Kirkley Hall Trial,October 13th-Blog by Judge Jayne
A small and perfectly formed mini-trial was hosted yesterday by Judge Cristen of Ruff Diamond Dog Training at the absolutely superb Kirkley Hall Equestrian Centre near Ponteland, Northumberland. We are completely spoiled at this venue due to the size of the working area which provides two ginormous rings that enable courses to be flowing and inventive in layout.
Judge Jayne indulged her creativity with two vastly different level 3 Plus courses that tested a range of skills across exercises from all levels and kept both handlers and dogs on their toes/paws via the use of the tunnel, jumps, distance control, recalls and fast pace exercises!
The vast space also provided a generous warm up area which enabled the teams to take a few minutes using effective play strategies before heading for the start of the course. Ann and Stuie played a “find it” game with his favourite toy that Ann hid underneath a pile of the arena surface, Emma and Wilf engaged in interactive play with his toy, and Judge Cris & Rossi performed a variety of tricks. The benefit of this was evident in the engagement between handler and dog as they worked their rounds.
This is only our second trial at this venue, and as it is an active equestrian centre the distraction element is significant. Many of the northern rally folks and their dogs are relatively new to working the level 2 exercises in a live trial environment. Judge Cristen provided them with varied and challenging courses to test their skills. Everyone accepted the challenge willingly and used effective reward strategies via food, play and touch to support their dogs.
The day’s achievements were as follows:
| Level 3 Plus | Ann & Stuie – a Good and an Ace | Emma & Wilf – two Aces | Cris & Rossi – two Aces & AOE |
| Veteran Pre-Level 2 | Ann & Dexter – two Aces-achieving an AOE and Title | ||
| Pre-Level 2 | Lauren & Jasper – an Outstanding and an Ace-achieving their Title | Jude & Harry – an Outstanding | Sarah & Reo – an Outstanding and an Ace |
| Level 2 | Emma & Joey – an Outstanding and an Ace-achieving their L2 Champ | Sarah & Ted – an Outstanding and an Ace | |
| Level 1 | Jude & Florence – an Outstanding and an Ace | Cris & Dreya – two Aces – achieving their Level 1 Title |
We would echo what Steve has said in his blog regarding trials, we can’t do it without the support and camaraderie of the Talking Dogs Rally community. We are very fortunate to have Gemma Kermode as our trial secretary for both the live and online trials and we are always grateful to Gemma for everything she does for TDR® and the support she provides to everyone involved. Huge thanks as always to Emma, Sara, Ann, Jude and Lauren for helping to set up fencing, strip down courses and move equipment within the venue and to/from Judges vehicles, we really do appreciate everything that you all do each time we have a live trial.
2025 – Looking Ahead – Northern trials fixed in the diary
Levels 1 to 3 – Sunday 9th February 2025 at Monkchester Community Centre.
All Levels – Sunday 1st June 2025 at Kirkley Hall Equestrian Centre.
All levels – Sunday 12th October 2025 at Kirkley Hall Equestrian Centre.
We now have the following trainers offering Talking Dogs Rally classes in the North. Please do reach out and ask about class days/times. These trainers can also support you to film and enter the online trials.
Newcastle Upon Tyne – Cristen Brown – Ruff Diamond Dog training – 07879 422 131
York – Jo Woodhead – Furrytails Dog Training – 07973 216148
Northumberland – Nathan and Louisa Squires – 0754 7760 788
Newton Wycliffe – Claire deVere Whiteway-Wilkinson – Pawfecter Dog Training – 07588 868 008
Brenzett Trial, October 2024- and 2023!-Reflections of a Show Secretary; Steve Carpenter
The village hall at Brenzett is a nice venue for a trial. It is a quiet hall on Romney Marsh that can be divided, giving a large area for rallyers to sit and chat, whilst the show secretary can hide the other side of the partition to deal with the day’s admin. Where the judges can take a break and have some lunch served from the small, but functional galley. The flat grassy area outside – regularly mowed so the grass is short – provides adequate space for two good size rings, and there is room for quite a few cars in the car park, provided they are parked well (well done Jojo!).
The downside? – well, Brenzett is on the backside of the Universe! It is a good thing there are people in TDR who really don’t mind travelling long distances to enjoy working with their dogs. But as the man said, if you organise it, they will come. And come you do! We started holding a rally at Brenzett in 2021 for the teams that train in Kent to provide a fun, end of season get together: 31 rounds were worked before lunch and we had a (very) fun team competition to end the day. We had entries for 44 rounds in 2022; 65in 2023 and a fantastic 88 this year, including 30 at level 1 – So many, we had to change judging arrangements as Lisa would have been well over her quota for the day if she had judged all of the puppy and veteran level 1 rounds. And the entries are now from all over the south of England, from Norfolk to the Isle of Wight – in October for goodness sake! All good indicators for the future of TDR.
The judges: I am lucky in having Tanya and Rhia as co-conspirators in arranging these trials. Without their commitment to judging every year, it would be a more onerous task to get the event off the ground. Aimee Matthews, Sue Coulstock, Jacky Ruddock and, this year, Lisa Fiske have all given up their time to judge for us. It just wouldn’t be the same without you.
