored a 99 her first show (losing her sole point when a ringsider dropped a metal chair onto the concrete floor with a resounding clang, right outside the ring, startling Maisie out of a sit). Her second leg was flawless, and the 100 awarded by the judge came with a first place trophy and ribbon. Her third trial was an evening trial, a surprise to us both since the premium list had not mentioned that fact. Maisie’s no night owl, and the 9pm show time was considerably past her bedtime. Nonetheless, she rose to the occasion, earning her third leg with a lovely 97 and a fourth place.

Brody

Sweetbay’s Brody RE WRD TDD CanDD, OFA NF-8266, EL-2238
Call Name: Brody
Born: 3-28-02
Sire: CanCh Sweetbay’s Kyak CD CanCDX WRD CanWRDX DD CanDDX W-FD FDN, OFA NF-7189
Dam: Sweetbay’s Darby AmCanCD RE TD WD AmCanDD, OFA NF-6811, EL-1205
Owners: Mark & Jean Ochsner, Lake Oswego, Oregon
Title earned: RN (AKC Rally Novice title)

Mark Ochsner loves the active dog sports. Water work? Now that is fun. But the precision and control of, say, obedience – well, that wasn’t as interesting. Brody, too, likes the big exuberant sports, and the more speed, the more action, the better. So neither had been all that keen to venture into obedience, say, or rally. But Mark’s wife Jean and her Newf Nova had been doing marvelously in rally, and there were laughs aplenty as they trained. It started to look more interesting. Mark started slowly, practicing a station or two, but it wasn’t long before he, too, saw that this sport was a kick. And Brody? He loved the constantly changing patterns, the quick turns, the zippy little pivots, the tricky 1-2-3 moves. He and Mark learned together, and they learned well, melding their dual roles into one smooth team performance. Their novice title came very quickly, in three straight trials. Watching, you would have thought they were both long-time entrants instead of brand new at the sport!

Lyric soars over a double-bar jump

Rick, Pat and Olivia

Sweetbay’s Olivia CDX ThD WRDX, OFA NF-8222, EL-2199
Call name: Olivia
Born: 3-15-02
Sire: Sweetbay’s Cheechako AmCanCDX TD WD TDD, OFA NF-4603, EL-173
Dam: Sweetbay’s Wahkeena, OFA NF-7129, El-1392
Owners: Rick & Pat Pourchot, Ballwin, Missouri
Title earned: CDX (AKC Companion Dog Excellent obedience title)

Pat Pourchot entered Olivia in several CDX trials in 2006. They failed to get a leg each time, but the performances were always memorable. Spectators would ignore the qualifying dogs, rushing up to Olivia instead, complimenting Pat on her dog’s energy, enthusiasm, and utter joy in the ring. That kind of response tends to keep one’s spirits up, and Pat was having so much fun, she knew the exuberance would eventually settle into a lovely qualifying job. On October 21, at the River King regional Specialty, Olivia earned her first CDX leg with an applause-inspiring first place (and a lovely 189.5 score). Then in Columbia, Missouri, on March 11, she took third place with a flashy 187. The following weekend was St. Patrick’s Day, and Pat and Olivia were at the Wentzville, Missouri trials. Another lovely performance resulted in a green qualifying ribbon along with a yellow for third place, and a solid 190. As Pat says, “Olivia is so much fun to train and show, I knew we couldn’t give up. Even her NQ’s were fun. But earning that CDX was one of our proudest moments.”

Anna and Rory

Sweetbay’s Aurora CD MX MXJ AXP AJP OFP NFP WD, OFA NF-7502, EL-1660
Call name: Rory
Born: 3-19-00
Sire: Ch Ralee’s Winddancer, OFA NF-4890, EL-247
Dam: Sweetbay’s Padgett AmCanCD, OFA NF-6539, EL-1025
Owner: Anna Lewandowski, Houston, Texas
Title earned: MXJ (Masters Jumpers With Weaves agility title)

Anna Lewandowski’s Rory had already done the impossible, earning the MX (master agility) title. To do so, you not only have to do extraordinarily well in the difficult agility excellent standard runs, you have to do so at ten trials. But Anna had one more goal – the still more-difficult MXJ, or masters jumpers title. In jumpers, the obstacles are virtually all jumps, and success is based almost totally on speed. It doesn’t matter how accurate you are if you can’t beat the clock, and the time limits are very, very fast indeed. It was long thought that no Newfoundland could ever remotely make time at that level. But Anna and Rory proved the nay-sayers wrong, earning every one of those ten masters jumpers legs, and by coming in well under time. That crucial tenth leg came on March 18th. Adding to the sweetness, Rory got a Double Q that day (qualifying in standard and jumpers). Earning an MX and MXJ is an astounding achievement, and Anna and Rory did it with style and with grace.

