Beckett Finishes his OTCH (OBEDIENCE TRIAL CHAMPIONSHIP)
His registered name is now:
OTCH HC Cedar Quantum Leap Beckett UD2 OM4 BN GN GO RA HSBds HSDs HIBs HIDs HSAdMsM HIAdMsM HXAdMsM SWN SCA CGC TKA. OTCH HC Cedar Quantum Leap Beckett UD2 OM4 BN GN GO RA HSBds HSDs HIBs HIDs HSAdMsM HIAdMsM HXAdMsM SWN SCA CGC TKA.
This is my 2nd OTCH dog and some people told me when I finished Kaffee, that those having an OTCH belong to an exclusive club. AND yes, there are no gifts; no one gives up their placing or enters Utility B to help you with point numbers; you compete against the best of the best in the sport for those OTCH points. The dog must have won 100 points for the OTCH title having at least one win first place in Utility B with at least three dogs in competitionand a first place in Open B with at least six dogs in competition
Unlike in herding for the Herding Championship (HC), the professionals or top dogs continue to compete, and you compete against them. There are OTCH dogs with multiple OTCHs and AKC lets them put those numbers after the OTCH such as OTCH5, OTCH 10, OTCH 12, OTCH 20.
Not so in herding: most are encouraged to stop competing in the arena classes where points are earned for the HC: there is only one herding champion in a name. So in some ways, this is a gift. While the HC is not easy, at least one is not competing against the very best or the professionals who always score high or get HIT. The American Kennel Club requires a dog to obtain a total of 15 points with two major wins (a major win is worth three points or higher) to become a herding champion.
Also the number of people competing in obedience has greatly declined. In Arizona there are often not many if any competing in Utiity B and in order to get 1 point, one has to get a 197 score or near perfection. There must be 3 in a class for 2 utility points and 6 or 2 Open points.
How many are willing to put in the time and training to obtain this type of perfection? It is difficult to just get a utility title and even more difficult to get a UDX where the dog team must qualify 10 times in both Open and Utility to get a UDX. Few accomplish the Utility title and even fewer the UDX.
I had to keep Beckett tuned up between shows and look for what he was loosing points in to try to work on these areas such as fronts, finishes, forging in heeling. All where perfection is part of the OTCH title.
What I learned on this 7 year journey is that I can work very hard to reach a level of perfection that is reasonable for Beckett and myself. Beckett may never be a 198 or 199 dog in obedience but I can say we never resorted to using a prong or e-collar to achieve those few extra points. It may have taken longer but I can honestly say I did not seek out one of those aversive trainers to help me reach our OTCH goal.
I am so proud of Beckett for his hard work and willingness to train to this level with me. I am also so thankful for the few who supported and encouraged me on this long journey especially in getting the last few points which seem like might never come.
His registered name is now:
OTCH HC Cedar Quantum Leap Beckett UD2 OM4 BN GN GO RA HSBds HSDs HIBs HIDs HSAdMsM HIAdMsM HXAdMsM SWN SCA CGC TKA. OTCH HC Cedar Quantum Leap Beckett UD2 OM4 BN GN GO RA HSBds HSDs HIBs HIDs HSAdMsM HIAdMsM HXAdMsM SWN SCA CGC TKA.
This is my 2nd OTCH dog and some people told me when I finished Kaffee, that those having an OTCH belong to an exclusive club. AND yes, there are no gifts; no one gives up their placing or enters Utility B to help you with point numbers; you compete against the best of the best in the sport for those OTCH points. The dog must have won 100 points for the OTCH title having at least one win first place in Utility B with at least three dogs in competitionand a first place in Open B with at least six dogs in competition
Unlike in herding for the Herding Championship (HC), the professionals or top dogs continue to compete, and you compete against them. There are OTCH dogs with multiple OTCHs and AKC lets them put those numbers after the OTCH such as OTCH5, OTCH 10, OTCH 12, OTCH 20.
Not so in herding: most are encouraged to stop competing in the arena classes where points are earned for the HC: there is only one herding champion in a name. So in some ways, this is a gift. While the HC is not easy, at least one is not competing against the very best or the professionals who always score high or get HIT. The American Kennel Club requires a dog to obtain a total of 15 points with two major wins (a major win is worth three points or higher) to become a herding champion.
Also the number of people competing in obedience has greatly declined. In Arizona there are often not many if any competing in Utiity B and in order to get 1 point, one has to get a 197 score or near perfection. There must be 3 in a class for 2 utility points and 6 or 2 Open points.
How many are willing to put in the time and training to obtain this type of perfection? It is difficult to just get a utility title and even more difficult to get a UDX where the dog team must qualify 10 times in both Open and Utility to get a UDX. Few accomplish the Utility title and even fewer the UDX.
I had to keep Beckett tuned up between shows and look for what he was loosing points in to try to work on these areas such as fronts, finishes, forging in heeling. All where perfection is part of the OTCH title.
What I learned on this 7 year journey is that I can work very hard to reach a level of perfection that is reasonable for Beckett and myself. Beckett may never be a 198 or 199 dog in obedience but I can say we never resorted to using a prong or e-collar to achieve those few extra points. It may have taken longer but I can honestly say I did not seek out one of those aversive trainers to help me reach our OTCH goal.
I am so proud of Beckett for his hard work and willingness to train to this level with me. I am also so thankful for the few who supported and encouraged me on this long journey especially in getting the last few points which seem like might never come.
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