Performance Newsletter
January 2005

By Jane Eno

The New Year has started with a bang. I have so much information to share, I don’t even know where to start. The AKC began the year with the Eukanuba Tournament of Champions, and I was lucky enough to get invited to compete in Obedience with my Kerry Blue Terrier, Primrose Jessie James UD. I have written a detailed account of my adventures, which is included at the end of this newsletter.

I just sent in my first entries for the 2005 show season. I can’t wait to give it a try for a few more UDX legs. Hopefully Jessie will cooperate with me and get those qualifying scores we need. If only he understood the difference between qualifying and non-qualifying scores, this whole obedience trial thing would be so much easier!

Dana and Brian Kincaid qualified and attended the National Agility Championship with their Kerry Blue Terrier, Daisy. They have promised a full account of their adventures to include with my next newsletter.

BRAGS

Nicole Carfora writes:
"I love that you do this newsletter, I finally have a little brag. My Darwin, CH. Rathangan's Hidden Treasure CD, got his 1st leg toward his UKC-CD with a 194!!"

Thanks Nicole! I enjoy writing this newsletter and congratulations on your new title! What a great score.

Finally, I have the first of a two part interview with Eve Fishell. The first part is a Veteran’s Column about her wonderful Kerry Blue Terrier Streaky. The second part, to follow next month, is about her thoughts on breeding for both performance and the show ring. Please click on the highlighted words below to see pictures of Streaky.

Streaky
Cn CH Cn OTCH Tantara’s Blue Streak Am UD Bd CD AgN MX MXJ
March 31, 1988 – November 12, 2000

Sire: Ch Elbrley’s Sociable Toby CDX
Dam: Cn CH Cn OTCH Elbrley’s As You Like It Am UD
Breeder & Owner: Eve Fishell

Streaky’s Titles
Conformation: Cn CH
Obedience: Cn and Am UD, Bermudian CD
Agility:
CKC – AgN
AKC – MX, MXJ
NADAC – NGC, OAC, OJC
AAC - VEAC
USDAA – PD1

Special Achievements
ROM from USKBTC and KBTCC
1st Kerry to get the following titles:
AgN (Canada)
AXJ
MX
MXJ
1st Kerry to qualify for AKC National Agility Championships – 1998 and 1999
#1 Obedience Kerry in Canada 3 or 4 times
Placed in the top 10 Terriers in 1984, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992.

Pet name: “The Cutest” (because she was, in both senses of the word!)
Her favorite saying: “I don’t mind reading your mind, as long as you have a mind to read!”

Where did Streaky come from?

In 1978 my first Kerry, Clancy, was dying from lymphoma. During this sad time I started reading books on obedience and in my total ignorance thought that I would get another Kerry and do obedience with him. Amazingly, that is what happened. I got Mike (Cn OTCH Kelmike’s Clown Prince Am UD). Mike was a handful. Thanks to many patient trainers, my stubbornness and mainly his total devotion to me, we were successful.

At my first US trial with Mike, I was privileged to meet Carol Postley, who was competing in Open with Scottie (CH Liaghthorm’s Scottish Laird CDX). Talking to Carol, I realized that here was a breeder who bred both for Conformation and for "trainability". She took a chance on me and sold me my foundation bitch, Tara, (Cn CH Cn OTCH Elbrley’s as You Like It Am UD). And thus, I was introduced to the world of conformation and breeding and the Tantara line was founded.

Streaky was from Tara’s second litter. Her sire was Scottie's son, Toby (CH Elbrley’s Sociable Toby CDX). I did not choose Streaky from the litter. As so often happens, Streaky chose me. It was by pure chance she was the one who stayed home, and I will for ever be grateful she made that choice. She thought she won the lottery.

Streaky loved us and loved working. She was the only Kerry I had who enjoyed heeling. She learned willingly, without any harsh corrections. She was very forgiving and put up with my training and handling blunders. Like her mother Tara, she loved food, and she enjoyed a tennis ball. She enjoyed expressing herself loudly, be it from joy or from annoyance. In reality, she was self-rewarding. Harsh corrections just shut her down – so she got none.