Of course, the weather matters. It has the power to bring everyone together, sitting in a warm glow of Autumn sunshine, or to drive everyone to sit in their cars, in solitude, until the need for another coffee or some crumb of human contact (or a wee), provides the incentive to dash through rain and wind. We have been very lucky. We have had some idyllic weather that has turned the day into a late summer picnic. Even this year, despite the breeze and afternoon drizzle, it could have been much worse – it was much worse after everyone had left and we were trying to pack the kit in the cars!
As the number of entries has increased each year, catering has had to improve. No longer is it possible to leave an honesty box in the galley and let everyone help themselves to tea and coffee as they want it – there just isn’t the space. Deirdre and Beth provided the home-made cakes and cupcakes, and they, and anyone with a few moments to spare, served the steady stream of customers.
And that is the clue to what makes this trial work – “anyone with a few moments to spare”. There is no team of people to marshal the car park or man the gates to the rings. It is all down to people stepping in and doing the small jobs that crop up during the day. But the big one is when the judging finishes and the rings need taking down. That orange netting is a nightmare. The netting, and supporting poles, have to go back in a box, so the netting must be rolled tightly to fit. It is bad enough when it’s dry, but wet and covered in leaves, it is no fun at all. And it’s at the end of the day when all you want to do is go home, sit down and have cup of tea. So to see people spread round the field, pulling posts and rolling up that blessed netting is just, wow!
There are moments from every year that will remain in the memory. For many of us in Kent, watching Alison and Ida work their last – perfect 210 – round together in 2023, after achieving the feat so many times before, is one we treasure. It was wonderful that Goose repeated the feat with Alison this year. Or, at the other extreme, watching Rhia working my Harry and being made to be the straight man for his sense of humour (he only does it to people he likes!).
And that is my reflection on the day – one of immense gratitude to everyone who travels to the back of beyond to take part; who helps in whatever way they can from judging to walking paperwork back to the hall, to make the day work; and everyone who creates memories of an enjoyable day with their dogs – thank you!
Rally friendships come in all shapes and sizes. Zara and Clara, my favourite rhyming pair!
Sherborne Vale Trial, September 2024-Blog by Jacky Ruddock
What a wonderful weekend us three judges had at the trial run by Jane Ward who was supported by a large team of helpers. The venue in Holnest is owned by Watercombe Dogs and is nestled into the beautiful Dorset Countryside; it really is the most ideal of settings for Talking Dogs Rally. It was great to welcome new competitors along with some of our seasoned teams.
I had the pleasure of judging L1, PL2 and L2 rounds. This is a novelty for me now as I rarely get the opportunity to watch the newbies work. There are for too many teams to mention individually so I have selected a few which I judged.
Rebecca introduced us to the sweetest little Border Terrier Billie who worked with lively enthusiasm to achieve an Outstanding in Level 1. This is the sort of little dog who goes on to bounce her way to achieving great scores in TDR.
Carol with her little Shih Tzus ,Humphrey and Hector. The wet grass and attractive smells are not always easy for small dogs and Carol had to work hard to gain and maintain the boys’ attention. Carol managed an impressive haul of 4 Aces and 1 Outstanding over the weekend.
It was Jayne-Marie’s first live trial with her GSP, Myla. Jayne-Marie didn’t let the fact that Myla peed in the ring on her first round mar the day and went on to success in her other 3 rounds.
It was Penny and Demi’s first live trial and the pair worked well together achieving their Level 1 Title over the weekend. Penny’s nervousness was masked by her permanent smile as the team navigated the course; well done Team Demi.
Clive and the adorable Cassie the Labrador joined us on Sunday. Clive wisely used his rounds as training sessions to keep Cassie motivated and happy to work. This team shows tremendous potential and is one to watch in the future.
I was happy to be there when one of our experienced handlers, Frances, had a breakthrough with Joker her aptly named rescue Lurcher. Joker is an intelligent dog but not the easiest boy to handle in the ring. He is easily distracted but, when he works, boy does he glide along with grace and flow. Joker achieved 2 Outstanding scores, and Frances was rewarded for all the time and effort she puts into training.
Judge Sue worked her two Shelties over the weekend. It’s always difficult to fit in your own dogs when judging and Sue had little warm-up time but rather had to walk into the ring and get on with it! Both boys worked well, achieved great results and pleased their handler no end!
Rob and Nellie the Golden Retriever impressed me this weekend. Nellie enjoys working but works steadily in the ring. Rob accommodates Nellie’s natural speed and doesn’t try to rush her; regulating your working as a team is so important. Congratulations on achieving your Level 1 Championship Rob and Nellie.
Congratulations to Ann and Dexter for achieving your Veteran Level 1 Championship. Ann you give us judges so much joy listening to your chat as you progress round the course!
One of our most experienced handlers, Judge Jacky B, achieved the ultimate accolade in our sport by gaining her Level 3 Plus Championship over the weekend. Jacky works her beautiful ginger crossbreed Amber, a rescue girl who hasn’t had the easiest journey to get to where she is today, with such patience and calmness and the team is just a joy to watch. Congratulations on being the first team to achieve this award, Marley Black would be so proud of his sister!
