Welcome to the SOTC Brag Blog!

Candy puppies

2009-05-08T17:47:00.000-07:00

Here are pictures of Candy's litter born 5/2/09: 6 girls and 2 boys. They are two days old in these pictures. Many thanks to my professional photographer -- Mary Walker.

Pat John

Additional 2008 Awards

2009-03-12T06:29:00.000-07:00

High Herding Dog: Janice LaFave & Britta

High Terrier: Peggy Metcalf & Pivot

High Working Dog: Ann-Marie Cronin & Presto

High Hound: Kathy Helmke & Mia

2008 Good Sportsmanship Award: Sallie Lennox

2009-03-12T06:26:00.000-07:00

2008 High Sporting Dog: Donna Schmidt & Jordan

2009-03-12T06:25:00.001-07:00

2008 High in Novice A: Terry Boyce-Smith & Minnow

2009-03-12T06:22:00.001-07:00

2008 High in Novice B: Nancy Frakes & Teddy

2009-03-12T06:21:00.001-07:00

2008 High in Open A: Judy Brown & Cedric

2009-03-12T06:19:00.000-07:00

2008 High in Open B: Stacey Eastman & Tom

2009-03-12T06:18:00.000-07:00

2008 High in Utility A: Joan Meyers & Hawkeye

2009-03-12T06:16:00.000-07:00

High in Utility B & OTCH: Gail Puzon & Conner

2009-03-12T06:15:00.001-07:00

2008 High Title: Mary Kobis & Connie

2009-03-12T06:14:00.001-07:00

2009 SOTC Challenge Trophy & OTCH: Stephanie Podejko & TJ

2009-03-12T06:10:00.000-07:00

2008 High Combined & High Senior: Bruce Coleman & Leo

2009-03-12T06:06:00.000-07:00

TDX for TWO!!!

2009-01-09T02:42:00.000-08:00

This fall was excellent for the Eldredge tracking dogs. Ms Dani at 9 1/2 yrs old earned her TDX in 14 min at DOTCORNY in Rochester with Deb. Flash the energizer Corgi at 11 yrs old earned her TDX in 35 min at Golden Triangle in Pennsylvania with Kate. Photos by Ed Presnal.

— Deb and Kate Eldredge

Samantha - SOTC Obedience Trial

2009-01-08T04:43:00.000-08:00

Samantha earned her 3rd and 4th RAE leg at the SOTC Obedience trial. On Sunday she was High Combined Rally with scores of 98 in Exc and 100 in Adv.

— Christine Fleischmann

Willow Babies

2009-01-07T18:32:00.001-08:00

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We are proud to announce that Ms. Willow just had 6 beatiful spotted gems!

— Steph & Team Spots

The Brady Bunch at the SOTC Trial

2009-01-06T20:06:00.000-08:00

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Our Sheltie family enjoyed doing obedience at the January SOTC trial. Kobi earned UDX leg #1, Niki earned several Exc B Rally Q's, and Brady earned two Exc. A Rally Q's. Niki also won the Wildcard Open class. It was a lot of work showing all three - but I wouldn't have it any other way!
— Linda Aloi

Arrow branches out into tracking and rally

2009-01-05T18:56:00.000-08:00

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This is C-ATCH Arrow, MX, MXJ, XF, TD, RN, NAC, NGC, TG-N, NJC, O-NAC, TN-O, RS-N (FFXP), GS-N, JS-N, moments after finding the glove at the Lackawanna tracking test October 19, 2008. He also got his RN at the SOTC's winter obedience trial - one leg with a 3rd place finish in Novice B - after a nearly two-year break in training or competing in Rally. One of these days we might even give obedience a try!

Arrow spends many weekends competing in agility, of course, but he has also served as a therapy dog, and is a temperament testing dog par excellence for Glen Highland Farm, border collie rescue. He sure has come a long way from being the shivering, confused, six-month-old puppy left in a snowbank by the side of the road in February 2004 by someone who didn't know a really great dog when he saw one!