Streaky had 4 litters. Her 3rd litter at the age of 7½ was supposed to be her last. Unfortunately she had 3 male puppies and I needed a female to continue the Tantara line. I bred her again, age 8½, and she gave me Tonka.

Streaky loved to work. After her last litter I thought we can play around with agility as her retirement project. A friend of mine went to nearby local agility classes. So, I started her there. She took to it like fish to water. She spent the last 4 years of her life competing in Agility all over Ontario and Northeastern United States. That changed my life for ever.

Streaky attacked the Agility courses with confidence. She was fast, accurate and noisy. When my directions were not clear, she gave me a loud talking to, (hence her favorite saying). In spite of my inexperience, she became the first Kerry to get AXJ, MX and MXJ.

Her love of competition was always there and lasted well into her final illness. She continued competing with joy until one day she was forced to say, “Sorry, I can no more!” Even now I get tears in my eyes as I write this.

She died as she lived – well!

On the last day of her life, she wanted to come with Murdoch and Tonka for the morning walk – she was too ill, and I had to leave her at home. When I came back, she was right there, greeting us. I took her out for a short walk around the block, and she went happily with me. We stepped into the house and as I was taking her lead and collar off, she keeled over dead.

It truly was a privilege to know Streaky, and there will never be another like her! But she gave me her son Murdoch, her daughter Tonka and her granddaughter Tide – not like her, but each special in their very own way.

Would I do anything differently with her? Never!
What made Streaky so special?
Greatness in dogs, as in people, is an accident of nature. Occasionally ability combines with character, willingness, perseverance and opportunity to produce greatness. I feel privileged to have had the luck to spend 12 years with a really great dog. She lives on in her progeny.

Streaky’s Progeny
Litter 1- Sired by CH Gamgee’s Samwise CDX
Cn Am CH Mighty Murdoch Am Cn CDX, AgX, OA, OAP, AXJ, OJP
Cn Am OTCH Tantara’s Cosmic Stellar NA NAJ
Cn CH Tantara’s Sleeping Beauty Cn Am CD
Litter 2- Sired by (Cn CH Liaghthorm Blue Smoke Signal)
Am Ch Tantara’s Foxy Lady
Cn CH Tantara’s Quick and Bold
Litter 3- Sired by Cn Am CH Ballymoon’s Flynn Tango
Cn OTCH Tantara’s Bushmill Molly
Cn Am CH Tantara’s Bluenose
Danish CH Tantara’s Front Line
Litter 4- Sired by Cn Am CH Ballymoon’s Flynn Tango
Cn CH Tantara’s Honky Tonk Girl Am Cn CDX, AgMX, MX, MXJ


The Hairy Blue Terror Does the NOI (National Obedience Invitational)

By Jane Eno

After two months of practice, on Tuesday, January 11 2005, I drove over to my obedience instructor’s house (Robin Willey) at 6:30 in the morning to get ready for the two-day drive to Tampa, Florida. She had her Irish Setter, Riker, ready to go, so we quickly packed the car and headed out. Driving through PA was a bit dicey with some snow and bad roads, but once we got to Maryland, things improved. We stopped along the way for lunch, then dinner and to let the dogs stretch their legs. In North Carolina we ran into some rain, but by the time we reached my parent’s house in Durham, things were better.

On Wednesday, we packed the dogs back in the car and scooted north to Virginia to visit Riker’s grand pups. The puppies were 4 weeks old – 11 of them, all a beautiful red and full of themselves. We borrowed the training building of the owners of the puppies for some last minute practice, but mostly just let Jessie and Riker run around the huge fenced yard with the Irish Setters, while we played with the puppies.

