The Tribune

THREE Bahamian Potcakes, an Australian Shepherd and two Shetland Sheepdogs travelled to the Savannah Dog Training Club’s annual obedience trials and excelled in the obedience and rally events.

The dogs, owned by Michael Albury, Lynn Gape, Tonya Gay, Amanda Meyers and Scott Werner, qualified in their events and were in the top four of almost every trial.

The trials were held June 23 and 24 in Savannah, Georgia and more than 250 dogs competed.

The trip was the second for the members of the Nassau Agility and Obedience Dog Club (NAODC), an affiliate club of the Bahamas Kennel Club (BKC).

The group consisted of experienced and novice competitors who train weekly in rally, obedience and agility.

“We were very proud of our dogs,” said Amanda Meyers. “It was great to travel to a US show and do well.”

The results were as follows:

• Fox Hill’s Roxy Girl (Potcake) qualified in six events, taking second in Rally Novice, second and third in Beginner Novice and second and third in Wild Card Novice. Scored high in the mixed breed trial for the Sunday Show.

• Tuckaway’s Foxy Girl (Potcake) qualified in three events, taking first in Rally Novice both days and first in Novice Obedience. She scored high in the mixed breed trial for the Saturday Show.

• Tanglewoode’s On the Warpath, alias Scout (Australian Shepherd) qualified in six events, taking fourth in Beginner Novice and Wildcard Novice. Scored high in Australian Shepherd trial for the Saturday show.

• Werner’s Bahama Sasha (Potcake) qualified in four events, taking second and third in Rally Novice and third in Beginner Novice.

• Bella (Shetland Sheepdog) qualified in two events, taking fourth in Beginner Novice.

For the owners it was especially gratifying for the dogs to have done so well. With the help of Purina and Bahama Wholesale Agencies, the NAODC has been able to hold a January obedience trial in addition to the March trials held by BKC and special training seminars with AKC judges.

“The hard work is paying off and Bahamian dogs are certainly showing their training and ability to compete at US trials,” said Lynn Gape, vice president of the BKC. “The Abaco Club has also competed in the US in obedience and agility and brought home ribbons.”

According to Carol Mett, Savannah Show organiser and AKC obedience judge: “The Bahamas Team were certainly a presence at our show and we were delighted to have them compete. It has been great seeing their training and showing skills improve and with AKC now allowing mixed breeds to show in obedience and rally, we hope that more members of the Bahamas Kennel Club will begin to show internationally.

“The members of the Bahamas Team are very serious about their training which is evident from the number of ribbons that they received.”

Tonya Gay, of Follow the Leader Dog Training said: “I am very proud of my students, they competed at a very high level”.

The NAODC members train on a weekly basis and offer beginner and advanced obedience classes throughout the year and hold one independent obedience trial in January.

The group is sanctioned by the Bahamas Kennel Club which is recognised by the AKC as the official breed register for the Bahamas.