Dogs, owners set to have tail-wagging time at show

It’s going to be wall-to-wall and nose-to-tail dogs at the Wheat City Kennel Club All Breed Show at the Keystone Centre next weekend. From Nov. 6 to 9, dog lovers will be showing off their best friends in conformation (appearance), obedience trials and rally obedience trials. It’s a great time for some family fun, and to learn more about dogs and their behaviours.

Scheduled for the Saturday is the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) Canine Good Neighbour (CGN) test, which evaluates dogs on well-mannered behaviour while out in the community among people, dogs, and distractions. Its purpose is to encourage responsible dog ownership and to ensure that dogs remain welcome in the community.

The CGN test has no prerequisites and is open to both purebred and mixed breeds who have prepared for the test.

“Any dog is eligible. If you’ve got a dog and you want to train it for the test, absolutely. If you’ve got a blind dog, a three-legged dog, they can all do it!” said Stephanie Inkster, this year’s CGN evaluator at the Wheat City Kennel Club dog show.

Inkster emphasizes that the CGN test is non-competitive.

“It’s just you and your dog out there as a team, working together through the 12 exercises that are examined,” she said.

“And for each exercise, you pass or you’re deemed as not ready. So there may be something that you need to go back and work on. It’s also just fun to do and successful participants get a certificate from the CKC.”

CGN evaluators are tested by the CKC and bring valuable experience to the exam. Inkster worked in a vet clinic for 10 years and is currently a groomer. She is also a dog owner and a regular show participant.

“You do have to have dog knowledge and awareness of body language in order to evaluate the dog’s behaviours during the test,” Inkster said.

The 12 criteria from the 20-minute evaluation include typical day-to-day encounters like accepting a friendly stranger, politely accepting petting, appearance and grooming, walking through a crowd, sit/down on command and staying in place. While obedience classes are encouraged, at-home training is fine.

Some criteria, like the “supervised isolation,” take extra work. The supervised isolation requires that the dog is left on leash with the evaluator’s helper and must sit calmly without whining, barking, jumping up, or wandering while the owner goes out of sight for two minutes.

“That one can be really tough for dogs that have separation anxiety. Two minutes can feel like a really long time,” she said.

Another challenge is “walking through a door or gate.” The dog must not barge ahead through an open door or gateway, which is a safety concern. The dog can go together with the owner or be trained to sit and wait to be called through. Inkster said she prefers the safety of the sit and wait.

She points out it’s important to go out and work with your dog in a busy environment such as a park or a pet-friendly store, anywhere there is potential for distraction. She experienced distraction challenges of her own completing the test with her dog.

“We had a small child on a tricycle that had really squeaky wheels. And I was like, ‘Wow, that’s like the trifecta!’ You’ve got wheels, a child and loud noises all at once. And this is not easy. Your dog has to walk around them and ignore them,” she said.

Inkster will conduct the test all throughout the environment of the dog show.

“We’ll just mingle and wander through the crowd. A big environment is a little bit more realistic, where there can be people and dogs that you’re not necessarily expecting. It’s supposed to mimic real life,” she said.

Training for the test is valuable for both owner and dog as a “bond-builder.”

“Interacting with them to keep them occupied is always a really good thing for the dog. And community-wise, it encourages people to get out there and sometimes when you go to classes, you find new friends. Pretty much all my friends are dog people. Dog events are what we do all the time.”

To view examples of the test, go to Youtube and search CKC Canine Good Neighbour Test. Dozens of videos will come up including video shorts of the various sections and helpful tips.

The Canadian Kennel Club ( www.ckc.ca ) has ample information on the Canine Good Neighbour Program, including a detailed, downloadable pamphlet with all the requirements to pass the test. Google “canine good neighbour program handbook’” to go directly to the PDF. Visit the website to learn about fees and how to book an exam. You do not have to be a member of the CKC to participate.

A big part of the fun for dogs and handlers at the Wheat City Kennel Club dog show is having an enthusiastic audience cheering them on.

“We always like people to come and watch,” Inkster said.

“It gets people excited about doing stuff with their own dogs, especially if they come and watch the rally and the obedience. And it’s just nice to see all the different breeds and maybe some you’ve never seen before.”

The Wheat City Kennel Club All Breed Show takes place Nov. 6 to 9 at the Keystone Centre.

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