Congratulations to ALL OF THE TEAMS who worked this weekend and made the trial such a friendly supportive event. Success looks different to all teams and cannot be viewed solely as rosettes gained. One of the handlers summed up my thoughts exactly when she said ,’I’m just so pleased that he was happy to come with me round the ring. A little while ago he was scared of everything and now he’s found something which gives him confidence.’ This is why us judges love the sport!
Special thanks must go to Jane, Mel and the whole team who provided such a delicious spread for us judges and who ensured that trial ran smoothly and efficiently. Sue and I drove home with memories of beautiful sunsets and joyous moments. Here’s to next time!
September Mini Trial near Hailsham-Blog by Jacky R.
I was once again invited to judge Lyn Storey’s annual mini trial, this time in a new venue with a large grass area allowing ample room to space out the course. The sun shone on teams as they negotiated two Puppy and Level 1 courses.
The two puppies were just delightful! Crossbreed Alana worked well with Zoe and achieved two Aces in her first live trial- a great achievement. Her spiral was textbook as she flowed and high-stepped effortlessly between the cones. Cathy handled her little Cockapoo Martha beautifully and knew when to turn her rounds into training and learning opportunities. Martha is a young immature fluffball who will blossom when all of her learning clicks in. Cathy was patient and calm- lovely to watch.
David worked George beautifully as always and achieved his Level 1 Title with ease. David will never be satisfied until he achieves perfection and George is, without a doubt, a potential 210 dog! I’m looking forward to judging Team George in Level 2.
Isabelle worked her cute little Crossbreed Monty who is looking so Patterdale now even though his DNA test says differently! The progress Isabelle has made with Monty is incredible and the tight bond between the pairing is clear. They achieved two Aces and have a great deal of potential. Keep up the good work Team Monty!
Lyn worked four of her dogs. It’s nerve wracking for a trainer to work their own dogs in front of their pupils so I take my hat off to Lyn for working so many on the day!
Jack the Whippet showed focus, worked well and achieved two Aces which gained him his Level 1 Title. Lyn handled Jack beautifullly.
Zoom the Whippet lived up to his name on occasion but still pulled off an impressive Outstanding and Ace.
Josie the Tibetan Terrier managed to achieve a Good and was awarded her Level 1 Title. Her focus was not as good as normal probably because she was working on home territory. Josie certainly made Lyn work!
How cute is little Yogi the Crossbreed! Yogi is a little livewire who is proving a training challenge. When she matures and settles into work, I’m sure that this little girl will achieve great things.
Thank you Lyn for a great day!
IMPORTANT RULE UPDATE
PERMITTED EQUIPMENT WHEN WORKING A TDR® ROUND
COLLARS
It is vital that the equipment you choose to use in the ring allows you to always keep a loose lead during your round. We encourage the use of a simple flat collar with a buckle or snap fastening, but we recognise that this may not be right for all teams. We also allow the use of well- fitted harnesses with the lead only connected at one point. We allow double check collars made entirely of fabric.
Keeping in mind the safety of all, we permit the use of head-collars by young handlers with strong dogs and elderly or disabled handlers with exuberant/strong dogs. If you are unsure whether this is appropriate for your team please contact Jacky RUDDOCK to discuss further.
We do not allow any collars which we consider to be overly aversive including prong collars, check chains and electric / vibration/spray collars. We have also added to this list double check collars INCORPORATING CHAINS. Gundog slip collars are also not allowed.
LEADS
We allow all leads which clip onto a collar or harness. No slip leads and collars are allowed. We do not allow chain leads or extending leads. Please ensure that your lead is long enough to enable it to be always kept loose.
Blog For the Northern Trial- 8th September- by Judge Cristen Brown
On Sunday 8th September, I hosted and judged a mini Talking Dogs Rally trial at Monkchester Community Centre, Newcastle Upon Tyne. Mini trials are fantastic for those just starting out in Talking Dogs Rally. They are small events, often focused on just one level, though not always, and with smaller numbers of entries.
For this trial, we had Level 1, Veteran Level 1 and Puppy. To make the day run smoothly and to minimise course changes the Level 1 and Veteran Level 1 were the same courses and for puppy a few stations were removed. Due to space limitations (we were in a community centre), the only people in the hall were the competing team and myself judging. This arrangement helps to calm competitors’ nerves, as there are no spectators to add pressure. However, I do love it when there’s enough room for an audience because everyone is always so encouraging. That said, I heard that everyone was very chatty out in the car park, and the level of support was fantastic. That’s exactly what I love about Talking Dogs Rally – the sense of community and supportiveness.
In total, we had nine teams participating. It was lovely to welcome Claire and Wendy who braved Great North Run traffic and came up from Darlington.
Claire with Maisie, Lily, Indi and Clover – yes that’s right, Claire entered 4 different dogs! That is no mean feat, especially as it was only Claire’s second trial. Although the rounds are relatively short (A few minutes usually) working different dogs is always hard and with it being a small trial Claire was non stop. Throughout the day Claire’s handling went from strength to strength and in total she came away with four Outstanding scores and two Good scores. Plus Claire and Maisie got their Level 1 Title.
Gemma and Dreya – Dreya is my dog that Gemma works and trains, so she had the added task of keeping Dreya’s focus on her and away from me. Gemma handled this very well and they came away with two Outstanding scores.
