Ruffie's Draft Day
On Sunday, April 19, 2009, my Ruffie became the first Akita to pass the BMDCA Novice Draft Dog test(per posted results thru 02/09 at http://www.bmdca.org/Draft]www.bmdca.org/Draft - regional tests opened in 2000 to all-breeds) After a "practice" round on Saturday (it was very warm, and she balked at doing some of the maneuvering patterns), I was not sure she was really ready. On Sunday, it was much more pleasant temperatures, and we didn't have to go last (!) Despite a few tightish leads, she got through the maneuvering course and went on a tough 1/2 mile freight haul (cart + 20#)and was cheered on up the last hill back to the ring by her own personal BMD fan club
At 10 1/2+ years old, she was the oldest dog present (there was an 8 1/2 yo berner bitch who passed the NDD for the 4th time)and all 3 judges from both days were very impressed by her work ethic. I think she was the first Akita any of them had seen do draft work.The novice draft test from BMDCA consists of a heeling pattern (on-lead), an off-lead recall, harness and hitch (off-lead), on-lead
maneuvering course (somewhat like rally but harnessed to a cart or wagon) which includes loading and unloading an object, going through a "narrows", which is only a total of 12" wider than the cart, stopping and moving an obstacle, passing and then replacing it, circles, weaves and other various turns and maneuvers to exhibit control, and stopping and backing up the cart. Lead must remain slack throughout. For each group of 6 dogs, there is then a 3 minute stay (off-lead, any position) with the 20# wt added to cart. The last part of the test is the @ 1/2 mile freight haul (novice dogs pull 20# plus the wt of cart - for Ruffie it was @ 35-40#). Leash must also remain slack for the haul, over varying terrain, uphill, downhill, and with our rainy week, there were plenty of wet and muddy areas on the freight courses.
I would like to thank Valerie Chase for the loan of her harness, Georgeann Reeve for the loan of the carts we learned on, Dawn, Valerie and the "peanut gallery" for the cheers at the end, the Watchung BMD Club and Mason Dixon BMD Club for putting on 2 days of great organized events, judges Chris Cottle (RI), Christine Mann (CO)and Sue Sanvido (OH)for their kind words and encouragement and the passing grade from Christine and Sue ;-), and all the advice and suggestions from many sources - Valerie C, Donna C, Christine M, and everyone else who made Ruffie's last title event a success. She is now officially retired:
CH Skipjack's Politicly N'Correct CD RE R1 CGC TDI TT VAX NDD
(the last 2 titles are parent club titles - Versatile Akita Excellent, Novice Draft Dog)
Pat and Ruffie
Skipjack Akitas
Blackjack BMD
sjakita2868@yahoo.com Please contact for more info on Drafting
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