The bar jump is a cinch for Nova and Jean

Sweetbay’s Nova CD U-CD RAE TD WRD CanWRDX TDD CanDD, OFA NF-8113, EL-2111
Call name: Nova
Born: 11-15-01
Sire: Sweetbay’s Cheechako AmCanCDX TD WD TDD, OFA NF-4603, EL-173
Dam: Sweetbay’s Esme AmCanCD TD WRD AmCanDD, OFA NF-7215, EL-1456
Owners: Jean & Mark Ochsner, Lake Oswego, Oregon
Title earned: RE (AKC Rally Excellent title)

Jean had decided to give rally a try almost grudgingly, but soon became a happy convert. Rally was zippy, rally was fun, rally was never boring. And Nova thought it was terrific! She rewarded Jean with lovely performances through the novice and advanced levels. Then came excellent. More stations. Harder stations. Not that that phased Nova or Jean in the least. They entered three trials sponsored by the Chintimini (Salem, Oregon) Kennel Club mid-March, and aced all three, starting and finishing the excellent title in less than 48 hours. You might think that three straight trials would leave Nova a little peaked, but her Sunday showing was the best yet, with a 96 and second place in a very large Excellent B class and on a very challenging course.

Faeroe

Jim and Moses cruise through the rally novice course

Sweetbay’s Moses RN, OFA NF-9237, EL-3001
Call name: Moses
Sire: Sweetbay’s Otis, OFA NF-8249, EL-2223
Dam: Sweetbay’s Spring, OFA NF-7369, EL-1572
Owners: Jim & Karen Railing, Indianapolis, Indiana
Title earned: RN (AKC Rally Novice title)

I would bet big bucks that every handler and exhibitor remembers his very first title. No matter how famous they are now, no matter many hundreds of trials they have been at, no matter how many top awards they have won, that first title is special. For Jim Railing, that first title came in early May, in rally. He and Karen had owned several Newfoundlands in the past two decades, but it wasn’t till Moses joined their family that they decided to take the plunge into training and entering competitive events. Rally seemed a good venue; the novice level is on lead, and it’s the most like “real life” of all the dog sports. Sure enough, Moses took to rally, enjoying the camaraderie with Jim, and the three legs came easily. The first two were earned close to home, but the third came at the 2007 National Specialty in Boulder, Colorado, in front of a very large audience of Newf owners and their dogs. Moses rose to the challenge, obviously enjoying the approval of his peers.

Anne guides Faeroe around the rally cones

Sweetbay’s Faeroe CD RA WD CanWRD, OFA NF-8603
Call name: Faeroe
Born: 1-26-03
Sire: VN WA Ch Sweetbay’s Benson CDX RE WRDX TDD, OFA NF-7511, EL-1666
Dam: Sweetbay’s Esme AmCanCD TD WRD AmCanDD, OFA NF-7215, EL-1456
Owners: Anne & Morgan Seeley, Bainbridge Island, Washington
Title earned: RN (AKC Rally Novice title)

A very long time ago, Anne Seeley came to a group training session with news of a new AKC sport in the offing. “It’s called rally,” she told us, “and it looks like it’ll be a lot of fun.” She showed us a few of the moves, and I’m ashamed to admit it didn’t look all that interesting. “No, it’s really fun,” she insisted. But we all were doing water, draft, tracking, obedience, agility – how could we fit in one more thing? Maybe it was our fault, but Anne also let it slide. Then, in 2006, she resurrected the sport. Faeroe was doing well in obedience class so picking up the rally moves was a piece of cake. They entered their first trial in the huge Seattle Kennel Club show in mid-March – “a real zoo” is how most folks describe the venue – and scored a lovely 96. A second leg soon followed. But Anne saved the third leg for the Big Show: the Newfoundland National Specialty in Boulder, Colorado. After all, if you qualify at the Seattle Zoo, how hard can it be to qualify at a show the size of the Newfie National? Not hard at all, apparently, as they easily racked up that third leg and their title.

