Prizes galore for On Track at Crufts

The noble Scout winning first prize in the show ring

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A week later and On Track Dog Training School (On Track) members are only just coming down to earth after a fantastic four days at the biggest dog show in the world – Crufts.

In the show ring, Neil Morris-Green gained first and second in the working trials class with his Rottweilers Axle and Kai, Peter Yates gaining second with his German Shepherd, Pepper and Caroline Middleton won first prize with her Giant Munsterlander, Scout.

Throughout the year On Track members have been attending obedience competitions held all over the country. Four members got through to the semi finals held in Stirling and three of them won through to the finals: Lucy Newsome with Ruby (Border Collie), Emily Arch with Jasper (Border Collie) and Peter Yates with Pepper (German Shepherd).

Each handler team had to work in front of the large noisy crowds of people seated all around the ring.

Then came the Good Citizen Display Team and Shelley Sandiford, a trainer at On Track, was selected for the Gold Team with her Labrador Flo.

Shelley had to travel to practices to perfect the routine, which was scheduled to take place both in the Good Citizen ring and in the main area, where it was seen on television. However, Shelley also got to work her Labrador puppy Theo in the puppy display team and she was also invited to put him in for his Bronze Award.

Not to be out done Shelley’s older Labrador, Sam was invited to take part in the Temptation Alley competition and thanks to his speed the Gold Team won the competition.

Christine Heald, who runs the Rally Obedience training courses at On Track, was for the second year running  selected for the Rally display team. Christine put Simba, her German Shepherd, through his paces in front of millions of television viewers.

Crufts is not just about show dogs. In fact, that is only a small part of the activities that go on over the four days. There are thousands of stalls, and many information stands promoting the work that dogs do in our society plus education facilities with the new learning zone where people can attend lectures on many subjects such as training, welfare, nutrition, conformation, dog law, canine physical fitness, etc.

One of the stands is devoted to the Blue Cross where they showcase all the work that the Blue Cross is involved with. It is on this stand that Gracie Mae (Italian Spinone) and her owner Wendy Johnson (another trainer at On Track), could be found.

Gracie is part of the Blue Cross education programme and, after much screening and training, Gracie is taken by Wendy into schools to educate young children on the correct way to behave around dogs. Teaching them love and respect for man’s best friend as well as how to stay safe and recognise behavioural signs of how the dog is feeling.