We were approached some time ago to undertake a dog training display at the Knockholt Village Carnival and it was decided that, given the agility display the previous week at the Biggin Hill Festival, we should present a display of obedience training.

The display was scheduled to begin at 2.00 pm so the plan was to rendezvous at the appropriate muster station at 1.15 which we did just in time to catch a 50 minute torrential downpour.

It did delay the proceedings by a few minutes but the weather cleared and to Christine's new found expertise on running commentary, the display covered basic obedience training such as passing through a door and safely crossing the road through to a recall demonatsration, leave it excercises, meet & greet, play and formal downs and assorted stays.

Given the weather just a few moments before, an audience seemed to just appear out of thin if somewhat soggy air and were extremely interested in what was going on. All in all, I thought it was a well rehearsed and professional demonstration of practical and more advanced obedience with out seeming to be aloof and unattainable.

The whole thing was well received and we even suffered a pitch invasion from a pack of deranged Dalmations as the demonstration closed. Where is Cruella DeVil when you need her?

Our thanks go to our great team: Derek and Bess, David and Harvey, Kate and Bentley, Christine for commentating, Kaye and Jet, Becky and Sam, Steve and Bertie. (Click the photo opposite for a larger version!)

Mary and Honour were planning to be part of the team. However a very loud clamp of thunder rumbling around the showground just before we were due to go into the arena meant that they had to make a quick getaway!!

By David Scott

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