— Donna Deal

OTCH Conner

2009-01-05T15:42:00.000-08:00

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My boy Conner at age 4 completed his OTCH title on Mothers Day May 11th 2008.
When Conner came into my life at 7 weeks old I can only tell you that he always wanted to be close to me. In fact he never liked being told off by Glory even though they played wonderfully together, and would always run to me for forgiveness. He seemed to be somewhat clingy and I worried about this being as I knew he would have to have the confidence to go into the obedience ring to complete. Later he taught me that he could have the confidence as long as I made it clear to him what it was I wanted of him and made everything clear as a bell. This is in fact true of any dog and so the bonding came very early and I knew I would have to take him out and about at an early age and play with him in crowds etc., to give him the confidence he needed. He was never a dog that would like to play with other dogs, YET he is so gentle and kind and tolerates other dogs exceptionally without having to play with them.
Conner has always brought me things and handed them to me, from a kleenex that falls on the floor to a bag of food that I left in an opened cooler all day. When I arrived home from work he went to the cooler and brought me the bag of food as if to say, can I have it.
He is my once in a lifetime dog that tries to please so much.
— Gail Puzon

Shiny New Tracking Title

2009-01-05T14:58:00.001-08:00

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Skenendoah (Skendy) and I (Jenn Barber) got our first ever title at the beginning of December when we were awarded our TD at the Gettysburg tracking test.

The judges, Stephanie and Alan, posed for a photo with me and my proud boy in his spiffy new ribbon. :-)

I had a few heart stopping moments on the track when Skendy indicated "hey there's some guy following us" and needed to be reassured that I wasn't in any danger and that no, he's not going to play with us.

I was also very happy to have my friend Ellen with me who achieved TWO tracking titles in one day with her dogs Elvis and Maxine.

A huge thank you goes out to Toni for helping us along to this! Also, Linda Kaufman for mentoring me in my tracking and helping me through my certification. Finally, a thank you to Stephanie, a very understanding judge who certified us and was there for the title! We're looking forward to our VST workshop in the spring!
— Jenn Barber

MACH Remington CD, OF, WAC

2008-11-29T11:50:00.000-08:00

Remington was adopted from Doberman Pinscher rescue by Gwen Gerow in October 2003 at the age of 3 or 4 years old. He began training in agility and obedience in 2004, and entered his first ever agility trial in September of that year. Remington proved to be a "natural" at agility and quickly began moving up the ranks. In March of 2007, Remington competed in the AKC Agilty National Championships, where he finished 39th out of approximately 180 dogs in the 24" class. He also qualified to compete in the 2008 AKC National Championships the following year. In both 2007 and 2008, Remington ranked as one of the Top 20 Agility Dobermans in the country, and finished as first runner up in the 2007 Doberman Pinscher Club of American Agility Top 20 event. In October of 2007, Remington achieved the title of AKC Master Agility Champion, or MACH. He retired shortly thereafter, finishing his career with 24 double Q's and over 1600 points.
— Gwen Gerow

OTCH Connor

2008-09-20T23:00:00.001-07:00

Conner is a very special boy. At age 4, Conner earned his OTCH title.

As soon as I brought him home at 7 weeks and 2 days, I could tell right away that he was going to be a very forgiving dog. At the same time I thought I could see something that told me I would need to be careful with his training as I could see he was a little clingy and this could cause training problems if I did not give him LOTS of confidence in his training.

Glory loved him from the very start. He was never afraid of noises, yet he also was never real crazy about playing with other dogs, other than Glory. He just ignores other dogs after a sniff or two and returns to me. Something that I have always loved about him.

He is probably the most gentle dog I have ever owned out of all my Goldens. His play drive is amazing and that is one of the things I love about Connor. Yet he is a mellow dog in the home. He doesn't seem to care much who is around as long as I am there to play with him. All my obedience training with him was between training the exercise and playing in between. Entering the ring with Connor is part of the game. He is such a joy to train and show. Gail Puzon

OTCH One Ash Prime Time Exress, UDX4, JH, WC

Mouse RAE

2008-09-17T18:41:00.002-07:00

On April 1, 2007, one year after surgery to repair a disk rupture, Cardigan Welsh corgi Mouse earned her 12th title, the Rally Advanced Excellent. Her first weekend back in the ring, she earned a second place in Advanced B, beating a longer-legged dog on the basis of time. Good girl, Mouse!
U-CD Cornerstone Xtacee Fantasmic
CDX RAE NAJ, Can. CD, ASCA CDX, APDT R1MCL
Bred by Rita J. Hellegers
— Loved and trained by Mary Yates

Jordan CDX

2008-09-15T10:41:00.001-07:00

Jordan earned her CDX at the SOTC trial in June, 2008.