Maria and Jimmy cart across the street during the draft test

VN Ch Sweetbay’s James CD RN WRD TDD, OFA NF-8867, EL-2706
Call name: Jimmy
Born: 9-6-03
Sire: Sweetbay’s Tanner AmCanCD RN AmCanDD, OFA 7777, EL-1867
Dam: Sweetbay’s Darby AmCanCD RE TD WD AmCanDD, OFA NF-6811, EL-1205
Owner: Maria Rizzuto, Golden, Colorado
Title earned: DD (NCA Draft Dog title)

Jimmy loves to cart. His owner, Maria, has always thought the sport was dumb. Oh, done well it might be tolerable, but really, how much more fun to do water work! Now that was her real love. But she loves her Jim, and the first time he slipped between cart shafts, it was like he was in heaven. So Maria put her feelings aside and – at first grudgingly – “taught” him to cart. Jimmy is irresistible, and when he grinned and wagged his tail enticingly, children everywhere would come running to get a ride. His enthusiasm and his steady but joyous work pretty much ensured Maria would continue to allow him this opportunity. And, as so often happens, doing an activity for fun led them to try for a title. Which they earned, in a flawless performance, at the Newfoundland National Specialty’s Thursday draft test in Lion’s Park in Golden, Colorado. Jimmy was on his absolute best behavior, performing each exercise with zest coupled with concentration, and Maria was all smiles. Maria will probably tell you she still isn’t all that fond of draft, but she is always happy to indulge her Jimmy.

Brody keeps an eye on Mark as he sails over the high jump

Jimmy

VN Ch Sweetbay’s James CD RN WRD TDD, OFA NF-8867, EL-2706
Call name: Jimmy_Born: 9-6-03
Sire: Sweetbay’s Tanner AmCanCD RN AmCanDD, OFA 7777, EL-1867
Dam: Sweetbay’s Darby AmCanCD RN TD WD AmCanDD, OFA NF-6811, EL-1205
Owner: Maria Rizzuto, Golden, Colorado
Title earned: RN (AKC Rally Novice title)

Jimmy and Maria had been going to obedience classes for quite a while. All that heel-stay stuff can tend to get boring after a bit, so they broke up the routine by incorporating rally moves. It wasn’t long before Maria decided to enter him in trials. Since her home club was sponsoring the 2007 National Specialty in May, that seemed like the perfect venue to finish up the boy’s rally novice title – and that’s just what happened. Joyous Jimmy pranced through the rally courses each day, listening carefully to Maria and adding his own enthusiastic fillips to the nifty moves.

Jean guides her team of Brody (left) and Nova during the freight haul

Sweetbay’s Brody RE WRD TDD CanDD, OFA NF-8266, EL-2238
Call Name: Brody
Born: 3-28-02
Sire: CanCh Sweetbay’s Kyak CD CanCDX WRD CanWRDX DD CanDDX W-FD FDN, OFA NF-7189
Dam: Sweetbay’s Darby AmCanCD RA TD WD AmCanDD, OFA NF-6811, EL-1205
Owner: Mark & Jean Ochsner, Lake Oswego, Oregon
Title earned: TDD (NCA Team Draft Dog carting title - requalification)

In my observation, most folks who compete with their dogs stop doing the activity as soon as they earn the title. If they aim for a water title, the day they earn it, that’s the last day the dog goes to the lake. When they earn a draft title, the minute they get home the cart gets put away in the back of the garage and the harness gets packed in mothballs. But that’s not Jean Ochsner’s way. Her Newfs, Brody and Nova, both loved to cart, and were exceptional individual draft dogs. It made sense to also work them as a team, and they earned their TDD titles with ease. But why reward a dog for being successful by discontinuing an activity the dog loves? Jean kept her team up to speed on the technically challenging moves done in tandem, and entered them at the National Specialty, hoping to requalify at the Thursday draft test. Most specialties have only one draft test, and it fills with dogs that do not yet have a title. Anyone hoping to requalify is left out. But the Boulder specialty offered two draft tests, and with thirty slots, Jean and her team got in. Brody and Nova were in their element, performing the moves with precision and synchronicity, and that requalification was in the bag.