Georgina and Devon – This was the first trial for Devon and several years since Georgina has entered a Talking Dogs Rally Trial. They both took it in their stride coming away with a Good and an Outstanding score
Wendy and Jax – Wendy and Jax have only recently started doing Talking Dogs Rally and this was their first trial and in a new environment. Wendy managed her nerves well and they came away with two Good rosettes
Jude and Florence – This was Florence’s first trial and she handled it like a pro. Jude’s experience at Talking Dogs Rally was clear and they gained an Outstanding and an Ace rosette
David and Hamish – This was Hamish’s last trial at puppy level (Puppy is from 6 months to 18 months) as he’s almost 18 months old. This age can be a challenging time as many dogs are going through adolescence, but it wasn’t a problem for Hamish expertly handled by David. They gained an Outstanding and an Ace rosette as well as their Puppy Championship.
Congratulations to all teams.
Clarification of TDR Rules
Following a recent meeting it has emerged that judges have been marking (and training) the following stations differently. This happens over the course of time in all sports as we develop our own habits.
As a team we always strive to be fair and judge in a uniform manner, so in future we intend to strictly follow the instructions as written on the signs. Please note the following.
L1-B2 Bonus – Call to heel
Note: This exercise is part of a multi-sign station. Pair this sign with L1-B1.
On reaching the station, which is placed approx. 3m away from the first sign, and without turning to face the dog, the handler stands with their back to them and calls the dog to join them at the heel position. The dog then sits. The station is complete when the dog sits beside the handler.
YOU MUST NOT TURN TO LOOK AT YOUR DOG WHEN CALLING TO HEEL- NOT EVEN A GLANCE! THIS WILL BE MARKED AS A SNC.
L2-5(s) Call to heel
Note: This exercise is part of a multi-sign station. Pair this sign with L2-1(s).
On reaching the station, which is placed approx 3m away from the first sign, and without turning to face the dog, the handler stands with their back to them and calls the dog to join them at the heel position. The dog then sits. The station is complete when the dog sits beside the handler.
Dog returns to the handler’s right if already working on that side.
YOU MUST NOT TURN TO LOOK AT YOUR DOG WHEN CALLING TO HEEL- NOT EVEN A GLANCE! THIS WILL BE MARKED AS A SNC.
L2-2(s) Angled recall to front, finish L/R
Note: This exercise is part of a multi-sign station. Pair this sign with L2-1(s).
On reaching the station, which is placed approx 3m away and 1.8m to the left or right from the first sign, the handler turns 180 ̊ to face forward. The handler should not stand at an angle facing the dog. The dog is recalled. The dog should sit straight in front of the handler. Then the handler asks the dog to finish at their left heel, by walking around the handler to the right, or left, directly to heel position, where the dog ends the station in a sit.
AS THE HANDLER FACES FORWARD WHEN REPOSITIONED AWAY FROM THE DOG, THE HANDLER SHOULD NOT LOOK AT THE DOG WHEN CALLING TO PRESENT-NOT EVEN A GLANCE! THIS WILL BE MARKED AS A SNC.
Risby Trial-June 2024- Blog by Jacky R
Last week we enjoyed the usual fun and frolics at a weekend trial in Risby hosted by Lucy and her trusty band of helpers. The weather was kind to us and some of us were even a little sun kissed on the following Monday.
It was great to spend time with some of our regulars who have been trialing for some years with a series of dogs. I now class these folk as friends and I value our interactions during trials. We welcomed back Sophie who some of you will remember as a judge in the early days of the sport. She competed with her gorgeous Yogi and they demonstrated that TDR is a little like riding a bike, a skill you don’t forget despite a lengthy hiatus! We are hopeful that Sophie will rejoin us as a judge in the future.
Many teams are now joining us for live trials after entering our online trials and catching the bug! It’s great for us judges to see these teams in the flesh after judging them virtually.
There were many great rounds and AOEs, Titles and Championships were plentiful. Our new young handler, Bethany, did herself proud gaining a Good and an Outstanding with her Norwegian Buhund over the weekend. We love seeing children having a go and often demonstrating superior handling skills to the adults!
The main issue causing teams to NQ or converting to a Training Round was lack of focus in the ring. Many dogs perform well in a hall yet struggle to cope with the sniff fest outdoors. There is no substitute for proofing the exercises in a range of different environments and in the presence of challenging distractions. The other notable fault was tight turns despite the ample space the rings offered; if you work KC as well as TD Rally ensure that you remember which one you’re doing at the time!
Many thanks to Lucy who does so much for our sport; also to Frances and David on the table and all who helped out.
See you all for more fun at Risby next January.
Isle of Wight Trial- June 2024- Blog by Jacky R
Earlier this month we shared a wonderful weekend on the Isle of Wight trialing with Lisa and the Lead On DT crew. The weather was mixed- torrential rain one minute and brilliant sunshine the next. The trial was well attended and the judges were certainly kept busy. Several people joined us from the mainland and were welcomed in typical Isle of Wight style.
The standard of work on the island is generally high and Lisa and Company’s input is evident in both style and content of the rounds. There were many excellent rounds and the newbies certainly did themselves proud. Out of the 150 rounds there were 98 Ace, 10 Outstanding and 9 Good along with 7 AOEs, 10 Titles and 6 Championships earned.