Thursday we hit the road again, driving the rest of the 24 hours (about 12 left) to get to Tampa, Florida at around 7:00 pm. The weather was absolutely perfect – around 80 degrees and sunny. The staff at the Courtyard Marriott were extremely nice and helpful. This is a really great hotel to stay at with dogs! They went out of their way to help us find a park to run the dogs and make us comfortable while we were there. Before leaving, I had set up with a local training club to rent some ring space on Friday. So in the morning we headed out there with our dogs. It was raining, but it didn’t matter since the rings were indoors. Once again, the Tampa people turned out to be very friendly and helpful. The IPOLK training building was gorgeous with a special extra long utility ring for long go-outs and two other big rings for practice. A wonderful Dachshund and a Portuguese Water Spaniel were also there practicing. It was a great experience for Jessie – let him make a few mistakes and then “fix” them with positive encouragement and praise. Riker on the other hand was showing that an 11-year-old Irish Setter does not travel well. His back clearly hurt and he didn’t want to jump. Robin made the decision right there to let him opt out of jumping at the Invitational, if he wanted and to just enjoy the experience no matter what happened.

After practice, we went to try and unload our crates. This was the only bad experience of the trip. We were unable to find the place to do this. No one we asked, including all the security guards, seemed to know where the obedience unloading area was located. We eventually gave up and unloaded in the conformation area, which meant waiting in a long line. But all is well that ends well, and we got our crates into the building, and got a chance to walk around the obedience area. It was perfect! There were thick rugs with non-slip matting and two separate big crating areas, which were nicely hidden behind curtains, so that the dogs could rest in a quiet, dark area. The rings were big, open and neither of the go-outs were towards another ring or crating area. I could tell my dog would like this set up, and that made me relax . . . maybe a little. Naw, maybe not!

We only had time to get home, feed and walk the dogs, have a quick glass of wine to relax, and dip in the hot tub, before we had to be back to the Hyatt for the Friday night barbecue. It was great fun with lots of good food and all sorts of people we’ve met over the years of showing or talking on Internet groups. It’s great to get together with other obedience enthusiasts. We always have so much to discuss, without ever getting on dangerous topics like religion, war, or politics. Saturday was the start of the obedience competition. We had to arrive at 7:15 to pick up our armbands, ring assignments, and our gifts (nice big bag with lots of goodies). At 8:00 AM the competition began. I was about the 7th dog in ring 4. Curtis Cunningham was my first judge, one of two I didn’t know. We started with the Moving Stand – not Jessie’s favorite exercise to start with since it means mommy leaves him with that scary judge person. Anyway, he did it, locking up and allowing the judge to examine him without too much wiggling. I called him to me and he walked instead of trotted, so that was a major deduction, but we were still qualifying. Fortunately, the next exercise is one of Jessie’s best – the directed retrieve, where the dog has to get one of three gloves. This is his most often perfect exercise, and today was no different – he only lost half a point. Then we went to the heeling on lead. It was a very long, complicated pattern, unlike any I had ever done. I was very nervous setting up and Cunningham said, “Hey, watch it!” I almost fainted and said, “I’m sorry, what did I do?” At that point he laughed, because he thought I was pushing my dog with my knees, while all that was really happening is that they were shaking! The heeling went great, and then the figure eight was also lovely. Then we had the retrieve over the high jump. Jessie hurt his mouth on this a while ago and was refusing the jump on the way back, so I was nervous. But the little stinker did it almost perfectly, only losing a point. As soon as the judge said, "Exercise finish," I almost collapsed. I was so relieved and left the ring almost crying. My instructor and friend Robin was right there to congratulate me on a great first ring and to give Jessie lots of pats and butt rubs.

Although it is still mostly a blur, I do think this is the point in which the Kincaids showed up to say hello during a break in agility. Their Kerry, Daisy, had done very nicely the day before, and would get lots of Qs over the weekend. I was so thrilled to see them and “talk Kerry” for a moment. Daisy is a lovely Kerry, pretty, smart and with lots of drive.

Jessie went back in the crate to rest, and I went to watch the next ring. The quality and joy of all the teams working really amazed me. You didn’t see any sad dogs or sour faced handlers. Everyone was enjoying there moments in the spot light and looking at their dogs with such joy. The teamwork at this level is truly breathtaking.

