Train to “showcase” your dog


Thursday, September 13, 2007
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Train to “showcase” your dog

Train to “showcase” your dog
Local search and rescue canine handlers will again be performing demonstrations at this year’s St. Jude Showcase of Dogs, October 13-14.

It’s time now to start planning and training your dog for one of our region’s most interesting and fun events for dog lovers — and their dogs!

Canine obedience classes begin at the Holly Springs Fire Department on Saturday, September 15, at 9 a.m. These classes can help to prepare you and your dog for participation in the twelfth annual St. Jude Showcase of Dogs, October 13-14 at the Agricenter International Arena in Memphis.

More than just a dog show, the Showcase is “an extravaganza designed to celebrate the life of dogs and is comprised of demonstrations, booth exhibits, competitive events, educational information for the public, and professional seminars covering all aspects of dogs.”

This family event — which your family dog may also attend — offers specialty and all-breed shows, agility competition, obedience and rally obedience competition, a flyball tournament, Canine Good Citizen testing, Super Dog and Super Puppy competitions, a Doggie Fun Zone, and other activities.

Special presentations and entertainment on outdoor and indoor stages include appearances by celebrity dogs, as well as search and rescue demonstrations in which Marshall County area canine search and rescue teams will be featured.

All proceeds from the event benefit the children of St. Jude. Visit www.showcaseofdogs.org for more information.

In additional to helping to prepare you and your dog for the Canine Good Citizen event, the six-week Holly Springs obedience class lays the foundation for formal obedience competition, according to course instructor Judy Otto, of K-9 Search One. The course, consisting of one-hour classes held on Saturday afternoons, applies effective and humane methods to teach the basics of canine obedience — and stresses communication between dog and handler.

Dogs enrolled in the class will learn to obey commands from their owners to sit, lie down, stay, come, and walk quietly beside their humans without pulling on the leash; other behavioral problems will be addressed, as needed.

Otto will be assisted by Mary Jo and Jim Elmore of Byhalia, experienced obedience trainers, instructors, and competitors. Proceeds from the $40 course support training efforts of K-9 Search One and other independent volunteer search and rescue canine teams that work cooperatively to serve the Marshall County area.

Those interested in enrolling dogs in the class should bring to the first class: their dog with leash, the dog’s choke chain or slip collar, and written veterinary evidence of the dog’s inoculation against rabies, distemper, and parvo virus.

For further information, contact Judy Otto at 252-1004.

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