Page 18 - Sloughi Review - Issue 1

THE SLOUGHI REVIEW 18

The examiner instructs you to place the We were all put through our paces and
dog’s bed in a particular spot in the room everything seemed to be going well, until
and without the use of inducements, e.g. during the fated "send the dog to bed" test
toys or food, you are meant to get the dog a little Jack Russell decided that he didn’t
to go and settle on his bed. Nearly all the care for one of the Bedlington dogs and
dogs were a great source of amusement had a little snap at him. There was no
during the training for this exercise and actual contact between the dogs and no
George was no exception. We could have harm was done but the examiner decided
dogs going in all directions during the that he couldn’t pass the Jack Russell as the
training sessions and quite often they standard required does state, "Any
would decide that someone else’s bed was uncontrolled, mouthing, barking, growling
much more comfortable than theirs, or the or other threatening behaviour is not
treats being used as encouragement tasted acceptable". This put a little dampener on
better. the evening as we all wanted everyone to
go away happy.
Needless to say we practised this at home
and most of the time we got George on his .
bed, not always in a down position, but at
least on the bed. We thought that if © Michael Atkinson
anything was going to catch us out on the
night it would be this, as even if we Despite the sorrow of one of our little team
managed to get George on his bed unless n ot being successful, the evening ended on
he went into a down he could easily decide a happy note as Sylvia announced that the
to go and visit someone else. Fortunately Club had been awarded a certificate by The
on the night of the test, George was either Kennel Club Good Citizen Award Scheme
feeling very obedient or he was tired as he for coming 2nd in the Annual Awards for
went straight to bed and went down... 2014.
panic over.
George was born on 23 April 2014 by
The next test night was set for 24th June Dagash Ksar Ghilane out of Falconcrag
and fortunately it didn’t clash with any of Sahsheer, bred by Carol and Barry Davies.
our holidays. We had the same examiner
and so most people, especially those doing
silver and gold, felt very comfortable as
they knew him from the previous
tests. Regardless of this you still get
butterflies in your stomach and it seemed
like an eternity waiting for your turn.