— Donna Schmidt

Sydney UD

2008-09-15T10:33:00.001-07:00

Sydney earned her UD at the SOTC trial in June, 2008.

— Donna Schmidt

Coal is now CH Augustus Moonlit Affair CD JH NAP CGC WC

2008-09-15T10:20:00.000-07:00

Coal finished May 27, 2007 in New Jersey, handled by Kathy Mines. Coal is owned and loved by Lisa Hanley and Mary Kobis.

Samantha Earns AX & AXJ

2008-09-13T10:36:00.000-07:00

Samantha earned her AX and AXJ this summer (2008)!

— Christine Fleischmann

MACH Skittles National Agility Championship Finalist

2008-09-13T10:19:00.001-07:00

Skittles was adopted at one and a half years old from a friend who was fostering her after being taken out of a bad situation. She had major issues with people in general and especially men. At first, she could not function in public and would bark and hide at home when anyone new would enter the house.

As time went on, and she came with me to many dog shows, her confidence grew. She was then ready to begin agility training. It was a slow process and she was very fearful of the teeter and would not perform obstacles around male judges.

Again, as time went on, her confidence grew and she went on to earn her MACH. She competed in nationals twice and the second time made it into the finals in 2006.

— Stacy Peios

Nia - 2008 AKC Invitational

2008-09-13T10:11:00.000-07:00

Nia was adopted from the CNYSPCA by Tina Eldred at the young age of 6 weeks. She was part of a cruelty case in Cicero, NY. Her, along with her 5 brothers and sisters, mother, and father, were left to fend for themselves in the blazing heat of July in 2002.

Nia started training with SOTC as a young pup following the puppy curriculum up through Intermediate B. Nia began training in agility and proved to everyone, that although she is a Husky, she can work hard and do well in the sport. In 2006, Nia entered her first show at the Salt City Cluster. In August 2007, she earned her MX and MXJ on the same day in Cato!

Nia is now working hard on her MACH, and, with all of her hard work, has qualified to participate at the AKC Invitational in Long Beach, CA.

Way to go NIA! It's all about the dog... she does all the hard work and takes Tina along for the ride!

The Brady Bunch

2008-09-13T04:26:00.000-07:00

We're having a GREAT year! Kobi started it by earning his UD, then added to his collection of MXJ Q's in agility. Niki earned two CDX legs, and her Open Standard title. Not to be outdone, the little guy, Brady, earned a Rally Advanced Q, and both his Open titles in agility.

— Linda Aloi

MACH Glory

2008-09-11T14:40:00.000-07:00

Glory, owned and loved by Nancy Frakes, earned her MACH in 2003.

On August 23, 2003, Glory (MACH/Can CH Credo Bound For Glory UD/Can CD, MX, MXJ) earned the last Double Q she needed for her MACH! On the previous Sunday she completed her UD, thus in the space of one week she accomplished two major titles!!

Glory was born in 1994, and when she turned two I had her hips x-rayed because I had planned on breeding her. The shocking news came back that she was dysplastic! I spayed her and retired her from agility training though we did continue with obedience. For almost two years Glory did no agility, but in the meantime I heard of a number of other dogs with hip dysplasia who were competing in agility. After several serious talks with my veterinarian, I resumed training and in 1998 Glory competed in her first trial.

Glory earned her first Double Q in 2001. I had no dreams of a MACH because her fast speed made it difficult for me to direct her around the course and keep the bars up. But nevertheless, almost three years later, she accomplished it!! As we took that traditional MACH lap around the ring, I couldn’t help but thank God for His wonderful gift in giving me Glory. She was living up to her name, Bound For Glory!!
— Nancy Frakes