As we edge towards the close of 2024, I reflect upon another year of Talking Dogs Rally and the highs and lows our sport has met along the way.
It has been a busy year for all of us and my house move led to some increased personal demands for me, as much of the paperwork was inaccessible in packing boxes buried deep down!
We have expanded dramatically this year and have gained new members who have thrown themselves enthusiastically into the sport and are eager to learn and progress.
The Online Trials have proved an enormous success and have given many teams a gentle introduction into the sport before they progress to attending a live trial. They are also invaluable for dogs who are unable to attend live trials due to reactivity or other issues.
We have appointed a new judge, Lisa from the Isle of Wight. Lisa is a brilliant trainer, and she progressed to judging after having worked her own labradors through the levels.
I am eternally grateful to our judges who really do this for the love of the sport as they work on a voluntary basis. We all share the delight of seeing the bond between person and dog blossom as they master skills and progress through the levels together.
As most of you know, Judge Amie moved to the beautiful Isle of Mull a couple of years ago and this clearly restricts her ability to get to trials around the country. We hope to see her ‘up north’ this year. I have always been eager to keep the judging team small as this ensures that we are all ‘singing from the same hymn sheet.’ Having said that we need 1 or 2 new judges to compliment our team and ensure greater coverage of the country.
What do you need to be a judge?
· You must be currently or have previously worked a dog in the sport
· have a good understanding of the rules and regulations
· have good people skills
· be willing to learn and work as part of a team
· continue to develop your skills through training and shadowing
· possess a commitment to travelling to trials with no thought of being fully compensated!
· be willing to have fun!
If you would be interested have a chat with me; I have a couple of people in mind and will be approaching them over the next few weeks.
Sadly, this year has not only seen the passing of some of our long-standing canine members but also one of our northern handlers, Jane. We really do build strong bonds with our teams and each loss is felt personally to members and judges. I am so happy to hear that Jane’s dogs have settled well into their new home.
We have also welcomed some of our long-term members, having retired a dog, returning to the sport with a new dog; this is heartwarming for us judges to see.
Some of us judges have run workshops for both trainers and handlers this year and this has seen new TDR classes spring up around the country. When promoting the sport, I always point out the benefits alongside those of learning new skills and tactics as a team. TDR training can easily be incorporated into other classes including Good Citizens and Puppy Training. The focus and structure of the sport not only enhances handler/dog connection but can also lead to a reduction in reactivity and the ability to focus on the handler in the presence of canine and other distractions. As someone who spends a lot of time working with reactivity and aggression, I see the increased confidence gained by handlers merely by them having to focus on the stations as opposed to their entire attention on the dog and his ‘issues.’ One of my friends Amanda works her little Jack Russell Otis in TDR. This little chap has gone from being an anxious little dog to a confident boy who has found his niche in the structure and routine of the sport. This increased confidence has led Amanda and Otis to, not only excel in rally but to build a mutual understanding and respect. Otis just adores his Monday evenings trotting around and showing his skills!
Anyone can work Talking Dogs Rally, the only thing you need is the strong relationship and attachment with your dog. Although you can train all the exercises, without the underlying bond and respect, your team will struggle to maintain the flowing movement and connection that we look for in a good round.
This year has seen many mini trials held around the country. A mini trial can be held at a normal training class/venue to cater for members of an individual club or a group of nearby clubs/ individuals. I have judged between 6 and 15 teams during an evening’s training. The beauty of a mini trial is that the cost is minimal- as there is no advertising and no additional venue costs. The main outlay is the cost of rosettes and contribution towards the judge’s travel costs.
We all look forward to 2025 and meeting some new members at trials.
As we gain new members and the demand for trials increase, we really need more members and clubs to host trials around the country. The requirements to host a trial are not onerous and the host manual is available to download from the website which gives you all the necessary information to get you started. You are unlikely to make a profit from hosting a trial but should be able to break even. Please give me a call if you are interested and I will gently guide you through the process.
As in last few years I will not be asking for an Annual Maintenance Fee from members. Fees go towards the Title, Champ and AOEs as well as admin costs. If you can pay a small amount, it will be gratefully received but I keep no records and have no expectations. Payment details are on the website.
Thank you from me to all the judges and admin support; I could not do it without you!
The TDR team wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2025.