SacPaws.com

    In 2003, Petra and I were fortunate enough to participate in the AKC Obedience Invitational.  The top four dogs of each breed are invited, and the show pits 100 of the top obedience dogs from across the nation.

    Alas, we finished in 99th place.  But we were still thrilled to be there, in that incredibly exciting environment.  And that year, there was a very special dog in the top rankings.  The dog which finished number two overall was a laborador retriever which had been a rescue dog.

     Tossed out a car window in a rural farm area as a young dog, this animal had been rescued by a lab lover who went to great pains to obtain AKC papers and train the animal for formal competition.  The story was the buzz of the show, and everyone loved the idea that any dog has the potential to rise to such a level of accomplishment.

    And it is true that every dog has great potential.  But the reality is that those of us who are focused on the notion of obedience competition give a lot of thought to puppy acquisition.

    My first two miniature schnauzers, Petra and Axel, have each earned respectable titles and been beloved in my life.  But as they grew older and I thought about a puppy, it occurred to me to do a little research.  Petra and Axel each came from a well reputed breeder in Dunnigan, California, who was willing to sell a "pet quality" dog to an enthusiastic schnauzer admirer.

    But what, I thought, if I actually got a puppy that had been identified by the breeder as having true obedience performance potential?  Perhaps even one that came from a line of obedience performers?

    I voiced these ideas one afternoon at a match, while standing in the place where all the best conversations take place - the "out of sight" location where handlers go for the three minute sit and five minute down that are part of Open competition.

    One of the women among our group was a top competitor and trainer.  "Go for it," she advised me.  "You're qualified to get a really good puppy."

    Qualified?

    But she was correct.  Most breeders don't want to sell a puppy with good conformation or obedience prospects to a complete unknown.  As a handler with titles on two dogs, they would look on me more favorably.

    And I already had a good connection.  I'd been in e-mail touch with the Obedience Chair of the American Miniature Schnauzer Club.  I had a lot of questions!  So when I learned she also occasionally bred puppies, I asked if she would consider selling one to me.

    I went on her waiting list, and some months later got the news - puppies were on the way!

    Sonny Lelle, of Southcross Miniature Schnauzers, lives in Austin, Texas.  A long way from my home in Folsom California, but a short jump for the dog of my dreams.

    In June, 2004, my husband and I made the trip to pick up our puppy.

    Sonny had picked him out for me.  He was bigger than the others and would clearly never be a conformation dog.  But she felt that his early sense of independence, his adventurousness and constant urge to explore were all the right signs. 

    She told me I could take any of the eight puppies I preferred, but she said that if I was serious about obedience, I'd go for the one with the bit of red yarn around his neck.  Which is exactly what I did.

    In the long run, does it really matter so much?  I'm honestly not sure.  As his handler, I have the ability to help him realize all the possibilities, or to absolutely wreck his potential.  I am doing my best.

    The shows last weekend were a bit of a disappointment.  Three outings, three failures.  But there were people with knowledgeable eyes on us.  On Sunday nite, I had a note from a friend in another state.  "People are saying Spur looked good in the ring," she wrote.  "They're saying he could be the one."

    Would't it be fun if they are right?