Cassie
came into this world a real battler and fighter. She was
the last of five pups born after such a delay and dreadful
heartbreak that she was not expected to be alive. Only
two survived in total. As the sack was broken she let
them all know that she was alive and ready to take over
the world. For a golden retriever she was so small in
size but that didn’t stop her wanting to please
from an early age.
She joined my other golden retriever Ben and it didn’t
take long until she was in our hearts. Little “casserole”
as she is commonly known always wants to please. As a
true golden retriever she LOVES to swim, lay in water
(the muddier the better), chase the tennis ball and jump
all over you with muddy paws. From an early age she was
ready to learn even from Ben her new ‘brother’.
Cassie started her obedience life in Geelong at Geelong
Dog Obedience Club. Here we went through their obedience
levels fairly easier (well considering my other dog took
5 years and she did it in 1.5 it was a dream run). We
then started tracking and agility. Tracking was our first
team sport and it taught me many valuable lessons about
working as a team. As long as there was a tennis ball
at the end of the track Cassie would be happy. I have
traveled through many paddocks or bush just trusting my
dog and been amazed at the ability that she has. The feeling
that one gets tracking is hard to describe as you truly
enter their world. Once we obtained our Tracking Champion
Title in 2006 we then started concentrating on our agility.
Our agility had suffered while we were tracking as many
weekends were taken up going to tracking trials. Geelong
gave us some grounding in agility and we started to get
a few passes. Our first pass even entailed me landing
on my ‘bum’ and still managing to get around
the course. At times I think we were the class clown (well
I was) my arms were flapping and I really had no idea
of what I was doing.
Twelve
months ago I moved from Geelong to Ballarat and became
a member of the agility crew here. I had been training
on and off the previous 6 months but wasn’t a consistent
member at training. Once I made the decision to move to
Ballarat (I had never trained in snow before until this
year - CRAZY or what!) our agility has just improved.
Cassie would say that I am not getting as lost around
the course and the instructors have managed to start to
whip me into shape; still along way to go though. Amazing
what a few hits over the head will do. Thanks to all the
agility people who have made us feel very welcome.
This
year Cassie and I were privileged enough to receive the
agility encouragement trophy. This was such a surprise
and such an honor for us to win. This trophy though doesn’t
only belong to us but to the whole agility crew and the
instructors because without their help and advice along
the way we would never have started to get things together
and work as a team. This year we have managed to get our
AD, and JD titles. And some passes in Snooker and Strategic
Pairs. At Ballarat’s recent agility trial we even
managed to get our first excellent passes in agility and
jumping. Cassie and I will never be the fastest team in
the ring but we will always have fun together. We are
starting to work together as a team and as long as I continue
to listen and learn we will only continue to improve.
Oh and Cassie says if I remember to bring the ball and
those extra treats for when we finish the run she will
continue to listen to me.
Training your dog is about being a team. You don’t
have to be the best team out there just a team that works
well together and trusts one another. Through agility,
tracking and obedience we have been lucky enough to have
made some great friendships and have lots of laughs along
the way. I hope many other people to will have such wonderful
experiences with their furry friends.
Deb Hamilton