Before I had barely caught my breath, I had to go get Jessie and bring him to the next ring, ring 5. This ring started with the "Retrieve On the Flat" – a great exercise to start with, since the dog gets to run and chase something, (the dumbbell). Jessie was very happy to do this and only lost one point. We were on a roll! The scent articles were next and started with a little insecurity on Jessie’s part, so he walked back to me – another major deduction. The second article though was very nice. The "Drop on Recall" was next, another tough exercise, since the dog has to drop at a distance while coming at you at a trot – something Jessie doesn’t like to do in a strange place. But he did it! And nicely! I had finished two rings without an NQ!!!

At this point I took Jessie outside and let him relax in a little park near the convention center for a few minutes. The cool outside air revived both of us, and we returned. I studied our next ring and before being able to barely take a breath, I was getting ready to start again.

Ring 3 had a "Drop On Recall," then "Directed Retrieve," (and right to the crowd so it was very hard, and I saw more then one dog opt to go to the wrong glove), the "Signal Exercise," and the "Broad Jump." I was glad to go in that ring, because it was Sharon Ann Redmer, and she always comments on being glad to see a Kerry in her ring. I think Jessie picked up on this and worked very nicely, until the signal exercise. At that point, as we started out, he jumped as if something had bit him and kind of wrapped around me. His ears were down and he was clearly upset. Although his heeling was erratic, he stayed with me. I didn’t know what he’d do when I gave him the stay command so I could leave him to do the drop – I was sure he was so worried he’d follow me. But he didn’t, and he did a nice drop, sit and recall. We lost a lot of points on his bad heeling, but we left that ring with a clean score again!

Finally, we got a little break for lunch. I caught up with Robin who had done what she had said, releasing Riker from the jumps and just taking the NQs. She kept her spirits though, knowing that having an 11 year old Irish Setter at this event was the honor, even if he wasn’t as competitive as he had been the first two years he had attended. With all these dogs give us, and all they are willing to do for us, we also have to remember to suspend our egos and do what is right for them when needed.

After lunch, we had three more rings. Jessie was starting to slow down a little, but he went into Ring 1, our next ring, and he did his best. His go-outs were great, dead straight. The sits a little slow, and he gave his characteristic “woof” in front of each of the jumps. (After I left the ring, one of the people watching asked me how I had taught him to give that little bark, and I had to admit not only did not I train it, but I didn’t want it, since each bark was points off.) Unfortunately, I was completely stressed and losing it in this ring and found myself giving commands WAY too loud – I wonder if the judge marked off for that, since it is a fault as well. But once again, no NQs, and this time he trotted back on his moving stand! His heel free and figure 8 were once again up to his usual, with just a couple wides, but no bad lagging or forging.

At last I got to sit and watch for a few minutes, because Ring 2 was a little backed up. I was so tired! It was fun just listening to the crowd and watching the dogs. Two people I know that own Shih Tzu found me and told me they had taped part of Jessie’s ring, and I got to watch that. It was great to see how nice he looked, and how much he was paying attention to me.

Finally, we got into Ring 2. Jessie clearly thought I was loosing my mind and seemed to have the attitude that he would do this for me, but he was getting a little tired, and I couldn’t expect too much more from him. Despite this attitude, this was one of my best rings with no major deductions, just a few points on each of the exercises. The exercises included the "Broad Jump," "Retrieve Over the High Jump," and the two "Scent Articles."

Five rings down, one left. I was sure we’d loose it in this one. Somehow, I couldn’t believe we could make it through six rings without a single NQ. When I went to take Jessie out of the crate he actually hesitated, clearly thinking maybe he would just stay there and let me go play this game by myself. I encouraged him to come out, tried to pump him up, and went to the ring. This ring was closest to the doors and so there were lots of spectators. Jessie loves people, so this seemed to bring him back up in spirits a little, so I let him flirt with the crowds.