Brody and Nova do their team down-stay

Sweetbay’s Nova CD U-CD RAE TD WRD CanWRDX TDD CanDD, OFA NF-8113, EL-2111
Call name: Nova
Born: 11-15-01
Sire: Sweetbay’s Cheechako AmCanCDX TD WD TDD, OFA NF-4603, EL-173
Dam: Sweetbay’s Esme AmCanCD TD WRD AmCanDD, OFA NF-7215, EL-1456
Owners: Jean & Mark Ochsner, Lake Oswego, Oregon
Title earned: TDD (NCA Team Draft Dog carting title - requalification)

There are plenty of good draft dogs across the country, but in my opinion, Nova is one of the absolute best. She seems to read owner Jean Ochsner’s mind, needing almost no commands or signals to perform intricate maneuvers when between the shafts. Jean’s quiet, subtle handling is a joy to watch, and Nova’s joy is evident when the two of them work together. When Jean decided it would be fun to try a team, the Ochsners’ other Newf Brody was the logical candidate. It took a while to save up for a suitable team cart – don’t let anyone tell you draft equipment is cheap! – but once the gear was in hand, Brody and Nova were on their way. Their first TDD title was a memorable one, notable for their picture-perfect performance over every inch of the exercises. But Jean didn’t stop there. She entered Brody and Nova (as potential requalifiers) in the biggest venue of all, at the Newfoundland National Specialty. They were the only team entry that entire week, and they wowed the spectators and judges alike with their crisp, clean, joyous work.

Janelle and Peyton prepare to start the rally course

Sweetbay's Peyton CD RN, OFA NF-7248, EL-1477
Call name: Peyton
Born: 6-3-99
Sire: Sweetbay's Bounder CanCD, OFA NF-5924, EL-685
Dam: Sweetbay's Parmalee AmCanCD AmCanTD AmCanWRD TDD CanDD, OFA NF-5341
Owners: Janelle Wilson, Redmond, Washington
Title earned: RN (AKC Rally Novice title)

It takes guts to try for that first title. For Janelle Wilson, it took seven years to screw up the courage. She and Peyton had been attending a high-caliber obedience class for years – the class is so good that the instructor insists you need to train all the way through utility before ever setting foot in a ring. At first, Janelle went along with the program, but gradually, it dawned on her. “If I wait that long, I may never be brave enough to enter a trial.” When Janelle decided to go to the Newfoundland National Specialty in Boulder in May, she got very brave. She sent in entries to the three rally trials. And then she and Peyton got busy and practiced. It definitely paid off, because they aced all three trials at that huge, chaotic venue, placing each time – including a lovely first place finish.

Lois and Lyric pose with their TDX judges at Chatfield

SpCH Sweetbay’s Lyric CD TDX RE WRD OAP OJP OFP (VCD1) OAC EGC OJC TNE TGO WVO UAG1 CSL3-F CSL3-R CSL3-S CSL3-H, OFA NF 7437, EL 1624
Call Name: Lyric
Born: 12-17-99
Sire: Sweetbay’s Cheechako AmCan CDX TD WD TDD, OFA NF 4603, EL 173
Dam: Sweetbay’s Talisman CD, OFA NF 6525, EL 1016
Owner: Lois Apfel, Lakeside, California
Title earned: TDX (AKC Tracking Dog Excellent tracking title)

Anyone who tracks will tell yu that earning the TD (the easiest tracking title) is not easy. But compared to TDX, it’s child’s play. That “X” level – oh, my. The track is more than twice as long, it’s three times as aged, the dog has three more articles to find – and then there’s the deliberate trickery. First, two people, walking in tandem, deliberately contaminate the track with their own, fresher, more enticing scent. And then there are the obstacles. TDX tracks must have obstacles, and judges are very inventive in how difficult they make those tracks. Your dog may encounter road crossings, stream beds (with and without water), forests, rock piles, sand pits, fences, swampy bogs, blackberry thickets, and a host of other difficulties that make getting from start flag to glove very difficult indeed. Southern California’s Lois Apfel always knew her Lyric had the skills and the moxie to become a TDX dog. But Lois is the first to admit her own liabilities. She’s a very senior citizen, and her mobility is limited. Asthma makes any arduous activity a challenge. But oh, how Lyric loved to track. And Lois never let her disabilities stand in her dog’s way. They had entered several tests over the years, and – as is the norm for any TDX aspirant – one thing or another had prevented them earning the title each time. But On May 6, at Chatfield Reservoir just outside Denver, Lyric and Lois walked to the start flag on a glorious sunny day. Lyric started out – and just kept going and going and going, finding every article, ignoring every cross track, surmounting every obstacle, and ending with a jubilant Newfoundland National Specialty, the only Newfie team to pass TDX there. What a pounce on the last glove. They had done it – and done so at the thrill!

