“My favorite compliment at shows is when people say to me, ‘Your dogs are so happy and confident.’ A well-trained dog should be happy and confident.”
Meet my dogs...
Huntleigh is a black Labrador Retriever, OTCH MACH Candlewood Huntleigh UDX3 OM5 RE XF, whelped in December 2004. When Huntleigh was a year old, he came to spend the weekend with me and never went back. He’s trained for agility, obedience, rally, and hunt tests and always wants to learn a new game. Huntleigh earned his Obedience Trial Championship in record time, completing it in style at the 2009 Labrador Retriever National Specialty show. Huntleigh is well on his way to his Master Agility Championship as well.
It’s such a joy to work with a dog who never wants to leave your side and is so eager to please. Huntleigh is only five years old, and his future looks very bright indeed.
Lucy is a Golden Retriever, OTCH MACH2 Badgersbrook Lucy Sparkles UDX5 OM5 VER RE MXF, whelped in December 2004. Lucy is one of those rare dogs who truly can
do it all. She never acted
like a puppy and was
brilliant from day one.
In agility, Lucy is an
exciting crowd pleaser,
always chasing the
Border Collies for wins
and loving every minute
of it! She’s working
on her Master Agility
Championship, has
earned her Rally Excellent
title, and has competed
successfully in hunt tests.
But Lucy's true gift is obedience. Her first time in the ring, she won High in Trial from the Novice B class. She won another High in Trial from Novice B, then seven more from Open and one from Utility. Lucy went from Companion Dog (CD) to Utility Dog (UD) in only six months, and three months later had earned her UDX. One year after winning her UD, Lucy completed her OTCH and UDX3. She’s won High Combined ten times and has eight Open and eight Utility wins.
Lucy is a once-in-a-lifetime dog, a dog who’s very exciting to watch, no matter what the venue and no matter what her score! She definitely lives up to her name, LUCY SPARKLES!! Lucy is the same age as Huntleigh, five years, and her future, like his, looks very promising. I feel extremely fortunate to have Lucy and Huntleigh at the same time.
Dino is a black Standard Poodle, Nevermore Valentino UDX RAE OA AXJ, whelped August 2000. In addition to his AKC titles, Dino also has his WC for hunting and two starter hunt legs from the United Kennel Club. I won my first High in Trial when Dino gave a memorable performance at an all-breed show. He has 29 OTCH points, seven High in Trial wins, one High Combined, five Open B wins, and has qualified 47 times in Open B and 36 times in Utility B.
However, Dino’s proudest achievement may be his work teaching handling skills to agility students, since he’s quite willing to run courses repeatedly with different people. Countless students have learned at his side, and he never seems to get tired of running. Dino is a very exciting agility dog, and at the age of nine, shows no signs of slowing down.
Dino loves life more than any dog I know!
Bruno is a brown Miniature Poodle, OTCH Reignon Dassin Bruno UDX RAE MX MXJ AXP AJP NF, whelped March 1999. Bruno won High in Trial on his very first trip into the obedience ring. He’s accumulated a total of six High in Trials, two High Combined wins, five Open wins, four Utility wins, and has qualified 58 times in Open and 41 times in Utility. He has nine legs toward his UDX2.
Bruno earned his OTCH in September 2006. This fellow is no slouch in agility, either, with 25 double Q's and 497 points toward his Master Agility Championship.
Dani is an English Springer Spaniel, Ch OTCH MACH Polesitter’s Danica Dazzles UDX OM2 VER RE AX AXJ OF, whelped January 2009. Dani is off to a very fast start, with her OTCH notched before she turned two, and advanced Rally titles tucked under her belt before she even turned one.
Dani makes me laugh more than any other dog. She has so many expressions and can’t wait for the next thing to learn. Springers can be challenging dogs to train, but Dani understands what I want her to do almost immediately.
The sky is the limit for this dazzling puppy, who earned a 197.5 in Open B – and a High in Trial in Novice B with a 198 – just as she reached her first birthday.
Thanks, Mike Bockhorn, for this very special girl.
However, Dino’s proudest achievement may be his work teaching handling skills to agility students, since he’s quite willing to run courses repeatedly with different people. Countless students have learned at his side, and he never seems to get tired of running. Dino is a very exciting agility dog, and at the age of nine, shows no signs of slowing down. 