The main issue for handlers in the ring was sniffing and this is clearly an area which needs attention. It is difficult not to jerk the lead to get your dog ‘back in the room’ but this is costly in terms of points and the possibility of an NQ. It pays to have a range of phrases which can get your dog’s attention instead of resorting to the often heard (and often penalised) ‘watch’. Nerves often stop handlers from verbally engaging with their dogs in the ring even though they have been chatting away together outside the ring. Judges love listening to your chat and praise as you work your round!
Many thanks to Lisa, Adam, Hannah and the club who catered so brilliantly for us all weekend; the food was amazing. Special thanks to Ginny and Sarah who manned the table and managed the admin. procedure- you were both brilliant (you’re not sacked!)
Looking forward to September!
Talking Dogs Rally Online Trial June 2024
The Talking Dogs Rally Online Trial opened on Monday 3rd June 2024 and closed at 6pm on Friday 21st June 2024. The “back office” format for this online trial was tweaked due to unforeseen circumstances when the only date for a live Risby summer trial clashed with judging for the online trial. Rather than cancel the online trial that was already in the calendar, it was decided that the online trial would be run by the Northern Judges – Amie (Isle of Mull), Cristen (Newcastle Upon Tyne) and Jayne (Yorkshire). We were expertly supported by Gemma who stepped into the role of verifier and worked tirelessly throughout the three-week period to ensure rounds were received, verified and entered accurately into Judging lists. Gemma also dealt with all of the pre and post judging admin!!
There were 95 entries received for verification, 93 entries went forward to be judged from Puppy to L3 Plus, there were no entries for Veteran Level 3.
There were 78 ACE, 9 OUTSTANDING and 2 GOOD scores awarded.
There were two PERFECT 210 rounds and the teams that achieved these should be very proud of themselves as they demonstrated a solid understanding of the exercises, and showed superb team work with great communication between handler and dog.
It was evident that teams who had a clear reward strategy with both food and touch rewards scored highly as their dogs were fully motivated and engaged throughout the round.
Exercises that appeared to cause issues were as follows;
• 360 circle right – too small/tight – handler simply turning a tight circle with feet together on the spot.
• Call Fronts – dog sitting in front – or dogs being sent to heel very quickly without any momentary pause in front. Work with your trainers to proof this behaviour as a solid exercise so that Judges can see that moment of pause whilst standing in front before you send them to heel.
• Disability Modifications – if you have them – use them – eg if your dog has a DM because of health issues that makes it uncomfortable for them to perform a sit – if your DM permits you to switch the sit to a stand – then do that – don’t lose AC marks asking them to sit when they don’t feel comfortable doing that.
• If an exercise has gone wrong – do not try and correct it – this will always lose more marks – just move on to the next exercise.
• Luring – the difference between a lure and a hand signal is that the Lure guides the dog, encouraging the dog to follow the hand or signal continuously throughout the exercise – a hand signal is displayed for a short period of time, often just a quick showing of the hand which is then removed.
Online trial etiquette
Regrettably we do have to mention a few etiquette points regarding the online trial. These are mentioned here so that we can all work together to ensure that the next online trial is more efficient for everyone.
Inadequate Space
We had to reject 2 higher level rounds at verification as the space utilised was too small to accommodate the course. Space is particularly important for the higher levels which can contain Recalls, Jumps and Tunnel exercises which require a specified distance in order to perform the exercise correctly. Course design is a tricky task, and Judges are required to design courses that have good flow throughout and provide teams with a degree of challenge, this is the same whether it is a live or online trial.
Please consider whether your available space is big enough for the course to flow. If you cannot set up and film anywhere except your back garden, and you still want to enter, please consider entering a lower level that will fit into your garden.
We take no pleasure in rejecting rounds for whatever reason, but as Judges we are required to comply with the ethos and rules of Talking Dogs Rally course design.
Entries received after the closing date/time
The closing date and time for the online trial is specified for good reasons;
• The time frame of the online trial is specified so that every team has exactly the same opportunity to enter the trial.
• There is often a flood of entries on the Friday before the trial has closed – if these are still coming in after 6pm, this means trial admin cannot focus on getting entries that were received prior to 6pm to Judges.
• Trial admin need to ensure they have captured all entries and provided workable film links to Judges – late entries often require paperwork that has been finalised to be re-visited and amended.
• Judges need to get on with judging rounds.
o All judging whether live or online trial is done on a voluntary basis.
o Judges clear time in their diaries so that they can give the online judging their full attention and often do not have time in their schedule to revisit a class when a late entry has been received.
o Judging, live or online trials is mentally and physically demanding – having to return to Judging when you think you have finished is not pleasant.
• Trial admin and Judges have limited free time to pull the results together and we want to ensure all teams are not kept waiting for results.
The next online trial is in the diary to open on Monday 30thSeptember 2024 and will close for entries to be received by 6pm on Friday 25th October 2024.
Start thinking ahead now about where you will set up and film your rounds, speak with your trainers about getting group sessions in the diary where you can all support each other to enter.
Don’t leave filming and submitting your rounds to the last minute.
Thank you to everyone who entered this trial, we saw some amazing partnerships in action, and look forward to seeing you all again.