Lyric flies up the dog walk as Lois watches

Lois (left) poses with Lyric

SpCH Sweetbay’s Lyric CD TDX RE WRD OAP OJP OFP (VCD1) OAC EGC OJC TNE TGO WVO UAG1 CSL3-F CSL3-R CSL3-S CSL3-H, OFA NF 7437, EL 1624
Call Name: Lyric
Born: 12-17-99
Sire: Sweetbay’s Cheechako AmCan CDX TD WD TDD, OFA NF 4603, EL 173
Dam: Sweetbay’s Talisman CD, OFA NF 6525, EL 1016
Owner: Lois Apfel, Lakeside, California
Title earned: SpCh (CPE Specialists Champion)

Lois admits she tends to get involved in new activities quite easily, and often by accident. Lyric began competing in CPE agility because Lois needed to pay back a favor. She agreed to co-chair a trial in a new forum of agility, one she and Lyric had never tried. She decided to enter as well, picking the Specialist category. Rather than offering a plethora of title-offering levels, this category only had one title - Specialist Champion (SpCh).

To obtain the title, Lyric needed to qualify with four legs in four of the seven categories - plus accrue a total of 750 points. The categories were standard, jumpers, jackpot, snooker, colors, wild card and full house. Both Lyric and Lois loved CPE from their very first run; its events seemed to match Lyric’s style and verve and not pose too many problems for Lois’s handling style. Lyric got her 4 legs in the 4 categories rather easily, so they continued to run in these classes. Then the challenge was to earn the requisite number of points.

On Sunday, June 17, Lyric finished her colors run with the needed points to get her 750 point total. This was at the South Coast Agility Trial (SCAT) in Costa Mesa, CA. The CPE website confirmed that she is the forty-eighth dog to ever get this title and the thirteenth one in 2007. She received the traditional jump pole awarded for an agility championship, and – again per custom – it was autographed by her agility friends and judges.

Lyric exits the agility tunnel

Rory loves the tire jump

Rory

Brody flies off the boat at Mark’s command

Anne (in the orange sweatshirt) and Faeroe

Michael watches as Sonnet brings a “drowning victim” back to the boat

Sweetbay’s Sonnet CDX U-CDX RE TD WRD CanWRDX, OFA NF-8250, EL-2224
Call Name: Sonnet
Born: 3-28-02
Sire: CanCh Sweetbay’s Kyak CD CanCDX WRD CanWRDX DD CanDDX W-FD FDN, OFA NF-7189
Dam: Sweetbay’s Darby AmCanCD RE TD WD AmCanDD, OFA NF-6811, EL-1205
Owners: Sharon and Michael Marcus, Portland, Oregon
Title earned: CanWRDX (Canadian Water Rescue Dog Excellent senior title)

In Canada last summer, Sonnet nailed all of the exercises except the life ring. This was undoubtedly due to our simultaneous training for NCA WRDX. One test involves bringing three distant and separated drowners back to a boat ; the dog can bring back two at once if it chooses. Sonnet waited till Canada to try the two-for-one, and unfortunately, that was not an allowed option.
However, in 2007, there was no confusion. Sonnet’s performance was crisp, snappy, and unambiguous. She did all of her exercises by the book, as if she were the expert demonstrating the steps at full speed for the official “how to” video. She earned everyone’s admiration by earning her Canadian WRDX in style.

Ramsey

CanCh Sweebay’s Ramsey CanCD CanTDX WD (NF-7253, EL-1479)
Call Name: Ramsey
Born: 6-3-99
Sire: Sweetbay’s Bounder CanCD, OFA NF-
Dam: Sweetbay’s Parmalee AmCanCD AmCanTD AmCanWRD TDD CanDD, OFA NF-5341
Owners: Ronna Webb, Richmond, British Columbia
Title earned: CanTDX (CKC Tracking Dog Excellent title)

In September, Ronna Webb and Ramsey competed in a CKC all-breed TD/TDX test in British Columbia. There were two TDX entries: Ramsey and a golden retriever. The norm at TDX tests is a passing rate of zero, but this day was lucky for Ronna’s handsome black dog. He breezed through his track, finding every article and ignoring the crosstracks and other distractions, in around twenty minutes, demonstrating an excellent work ethic. And his tail was wagging the entire time.

