Keeping ‘On Track’ for Crufts

On Track members who took part at Crufts 2015, Martyn Willcock with Murphy working collie, Maria Ferguson with Maverick a Golder Retriever, Ros Founde with Toby a working sheepdog, Peter Yates with Pepper a German Shepherd, Joanne Borg with Abbie a labrador and Shelley Sandiford with Flo a labrador

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Every year handlers enter their dogs into competitions all over the country, participating in a range of various dog sports hoping to qualify for the finals at Crufts.

For On Track Dog Training School, the work for next year’s Crufts has already begun, following an extremely successful Crufts 2015 where eight members were competing.

Maverick the Golden Retriever arrived at On Track a young puppy. Determined to get him off to a flying start with lots of plans for his working future, his owner Maria Fergusson began training him.

Unfortunately, Maverick underwent extensive treatment including a liver shunt, so when he went back to On Track, Maria decided to change his course and began training him as a Pets as Therapy dog instead, a job which suited his quiet, gentle nature.

Once qualified, he was invited in to school to help young children with their reading, and also took part in two On Track Christmas displays at The Floyd Unit, Birch Hill Hospital and at Springfield Park Nursing Home. On Track was proud when he was selected to join the PAT team on display at Crufts, and last week honoured his achievements by awarding him the Leo Trophy for the dog that has achieved something special having overcome real trauma and difficulties.

Throughout the year, special obedience stakes are held and to qualify for the semi-finals, a handler has to come first or second to go through to the next round. This year, Barbara Slack with Pepper, the Shetland sheepdog, and Martyn Wilcock with Murphy, the Border Collie, kept the flag flying for On Track, qualifying for the semi-finals.

Last October, they travelled to Stirling to take part in the semi-finals. Barbara took her time and handled Pepper to perfection, and Martyn was very composed and handled Murphy well and both qualified for Crufts.

Peter Yates was selected to take part in The Kennel Club Good Citizen Scheme display teams with Ruskin, the German Shepherd puppy, who was just six months old on the first day of Crufts.

Dogs have to be a sound temperament and be capable of performing the exercises in front of hundreds of people. It was a big ask of such a young dog but Ruskin loved every minute of meeting dogs and people, being groomed and given treats by strangers, with his experienced trainer Peter.

Roz Founde proved to be a very capable trainer when she first joined On Track with her two Springer Spaniels. Her interest lies in working trials and she works extremely hard with all her dogs with the support of her daughter Amee.

Toby, Roz’s brown and white Border Collie puppy, took to training exceptionally well. Proud of his progress, Roz put him forward for the Bronze Display Team, a bold move as Roz was quite nervous when competing but she was delighted when her acceptance was announced and her uniform arrived. Toby qualified with his bronze award in front of huge audience at Crufts.

Running for the Gold Display Team were Peter and Pepper, Shelley Sandiford and Flo the Labrador, and Joanne Borg and Abbi, another Labrador. All the dogs were well-behaved and a credit to their proud owners.

Cath Phillips, owner of On Track, said: “It was breath-taking and I just couldn’t be more proud for all of them. With a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye, I could really appreciate how lucky we are to have such loyal and loving companions in our own pet dogs.”