Gemma, Amie, Cris and Jayne
Northumberland Blog, June 2nd 2024-written by Judge Cristen Brown
Massive thanks to Jacky R and Jayne for coming to Northumberland to judge at our first full trial of 2024. We were at a new venue, Kirkley Hall Equestrian Centre which gave us loads of space and meant we were able to offer all levels including the new 3+.
We welcomed some new teams to their first Talking Dogs Rally trial; it was lovely to see new faces and to welcome back a couple of teams that haven’t had the chance to enter a trial for a while. There was a lovely, friendly atmosphere thoughout the day with everyone supporting and encouraging each other; one of the many things I love about Talking Dogs Rally.
Being an equestrian centre it did come with its challenges; the floor was a little bumpy and of course had lots of smells that some of the dogs found irresistible. However, there were also lots of positives including the ability to have two large rings allowing for beautiful flowing rounds and space for spectators (This isn’t always possible when we run mini trials).
For those dogs that found the setting a challenge it was great to see handlers changing into training rounds and ensuring that both they and their dog had a positive experience. Everyone did very well with a range of Ace, Outstanding and Good rosettes being awarded and very well deserved.
Extra congratulations to:
Abbie and Obi – Level 1 Title
Jayne and Snoopy – VL1 Title and AOE and a 210 PERFECT score. This is no mean feat at any time, but even more so when you are juggling judging and competing. Such a fabulous team.
David and Hamish – Puppy Title and AOE
Emma and Joey – PL2 Title
Hank and Hazel – Veteran L2 Championship
Ann and Stuie – L3 Championship
This was our first experience of the new L3+ rounds and I’m not going to lie, at first it looked extremely daunting! But, it is so much fun with some fabulous new stations and large, flowing courses. Between judging Rossi and I had a go at the morning and afternoon L3+ rounds and loved it.
Thanks again to Jacky R and Jayne for judging. Also to Gemma for her fabulous table stewarding skills and pre-trial admin help. To Emma and Sarah for helping to set up, clear courses and tidy up. Finally to everyone that came today whether it was your first trial or you’ve done loads the support you all gave each other was lovely. Cris x
Mull Trial 2024 – The Two Islands Trial…… blog by Judge Jayne
The beautiful Isle of Mull off the coast of Western Scotland was once again the venue for our most northerly trial.
Thanks to Moira Owers of Paws by the Loch dog training, we are very fortunate to be able to hold this trial in the grounds of Duart Castle and the stunning backdrop of the Sound of Mull, Ferries, Cruise-liners, Yachts, fog and of course the Castle adds so much to the experience and definitely provides a distracting environment with all manner of wildlife scents, tourist coaches and a noisy cattle grid to name a few.
The Mull rally folk were delighted to welcome Talking Dogs Rally folks from the Isle of Wight, with an approximate round trip of 1200 miles to get there! New friendships were formed and I heard Moira saying that she might travel to the Isle of Wight to enter one of their trials……
None of the distractions in this environment bothered the rally folks and it was definitely business as usual when they came into the rings to work their rounds.
One of my favourite things about rally is that the exercises are made up of natural life skills that transfer to any situation, and this was definitely a trial to see great rally skills in action. Exercises were performed with confidence, and I saw genuine partnerships between handler and dog.
I was particularly impressed with the performance of the call front exercises which had an accurate straight stand in front followed by a momentary pause before sending to the relevant heel position. It was also good to see handlers working to the pace of their dog, and not rushing or pushing them out of that pace. Well done everyone on super handling skills that supported all of your dogs to succeed.
Now to the results;
Lisa and Reuben – Level 1 – achieved ACE scores, one of which was a PERFECT 210 which was in their final Level 1 round of the weekend. This was such a pleasure to Judge as it was one of those rounds that only happens when everything aligns in a single moment. The success in this round is due to Lisa’s ability to understand and know Reuben’s individuality, and then transfer the confidence he has gained in training to a live trial environment through clear communication and engagement resulting in a round where everything flowed in perfect harmony. A very well-deserved result. They achieved their Level 1 Championship.
Eve & Toffee – Level 1 – achieved OUTSTANDING and ACE scores and this wee dog has improved so much since her first trial experience last year when she cheekily grabbed the tail of Eve’s Unicorn costume…..no Unicorn’s were harmed I might add…… Toffee really enjoyed stepping up to Level 1 this year and had fun in the ring and with Eve as her handler Toffee has become quite the talented rally dog.
Emma & Sully – Level 1 – achieved ACE scores and given that Sully is a fast, fun rally dog, it is due to the calm and supportive handling by Emma that ensures Sully can quickly refocus and re-engage without dampening the enthusiasm.
Eve & Sona – Level 1 – achieved rosettes of every colour with GOOD, OUTSTANDING and ACE scores, impressive results with Sona, a busy spaniel who has the most impressive engagement for heelwork during rally rounds and has improved so much since last year, well done Eve on helping Sona to improve and engage. They achieved their Level 1 Title.
Sarah & Finn – Level 1 – ACE scores, and Pre-Level 2 – ACE scores achieved through quiet effective handling with accuracy in the performance of the exercises. Such a lovely steady team to watch working rally.
