Doberman Nationals 2011 Fitchburg Ma

Very last minute heard that the Doberman Nationals were going on in Fitchburg Ma from September 30th 2011 to October 8th 2011.   Because I will be purchasing a female Doberman in 2-3 years (and cause I love Dobermans and love to see a whole bunch of them in one area LOL), made a special effort to make sure we went.   I picked a day where some regional obedience events were being held, as I have an interest in obedience sports.

As it happened, I bumped into Terry Christie of Canine Magic.   We both apprenticed at Doberman Rescue many years back.  I met her dog, Cobey, when he was a puppy.   Recently, he needed to have a leg amputated, and was happy to hear there was some video of him on YouTube with updates.







So happy for Terry and Cobey! This is the other fun thing about going to dog events, volunteering ET, you get to meet great people and catch up with them. I had actually seen Terry at a previous DRU picnic, but had not put it together, as she was with a three legged dog (last time I saw Cobey he was four legged).

Please forgive me, as I did not think to take any pictures of the event. I left my pocketbook in the trunk of the car, which had my camera, and then just got to engaged to go and retrieve it later:( I really wish that I had taken some pictures.

I did watch the obedience events (Utility and Open were going on when we got there) for about a half an hour or so. Saw a dog named Isis doing some beautiful jumps. Also a very leggy blue male with natural ears doing his retrieves in our corner, doing his job even as he gave us a sideways glance and grin. Very nice work. Unfortunately, won't be able to show Boris of the three legs there (he needs to participate with the UKC ), BUT someday when my female princess comes we may do that trial. Years and years off...

The AKC hosts the trials at the Doberman Nationals, and so Boris would be considered "lame" there (Boris just has three legs, but he has no trouble walking, running OR jumping ).   I had a very nice time watching the exhibitors in Open and Utility.  It is a pretty quiet venue, although two rings were going side by side.  This was sectioned off from the conformations going on at the other side of the building.   Not a bad venue if one is looking for an indoor semi quiet trial.   Course this is different than the annual Fitchburg trials that are not specialty LOL (very busy and not at all quiet, and great if you are training for that--next one November 2011).   Saw my very first obedience dog trial there, and have been hooked and striving for the inspiring performance ever since!  (trainer was with a Boston Terrier, and I have no idea who she was, but she was great)

Sorry got off topic regarding the Doberman Nationals of 2011.  (Point was)  If I had a Doberman with four legs (physical legs of course) who was ready to trial, but perhaps not ready for the busier November trials, I would definitely sign up for these Doberman National trials in Fitchburg MA.   The Collie Club trials in Portland Maine are somewhat similar (and they have an all breed day) in the business factor.  I love those trials to for a dog just getting used to these venues.  I would recommend it.  If you get a chance to do this with your Doberman, I would go.   You will meet other enthusiastic Doberman owners, who love doing things with their dogs (course the day of the event they may be kinda tense LOL).

The vendors were great, and I only wish that I had known about it sooner.   I would have attended some seminars (though I probably would have to become a member, which I am doing now).   There were even online streamed seminars for those that could not attend on a certain day.

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Saccarappa Dog Obedience Trial Venue

Pictures to follow later on today.

I will talk about me and Bri's performances later on today or tomorrow (after our final run). For now, I want to talk about the venue.

One plus in this trial is that the classes seem to be spot on as far as being on time. As someone who once waited until 6:00 pm for their scheduled 10:00 am trial, I can tell you this is a great thing!!! Of course, it does normally depend on the judge or I guess the management of the obedience club to notice if things are going off course, and what they had assigned a judge to do. For instance at the trial that went waaaayyyy behind, they had the judge bouncing between conformation and obedience rather than being at one station.

It's in the Riverton Middle School gym (or Riverton Community Center) with three large rings set up, a raffle table and a check in station. So it's incredibly crowded, which is great experience for your dog, but very uncomfortable while you are waiting your turn. And if you are like me and show up about 40 minutes before you are scheduled to go on, you will become seated in the backrow. Not everyone up front is considerate of not standing to have personal conversations, and blocking your already limited view of the trials going on. It's hard for people in such cramped quarters to keep dogs from encroaching upon space as well. Like I said though, while I enjoy the comfort of a spread out trial, these trials are really great experience for your dog to get used to really up close distractions and having to chill.

There is a playground outside where families go during the weekend. When the families see that their is a dog event going on there, they bring their kids in who think it's a petting zoo, where they run from one dog to the next yelling "I like this one". Or they approach you and your dog right as you are stepping into the ring LOL. That's when I like at least a second of concentrated silence and thought. While I appreciate well mannered dog people's children at the trials, I don't appreciate people who let their kids run around unsupervised to the dogs at a dog trial. It didn't seem like anyone was watching this.

Their are nice open areas to walk, practice, or let your dog do their business quite spread out outside the school. Oh, and also a huge plus, an actual bathroom not an outhouse!!! That is a luxury that one doesn't get at most dog trials LOL.

Day two, although I had the fastest judge in the West , not surprisingly the trial still went behind. Why do I say not surprisingly? I had an 11:30 time, so if anything goes the slightest bit over, and maybe not even, a lunch break will be had......sigh. I don't even know why they bother to schedule in 11:30 or 12:00 trials. It just about always happens like this. No fault of the judge, however, this one is very fast.