Cheers to Becky Jagusch & New Obedience Trial Champion,

One of the greatest pleasures of being involved in the sport of obedience is watching a handler and a dog become exceptional team-mates and earning titles. It is my pleasure, for this issue of DCA magazine, to step back from a training article and write about our breed’s latest Obedience Trial Champion (OTCH). But first, a short paragraph about how this title is earned.

When entering the sport of obedience, one may see different titles and paths. The three classes that are entered sequentially and earned are novice, open, and utility. and utility. Once a team earns the utility title, then they can keep showing to earn a utility dog excellent title (UDX), obedience grand master title (OGM), and the obedience trial championship (OTCH). The title of UDX means that the team qualified in open and utility at the same show 10 times. This is a wonderful title about consistency across two classes. The OGM is based on scores earned in open and utility, and points are earned for scores of 190 and above. After 200 points are earned, the team earns an OM1. The team keeps earning points until they reach OM10, at which time the title of OGM is earned. Last, and the hardest to earn, is the OTCH. To earn an OTCH the team must earn a first place from open B, a first place from utility B, and one additional first place from either class. Then points are earned based on placement (1st through 4th) and the number of dogs who showed. One can also earn a point if the score is at least a 197 (out of 200). The change to earning a point for a 197 (whether one places or not) is a great improvement, as I have many stories of placing in open years ago and never earning a point, including a 2nd place with a to understand when a dog has an issue that needs to be trained and to stick with it. Becky did just that with Gabby.

198.5 score. What you can see is that the OTCH requires beating other dogs, and as we know, we can’t control the performance of the other teams or how the judge sees us. So, to earn an OTCH, the top obedience title, a team must be special.

Becky Jagusch (one of our DCA members) has been in the sport of obedience for over 20 years. Her first Dachshund, Sophia, earned a UD, and her previous Sheltie, Whispering Echos Rasing Cayne “Cayne”, earned a UDX and Gabri had many points towards his OTCH. And then came Gabby.

Gabby came into Becky’s life 9 years ago. Sue Carter Parks bred her, and Gabby’s lineage was from HuntnDox FC Sally and Robin LaFrance’s DC FCh Prize. Gabby has a lot of prey drive which is fantastic for work ethic. She loves to retrieve, and nothing beats running away from the handler for the directed jumping exercise! However, Becky had to work on the prey drive as Gabby has raced out of outdoor practices (BUNNY!), and at one show at a park, Gabby raced out of the Utility ring and into the Beginning Novice ring where she chased a Standard Poodle who had been misbehaving until Becky galloped over and captured her. Gabby was happy and proud but even after apologizing and paying for the handler’s run, no one else was pleased. Luckily, no harm was done and Gabby was not written up. It takes a wonderful handler to train a dog to advanced titles in obedience.

At this time, Gabby is OTCH D’Park’s Camo Glam Gabriella UDX3 OM5 ND, RATM, NASDA UL1 & TL 1. She is also field trial pointed. Congratulations to Becky and Gabby for this incredible accomplishment!!