The ring started with the "Heel Free" and "Figure 8," which was a great break for me. I was able to use my voice to keep him pumped. But then we set up for the "Directed Jumping," and he clearly looked like he didn’t have it in him. I set up, pointed to the go-out point, and in a loud voice gave my command, “Run!” Well, Jessie did the world’s slowest go-out. He walked, as slow as he could, pausing frequently to give me dirty looks over his shoulder, all the way down the 60-foot ring. I kept from almost giving him a 2nd command, because the little stinker would start again, so I waited . . . and waited . . . and waited. Maybe because I was getting a little irritated with him, I made him walk all the way, no turning early, and then turned him for the sit. I was sure he wouldn’t jump, but when I pointed to the bar and said “BAR,” he flew over and came in front. The next go-out was lovely, at a trot, with a nice jump over the high jump. Then he did a near perfect "Moving Stand for Exam," and we were done!! All clean rings. The judge teased me that she was sure he wasn’t going to go all the way for the go-out, and I admitted I had thought the same.

Jessie was way over-tired at this point. He actually threw a total temper-tantrum in the hallway over absolutely nothing, just barking, growling and leaping around. I put him on a down stay and explained, like you would to any naughty child, that this behavior would not be tolerated. Poor boy – he had had enough.

Our day still wasn’t over. I met up with Robin again. We rushed the dogs back to the hotel, fed and walked them, then rushed down to soak in the hotel hot tub for a half hour. Then it was back to Hyatt for the Saturday banquet. We sat at a table with a fun group, including one of the other terrier people, Ingrid Butt who owns a Smooth Fox Terrier, Peanut. She had also gone clean all Saturday, so we celebrated and declared terriers the perfect obedience dogs.

During the banquet they announced the top 32 teams, which would go on to the head-to-head competition on Sunday. Jessie came in number 6 in terriers, right after Peanut! I was so proud and a little relieved that I didn’t have to show again. I didn’t think Jessie could take it. He had done such a great job on Saturday, I planned to let him just relax and hang out on Sunday.

After such a long day, it was great to sleep in on Sunday! We took our time getting ready, went for a nice breakfast, and then walked back to the show. The competition was well under way when we got there, so I found a seat and watched a bunch of the rounds. Then I had to sneak away to visit the “Meet The Breed” booths and watch Ingrid’s other Smooth Fox, Tango, run in agility. At the “Meet The Breed” booths I fell in love with a cute little Glen of Imaal terrier bitch, who wanted to sit in my lap. Maybe I’ll have to get one someday – they are very sweet terriers.

After lunch, the obedience competition finished up with the final rounds. The National Obedience Champion of 2005 went to a handsome, big Golden Retriever - OTCH First String's Cubby Bear UDX20 AX NAJ owned by Kathleen Rasinowich-Platt. The First Runner-Up was Golden Retriever - OTCH High Times Belvedere's Duck Soup UDX7 MH owned by Bridget Carlsen. Second Runner-Up was Golden Retriever - OTCH Tanbarks Road To Glory UDX22 owned by Jose and Caryl Martinez. Finally a really nice Miniature Schnauzer - OTCH Double A's Savannah At Night UDX7 owned by Barbara Koscielski came in as third runner-up. I thought this was very exciting! It’s nice to see a terrier take a top prize.

Robin and I walked around and bought a few tee shirts, then went back to take advantage of the hot tub at the hotel. Then we went to a wonderful dinner at a restaurant where we could watch the Best In Breed, while eating delicious food.

On the way back from the hotel, we took the shuttle. About 4 other women and a young man were in the shuttle when the driver asked if it was ok if he went and picked up one other person, who was a little out of the way. We all said that was fine, and were very glad we did. It happened to be the winner of Best-Bred-By with his winning Rottweiler and ribbon in hand. Of couse we cheered loudly as he joined us and got lots of kisses from his very sweet dog.

The next two days were the long drive home, stopping in Durham, North Carolina for a night at my parent’s house. The adventure was over; we were tired but happy. I can’t wait to get my next chance!

Last Updated: 02/08/2005, 10:55 am