Anne and Faeroe navigate a rallycourse

Shay

Sweetbay’s Ricochet CD RN WRD, OFA NF-7439, EL-1625
Call Name: Shay
Born: 12-17-99
Sire: Sweetbay’s Cheechako AmCan CDX TD WD TDD, OFA NF-4603, EL-173
Dam: Sweetbay’s Talisman CD, OFA NF-6525, EL-1016
Owner: Kathy Robbins, Mt. Airy, Maryland
Title earned: RN (AKC Rally Novice title)

Kathy had trained two dogs simultaneously in rally, a totally new venue to them all. She felt it wise to only show one dog, though, at least until she gained more handler confidence and more ring experience. Kathy’s Zip earned her RN easily, and when she moved up to Advanced, it was Shay’s turn to enter novice.

At age eight, Shay is a well-seasoned competitor and was thrilled to embark on road trips again. Kathy used her growing experience to handle excellently – a good thing, as Shay lets her know, loudly and long, if Kathy makes any handler errors. With both of them on their toes, they earned their RN in three straight trials, placing in the ribbons every time.

Magic keeps an eye on the swimmers at Squam Lake

Sweetbay’s Magic CD RE DD, OFA NF-9448
Call Name: Magic
Born: 2-21-05
Sire: Sweetbay’s Tanner AmCanCD RN AmCanDD, OFA 7777, EL-1867
Dam: Sweetbay’s Darby AmCanCD RE TD WD AmCanDD, OFA NF-6811, EL-1205
Owner: Ida & Robert Freimer, Dover, Massachusetts
Title earned: RN (AKC Rally Novice title)

After earning their first rally novice leg earlier in the year, Ida Freimer decided it was time for Magic to finish up the title. She entered her in two trials in November. On Saturday, Magic had a stellar run, scoring a perfect 100 points. Sunday’s show was quite different; thanks to a last minute judging schedule change, Ida was rushed getting to the ring, and Magic wasn’t quite as focused, yet they still scored a solid 91. Both days, Magic exhibited her trademark brisk happy heeling and what Ida calls “spunk,” earning her many compliments from her judges.

Annie

Sweetbay’s Corinanne CD TDD, OFA NF-8246, EL-2221
Call Name: Annie
Born: 3-28-02
Sire: CanCh Sweetbay’s Kyak CD CanCDX WRD CanWRDX DD CanDDX W-FD FDN, OFA NF-7189
Dam: Sweetbay’s Darby AmCanCD RN TD WD AmCanDD, OFA NF-6811, EL-1205
Owner: Nancy Aliff, Tallahassee, Florida
Title earned: TDD (NCA Team Draft Dog carting title)

Draft work is a brand new sport for Nancy, and she was surprised how much she enjoyed it. So once Annie had her DD, Nancy set her eye on a team draft title. A good friend offered the perfect partner, Annie’s training pal and newly draft-titled Brando – and Nancy was in business.

Nancy worked the two nearly every weekend for several months, training in different venues and presenting the team with many challenges. Since Nancy’s club was tring to drum up interest in draft, they sponsored informal workshops in different cities, another excellent proofing venue for successful draftwork.
By the time the real event rolled around, Annie and Brando were very ready to pass a draft test, and they earned their TDDs with flying colors.

Rory takes the double-bar jump in stride

Lyric bounds up the A-frame

Sloane

Sweetbay’s Sloane CDX RA WRDX DD (NF-6830, EL-1214)
Call name: Sloane
Born: 4-30-98
Sire: Ch Ralee’s Winddancer, OFA NF-4890, EL-247
Dam: Sweetbay’s Scout CD TD WRD DD, OFA NF-5140, EL-323
Owners: Debby Rothwell, Long Beach, California
Title earned: RN (AKC Rally Novice title)

Rally is a great sport for the Newf who misses being in the ring. Debby Rothwell’s Sloane liked the exercises and performed with marvelous consistency, earning her Rally Novice title in three straight shows in, plus a fourth show just for fun. She finished her title on November 28th. It would be impossible to tell this girl was a veteran because she worked like a youngster, showing energy and smoothness plus wonderful focus. And she did a stellar job, taking a second place at one trial and coming in first place at the other three.