‘Smudge’ & Margaret

(This story have been taken from French Letters Vol 1.1 July 1998)

Margaret Walker has owned Rough Coat and Border Collies has trained and competed in dog obedience at the highest level with much success and, quote, ‘was looking for a new challenge in dog training’ when she first contacted Linda Shove enquiring about Briards. Some 3 and a bit years later I think it is safe to say Margaret has had her wish granted regarding the ‘new challenge’ bit!! However, it is also true that she has met this challenge head on and that the rewards are now starting to come.

With very definite ideas in mind about what she wanted in her new puppy, Margaret made the long trek south from Auckland to Dunedin to visit Linda, evaluate the Angevin ‘SS’ litter and to choose the puppy she thought would be the best suited to obedience training. Armed with a clipboard, results sheet and instructions on how to conduct the puppy temperament testing procedure, Margaret ventured out into the sunny Angevin paddocks! Linda brought out the puppies one by one, and as two somewhat bemused assistants (Linda Gale and Brian Swanney) looked on, the 7 week olds were put through their paces.

Ignoring all the emotive factors which other mere mortals use when choosing a puppy, such as a ‘lovely head’ or ‘gorgeous colour’ or ‘nice angulation’ Margaret totalled the scores and with maybe just a little subjective assessment, made her choice. So it was that ‘Smudge’ aka Salissure Dor d’Angevin, a strikingly blonde bimbo to be, became the chosen one and subsequently made the trip to Auckland to join Margaret, husband Ian and ‘Ruff’ the senior border collie.

Margaret and ‘Smudge’ have made tremendous progress since then, have suffered some really frustrating set backs, but the rigorous and intensive training of the past couple of years is now bringing success. Dog obedience in the upper North Island zone is very, very competitive but in the last couple of months this team have gained 2nd place in the Novice class at two championship obedience shows, from an entry in their class of over 50 dogs each time.

To gauge just how tough the competition actually is, these 2nd places were gained with scores of 99.5 and 99 out of 100 and even then one of them needed a run off against 3 other dogs on the same score! (0.5 of a mark is the least deduction a judge can make for even the tiniest of errors – Ed.)

‘Smudge’ is now performing all the exercises for the Novice test to perfection and that elusive first place is sure to come very soon. Not only that, but the ground work has been so thorough that this pairing will progress up to the next level (Test A) with ease and ‘Smudge’ is well set to become the first ever Briard in NZ to achieve the title of Obedience Champion. That will be an enormous achievement and will be well celebrated!!!!

Although concentrating her efforts on obedience Margaret has also shown ‘Smudge’ to her conformation Champion title and has shown her at the Nationals of ’95, ’96 and ’97.

Hopefully we can get Margaret to write some articles for future issues describing the Dog Obedience set up in NZ but for now let’s see what she has to say about life with ‘Smudge’ in the ‘Q&A’ profile part of this section

Why a Briard ?

Briard ownership as you imagined it would be ?

Most satisfying moment so far ?

Winning the runoff with 3 other dogs on 99 to gain 2nd place and the knowledge that we can achieve 100.

Most exasperating or disappointing ?

Failing the stay exercise at the 1996 National Dog Show, the beginning of months and months of stay-breaking frustration. (Particularly as ‘Smudge’ was potentially on a score of 99.5 and outright 2nd place - Ed.)

Your goals in Obedience with ‘Smudge’ ?

Any other goals for her ?

Another in the future ?

Your other interests ?

Smudge’s favourite food ?

Banana and raw pasta - makes a wonderful 'crunchy' sound. (Margaret uses raw pasta bits as reward ‘treats’ for ‘Smudge’ during training sessions Ed.)

Smudge’s favourite toy/game/activity ?

Her most amusing or endearing qualities ?

Would you change anything about her if you could ?

Oh yes indeed! That bark!, definitely

that bark!!