That day taught me a valuable lesson; even though my dog did achieve an obedience title he showed me there are greater things in life than getting that .Training your dog for the obedience ring is a lot of hard work. We trained for months working twice a day seven days a week. While we enjoyed training I wanted to earn that obedience title so bad I it was all I could think of for months. Uconn knew all the exercises he needed to perform inside and out, backwards and forwards. I went to the ring area with Uconn early in the morning. I wanted both of us to get accustom to the sights and sounds of where the obedience ring was set up. I had a book with me to try to so some reading to relax before we went in the ring. It was a warm August day. The building we were in was a pole building at the fairgrounds. It was damp and cool in the building and I wondered if the cool air was making me feel not so great. The obedience ring was set up with white gating all around it. It was a perfect square. The matting being used was rubber and a dark green color.

We found a place in the last row. The area was crowded with spectators, other exhibitors and dogs.

The judge was a woman. I had seen and shown other dogs under her in the past. She was very pleasant and smiled and welcomed us in her ring.

For one thing the dog is very unpredictable. It takes a lot of hard work and patience to get your dog trained. I was at an obedience trial with Uconn. There was a little boy in a wheelchair. Uconn was licking his ear and made the little boy giggle. When I got in the ring the little boy came yelling out load “Uconnnn.” It was adorable and I did not care at all that my dog was not doing his job he was looking at his new little friend. Sometime you can achieve things without really achieving the goal. Uconn was a good dog did everything I wanted and more. He knew how to make friends and make sure people were happy.

How did I feel? My stomach was in knots, not sure why this time I was more nervous than others, just thought this could be our day. I was anxious to be done yet worried about starting. The ring area was crowded with lots of spectators, other exhibitors and dogs.

Talk about traveling to the show?

Where was the show? How was the ring set up?

• MOOD • SOUND • WHEN • TASTE • PERSPECTIVE • SMELL • NUMBER • COLOUR • TEXTURE • WHO • BACKGROUND • MOVEMENT • WHERE • SHAPE • SIZE • WHAT
Where and what

In MN to earn an obedience title

I was looking to earn an obedience title with him and I felt we were ready. I had taught him all the exercise he needed to perform in the ring and he was to the point where he could perform them all with ease. I really wanted that title on him to show everyone how smart he was and what a great dog I had. In the end it was he who taught me a lesson on appreciating what you have and not looking for titles to tell us who we are.

It was an August morning and the air was cool and crisp. The show was at the fairgrounds in a pole building. It was cool and damp in the building. Uconn and I found a spot in the back of the building to set

Uconn was not afraid of the wheelchair which to many dogs which have frightened or at least startled then. He saw an adorable little boy that laughed and giggled and loved dogs. Wish Uconn was still here maybe that would help me to write this paper.