Cat Perry, trainer at Dog Trainers Workshop, places fourth at Inaugural Westminster Kennel Club Masters Obedience Championship
February 23, 2016
Cat Perry, a trainer with Dog Trainers Workshop, a full-service dog training and boarding facility based in Fountain Inn, SC, has placed fourth with her Labrador Retriever, Wyatt, in the inaugural Westminster Kennel Club Masters Obedience Championship held on February 15 in New York City. The Westminster Kennel Club sent invitations to the top ranked 150 dogs who earned Obedience Trial Champion points between January 1, 2015 and October 31, 2015; the invitation-only competition allowed thirty-five entries. The inaugural obedience championship was a part of the 140th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
The first round of competition consisted of Regular Class Open/Utility obedience exercises, including a signal exercise, drop on recall, directed jumping, retrieve over high jump, scent discrimination, and a group sit stay exercise. The top ten scoring dogs moved on to the second round, which was a six-minute freestyle routine designed by the handler “to showcase the broad spectrum of obedience at its ultimate finest.” The routine’s required elements included heeling, jumping, retrieving, and a “go out” (a dog’s ability to work away from the handler), along with other elective elements. Dog and handler were scored on four elements: teamwork or the appearance of “oneness when they are together or separate,” the dog’s willingness & enjoyment (responsiveness, joy, harmony, honor, and trust), technical execution, and performance creativity.
“I feel honored that I was invited and was able to compete at Westminster’s first obedience championship,” said Cat Perry, owner and handler of Wyatt. “Obedience competition is a fantastic sport for so many dog owners around the world and there are many great competitions, both in the Southeast and beyond. But I have to admit, it’s not every day that a dog and handler get to compete in the historic Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Wyatt and I have certainly lived a privileged life now!”
The Westminster Kennel Club, founded in 1877, is the oldest American club focusing on the purebred dog, predating the founding of the American Kennel Club (AKC). Westminster’s dog show is held every year at Madison Square Garden and other locations. Perry and Wyatt’s second round freestyle performance may be found on youtube at tinyurl.com/Cat-WyattFreestyle.
Dog owners may learn more about competition training at dogtrainersworkshop.com/dog-training/competition-training or call 864.862.8626. Dog Trainers Workshop exists to improve the relationship between owners and their dogs, demonstrate how trained dogs can enrich lives, and help save dogs’ lives through training and behavior modification.
About Dog Trainers Workshop
Dog Trainers Workshop was founded in 1991 by internationally-recognized dog trainer Connie Cleveland. Over the past 20 years, Dog Trainers Workshop has grown into a spacious center for dog lovers, and features an indoor training facility and boarding kennel with indoor/outdoor runs, set on 14 acres with a pond and walking trail. Dog Trainers Workshop helps new puppy owners, those just starting out in obedience training, obedience competitors, and owners with problem dogs through an array of services including classes, day and boarding schools, and private lessons. For more information on Dog Trainers Workshop visit http://www.dogtrainersworkshop.com, like https://www.facebook.com/DogTrainersWorkshop, or contact them at 864.862.8626.
