First Trial Observed

At the AKC event that I just went to in Fitchburg, I was very surprised that just about every dog there was well behaved. Some of the show puppies were somewhat pulling on their leashes, but by and large, everyone, human and animal, seemed to be getting along, and focused on the task at hand. While hanging around the Novice and Open A events, I talked to pet dog owners who were competing. While their dogs were not doing as well as the Novice B competitors, still the dogs were in control and performing the obedience commands in and outside the ring. During the group part of the competition, no dog broke. Most of these pet owners belonged to obedience clubs. I was surprised and pleased that I saw all these pet dog owners competing, and I was the only training apprentice looking on. I was expecting more people like me, and less owners, but there I was the only one. In talking with them, their dogs were not always so well behaved going into these situations, each one had issues to work on, and they worked hard at their training. While they weren't perfectly in position, it still showed in the ring. Many of them got their first leg that day.