Kelly & JuJu – Level 1 – achieved an OUTSTANDING score. It was great to see Kelly return with JuJu her Cane Corso, a breed that I have only seen doing Rally on the Isle of Mull, they have lots of potential to progress further with training and guidance. Kelly quite rightly made use of the opportunity to provide Extra Rewards to JuJu during the round and it is always preferable to see handlers support their dogs this way and lose points for the Extra Reward rather than see a dog struggle or flatten.
Eve & Dot – Level 1 – achieved GOOD and ACE scores. Dot and Eve are a true partnership in every sense and Dot has the most super engagement throughout the round and it is a delight to see them working rally. I commend anyone who works multiple dogs in any dog sport, it is not an easy thing to do, but just putting that into context with regards to Eve, she not only works multiple dogs, she works multiple breeds; a Terrier, a Spaniel and a Collie…….
Ann & Dexter achieved ACE and OUTSTANDING scores in Veteran Level 2 which gave them their Veteran Level 2 Championship, and then began Veteran Level 1 with an ACE score. Ann and Dexter are a team that always demonstrate great handling skills and engagement.
Jayne & Snoopy – Veteran Level 1 – achieved an ACE score and are working towards their VL1 Title.
Amie & Margo – Pre-Level 2 – achieved OUTSTANDING scores through lovely engagement from Margo, supported by super handling skills from Amie.
Hannah & Rubble – Pre-Level 2 – achieved ACE scores and demonstrated the importance of knowing your own dog and understanding what support they need during a rally round. Hannah never pushed Rubble outside of his own pace and she allowed him time to process the cues and the environment. They achieved an Award of Excellence.
Vicky & Poppy – Pre-Level 2 – achieved ACE scores through super clear handling from Vicky. Wee Poppy is a proper pocket rocket, quick, attentive and with clean exercise performance, a joy to see. They achieved an Award of Excellence and their PL2 Title. This team has great potential for the higher levels of rally.
Amie & Tablet – Pre-Level 2 – achieved ACE scores with Tablet justifiably holding onto his TDR poster boy position through solid performances in the rally ring.
Lisa & Rocco – Level 3 – achieved OUTSTANDING and ACE scores with stylish, engaged performances only scuppered by fast pace and jump exercises that raised the excitement levels for Rocco albeit expertly handled by Lisa.
Ann & Stuie – Level 3 – achieved GOOD and ACE scores taking them closer towards their Level 3 Championship. Ann is to be commended on her handling skills as Stuie is a speedy wee dog.
I would like to express my thanks to Amie Matthews who is now resident on the Isle of Mull. Amie wore many hats for this trial, including the organisation, paperwork, social events, judging and competing with her two lovely spaniels. Well done Amie, all of your work was very much appreciated by everyone at the trial.
On the days of the trial, Amie was ably assisted by her friend Eve Coles who provided us with a pop-up café facility and kept me supplied with hot coffee and the most delicious bacon & sausage sandwiches. I won’t mention the gazebo…..but there are photos…..and thank goodness for the gentlemen from the Isle of Wight…….
I would also like to thank our wonderful friends Fiona and Martin who very kindly enabled us to go to Mull this year by letting Ann and I stay with them in their beautiful Fionnophort home, and special thanks to Scampi and Gemma their two dogs who allowed three boy dogs to stay there too!
And finally, my thanks to Ann Fawcett my co-pilot, always supportive of everyone at a Talking Dogs Rally trial, and who stepped into the role of Director of Media and Public Relations when the Canadians arrived to ask all about Talking Dogs Rally………..road trip to Canada anyone…….
Trial– Monkchester Community Centre, Newcastle Upon Tyne-blog by Judge Jayne
It was a chilly but sunny day on Sunday 4th Feb for the first Northern trial of 2024, hosted by Judge Cristen and Ruff Diamond Dog Training in Newcastle Upon Tyne. We were pleased to be inside in the warmth of the fabulous Monkchester Community Centre.
This mini-trial covered all current levels and gave everyone a chance to show off their rally skills, taking on the challenge of creative course design from Judges Cristen and Jayne.
The consistency of training was evident in all of the teams and everyone confidently tackled courses containing exercises they may not have previously encountered in addition to demonstrating solid skills with level 1 foundation exercises. In particular, the Call Front exercises were executed with superb precision, with dogs coming cleanly to the front position into a solid and straight stand, pausing and waiting for the handler to cue them to the appropriate finish or forward position. Well done to everyone for showing these exercises accurately and with great style.
In the higher levels the distance control exercises were also performed with confidence, and the majority of teams demonstrated solid training skills for recall exercises with marks lost for anticipation, extra positions and handlers not adopting the correct position for angled recalls. Everyone took on board feedback for future-proofing these exercises to enable their dogs to remain in position until the handler cues the next element of the exercise.
The distraction exercises proved to be a challenge for one or two teams, and again feedback was given for setting the dog up to succeed with these exercises in future trials.
It was delightful to see Harry the Scottish Terrier invent his own variation of a pivot exercise which incorporated a perfect spin and really should be a Level 4 exercise for the future!
Puppy Level David and wee Hamish (West Highland Terrier) gained two ACE scores in their first ever trial, and it will be wonderful to see this amazing team progress through the levels. No pressure David, but there is the potential for an Award of Excellence if you gain another ACE score at your next trial.
