Page 22 - Issue 3_2018

Trick Dog Elite Performer Title Rally Master
Dunham Lake Maid In Wisconsin CD PCDX BN RE TKE Greyrock Tozan Maximum High
CDX PUTD BN GO VER RAE RM AX OAJ MXP AJP NF OFP

by Muriel McMullen by Pat Maynard

Maddie is our breed’s first to acquire the new AKC Trick Dog Elite Title Max is an awesome little dude that earned the First Rally Master title
by a club member. He was bred by Barbera Curtis, Kerrie Bryan & Carol
From the first few weeks that Maddie came to me, at 12 weeks old, I Sazama . . . . energetic (always available for training or play), smart
have been teaching her tricks. Maddie has become a master at tricks. (clever & devious), and biddable (as defined by a terrier).
She loves the challenge of figuring out new tricks and performing old
ones. Max has always worked in a buckle collar and received positive
reinforcement training. Exercises or rally moves have always been
Tricks have been an important part of Maddie’s life. We used tricks in broken down into small pieces or parts. We practice pieces on our
her rehabilitation from FHO surgery to strengthen her hind leg. When morning walks in many different places before working through a
I had knee replacement surgery I couldn’t take her for walks or do oth- complete exercise. When he reached advanced levels of training and
er training to release her built-up energy but, I could teach her tricks clearly understood exercises, he was given a “time out” in his crate if he
while I was sitting. Tricks required mental and physical challenges to wasn’t working. He was amazing after a few minutes alone time. Then
keep her brain and body engaged and busy. So, when AKC announced “jackpot” time.
the new Trick Dog titling program I knew that was something we had
to do. Maddie earned her Trick Dog titles (up to the Performer level) Max is always looking for a good time and happily “boings” along on
as soon as the program began and when they came out with the Elite heeling, tossed gloves in the air to catch them in Utility and made
Performer title we knew we had to achieve that one too. comments if they had too many stations with a backup in Masters
Rally. But that is the fun of having him in the ring!
To earn a Trick Dog Elite Performer title, you must perform an unedited
routine with a storyline. (which you will video.) Plus, your dog must Next stop will be Barnhunt!
have all 4 previous Trick Dog titles on record. For the Elite Performer
routine, the dog/handler must perform 10 Tricks from Advanced and
Performer levels with at least 5 of those tricks Performer level tricks.
Also, you must use a prop with at least 5 tricks. (While the list for the
Performer level is currently short you may include tricks equaling the
difficulty or more of the Performer level tricks.)

A story/script is required for the Elite Performer with the thought that
you will be providing entertainment at shows, events, and in therapy
settings. For the video you can narrate the story yourself, have some-
one narrate the story for you, use captions in your video or you can
send in a script designed for anyone to read that follows your routine.

The video link for your routine is sent directly to AKC to be judged/ap-
proved. AKC CGC Evaluators do not judge the Elite Performer routines.
The theme for Maddie’s Elite Performer routine was The Story of Us
which was a personal story of how we went through a major life
changing event to “packing it up and moving on.” It was more of a So what do all of Max’s titles really mean?
metaphoric routine as opposed to a literal one. (e.g., “Going in circles”
– Maddie spins in circles left then right, “sometimes going sideways” - In AKC Performance and Companion events a higher title in Regular
Maddie sidesteps, “trying to find where we fit in” – Maddie puts all four AKC classes replaces the lower level title. As a dog progresses through
feet in a tiny, little box) Being overachievers, our routine consisted of the higher levels, he ends up with only one title after his name, but
no less than 16 tricks. we all know that there were several lower level classes completed
successfully before getting that higher-level title. So, in actuality, Max
Trick dog training is all about having fun with your dog. Teaching your has achieved a Beginner Novice (BN), Companion Dog (CD), Compan-
dog tricks is a great way for you to bond with your dog and learn to ion Dog Excellent (CDX), Graduate Open (GO), Preferred Utility Dog
work as a team. Our little Aussies are particularly adept at learning (PUTD), Obedience Versatility (VER); Rally Novice (RN), Rally Open (RO),
tricks and being the “Star of the Show” anywhere they go. I think all Rally Excellent (RE), Rally Advanced Excellent (RAE), and Rally Master
dogs should know a trick… or two… or three! (RM); Agility Excellent (AX), Open Agility Jumpers (OAJ), Agility Master
Excellent Preferred (MXP), Agility Advanced Jumpers Preferred ( AJP),
Agility Novice Fast (NF) and Agility Open Fast Preferred (OFP).
So Pat and 8 year old Max have achieved 17 different AKC titles in
Obedience, in Rally, and in Agility, with Barnhunt being a future goal.
This indicates teamwork, dedication, keeping a competition dog in
top, condition and health, keeping the terrier spirit engaged and fo-
cused, and just a little bit of being in the right place at the right event
with the right dog!
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