Level 1/Veteran L1 Judge Cristen and pocket rocket Border Terrier Dreya gained two ACE scores in their first level 1 rounds. Vicky and her gorgeous Australian Doodles Rouggie and Mella achieved ACE scores in their rounds with Mella gaining her Level 1 Championship and Rouggie her Level 1 title and AOE. Sarah and her super speedy terrier Reo achieved two ACE scores and achieved their Level 1 Championship. Jude and Scottish Terrier Harry gained an OUTSTANDING and an ACE score. Sirja and Daisy, a German Shepherd,put in two consistently near perfect rounds achieving ACE scores. Sirja has the most wonderful clean handling style and Daisy is so responsive, always a delight to judge. Lesley and Cocker Spaniel Mitro achieved an ACE score, gaining their Level 1 title and demonstrating some solid rally skills. Gemma worked Cal who is Judge Cristen’s veteran border collie, scoring an amazing 209 and a 206 which is an amazing achievement for both Gemma and Cal, well done. This was a first trial experience for Abbie and Obi a border collie, they showed that they have a good understanding of the exercises and will be a lovely partnership to see develop their skills. They achieved a GOOD and an OUTSTANDING score. Judge Jayne and cockerpoo Snoopy are working their way back down the levels now, Snoopy, like many of our TD family veteran dogs has a few age related issues, and they took on their first Veteran L1 course, worked it like the pro that he is and gained an ACE score.
Pre-Level 2 / Veteran L2 / Level 2. Lauren and Jasper, a gorgeous red labrador with a fabulously consistent and steady rally style, gained an ACE score and their PL2 Title and AOE. Lauren and Jasper have always been a solid rally team, and this round really demonstrated their partnership and had a superb flow to it. Well done Lauren and Jasper. Sarah and her Bedlington Cross Ted gained two ACE scores and took full advantage of the permissive nature of Talking Dogs Rally for Ted to wear his fleece jumper which enabled him to perform the down exercises on the hard flooring without feeling uncomfortable. Ann & Dexter, a veteran Miniature Schnauzer, is also working his way back down the levels, and he always tackles everything he does with speed and commitment. They achieved two ACE scores. Judge Jayne and Snoopy achieved an ACE score in VL2 which gives them the last score they need for their Veteran Level 2 Championship. That’s quite a collection of Talking Dogs Rally Championships that Snoopy has now achieved. Hazel worked Hank who is a veteran Pug owned by her Daughter, and they achieved an OUTSTANDING and a GOOD score. Well done Hazel, it is not easy working multiple dogs in any sport, especially when one of the dogs is not your own. Hazel also worked Yogi who is her own younger Pug with a zest for fun. It is fair to say that Yogi found the distance control, recalls and distractions difficult in this trial and Hazel took on board feedback for how she can enable Yogi to succeed in future trials.
Level 3 / Veteran L3. Ann and wee Stuie, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel gained two ACE scores, and it won’t be long before Stuie has his Level 3 Championship. Wee Stuie is more than ready for taking on the new L3+ exercises.
Judge Cristen and her Dalmatian Cross Rossi put in two fabulous VL3 rounds achieving ACE scores and gaining their championship
Thank you to everyone for entering the trial, supporting each other to achieve, and helping Cris to set up before and clear up afterwards. A trial host cannot do this alone, and your support is always very much appreciated.
The next Northern trial is currently being planned for the summer, and will be an outdoor trial. Keep any eye on the Save the Date page of the website.
Photos from Risby Trial- January 2024
Risby Blog, January 2024- Written by Judge Jayne
Thank you to Lucy for hosting the trial and giving me the opportunity to judge, and thank you to participants entering the first Talking Dogs Rally trial of 2024. Although it was a tad chilly outside, the Village Hall was warm, and it was very much appreciated that Lucy had provided a catering service with hot drinks and delicious bacon sandwiches!
An indoor trial environment can present different environmental factors for handlers and dogs, but it was great to see teams overcome these and set their dogs up to succeed and progress through their respective classes.
I have taken a different approach with this blog to previous ones, as I feel it is important to share a few of my overall judging observations amongst the wider Talking Dogs Rally participants so that we can all aim to improve our trial skills.
Additional Cues The indoor environment highlighted where handlers are using additional cues that might not normally be picked up in an outdoor setting, and when a handler made repetitive clicking or kissing noises to motivate their dog this is amplified in the hall.
Another type of additional cue is tapping your leg and wiggling your fingers which again tends to be done repeatedly.
Sometimes handlers are not aware that they are doing this, so it is useful to ask someone else to watch and listen for what you do when working a round, and then look at fading out any repetitive noises or hand signals that are identified.
Handler nerves There is no doubt that entering the trial ring to be judged causes every handler to feel nervous. This is absolutely normal for everyone entering the trial ring.
Try flipping the nerves and emotions over. Instead of focusing on what you think your dog cannot do, or will not do, look at the positives of what your dog can do and what your dog enjoys doing.
Use your walk-through to identify those exercises that you know you have not fully proofed yet, and have a strategy for how you will deal with this during the round, eg, move onto the next exercise, additional cue, retry. Try to not let one specific exercise affect the whole of your round.
Take a strategic approach to the things that don’t go well, make a note of which exercises were challenging and work with your trainer to break the exercise down and proof it for future trials.