ver·sa·tile (vûr
s
-tl, -t
l
)adj.1. Capable of doing many things competently.
One of my main goals when getting a new puppy was to find a dog that would mature into the above definition. What I didn't know when I started looking for a puppy was that this term was now used widely to market certain kennels or lines. I quickly caught on to that fact and over time my opinion of versatile has changed. I still appreciate dogs with titles at both ends but now that I have trialed some in various venues and disciplines I give some titles and accomplishments more weight than others. Versatile is as subjective as the person using it to label their dog.
Diva and I might have been fumbling with sheep but we during the same time we were excelling at Obedience class and Rally. Diva graduated puppy obedience with the highest test score in her class and I became a member at CTA. We quickly moved into a novice class where she continued to be a stand out. I can clearly remember on of the obedience instructors pulling me aside and telling me that I had an amazing working dog on the end of my leash :). We also tried our hand at AKC conformation even though Diva isn't of the AKC "type". I was a nervous wreck that day but we did have some fun...I think ;-).
Around 8 months old we also started basic/puppy agility classes. Diva loved doing agility what she didn't love was watching her classmates work quietly! Like everything else I asked her to do Diva did it with enthusiasm and she did it well. Her handicap has always been and probably always will be me. If only I learned as fast as she does!
Looking pretty while waiting to go in the AKC ring (the dog atleast :))
Note that diva has her "good ears" on...lol
Entered our first AKC Rally novice class when Diva was just 8 months old. She not only got the Q but she won her class!
Playing the "bang" game in agility training
Down stay on the table
One of my main goals when getting a new puppy was to find a dog that would mature into the above definition. What I didn't know when I started looking for a puppy was that this term was now used widely to market certain kennels or lines. I quickly caught on to that fact and over time my opinion of versatile has changed. I still appreciate dogs with titles at both ends but now that I have trialed some in various venues and disciplines I give some titles and accomplishments more weight than others. Versatile is as subjective as the person using it to label their dog.
Diva and I might have been fumbling with sheep but we during the same time we were excelling at Obedience class and Rally. Diva graduated puppy obedience with the highest test score in her class and I became a member at CTA. We quickly moved into a novice class where she continued to be a stand out. I can clearly remember on of the obedience instructors pulling me aside and telling me that I had an amazing working dog on the end of my leash :). We also tried our hand at AKC conformation even though Diva isn't of the AKC "type". I was a nervous wreck that day but we did have some fun...I think ;-).
Around 8 months old we also started basic/puppy agility classes. Diva loved doing agility what she didn't love was watching her classmates work quietly! Like everything else I asked her to do Diva did it with enthusiasm and she did it well. Her handicap has always been and probably always will be me. If only I learned as fast as she does!
Looking pretty while waiting to go in the AKC ring (the dog atleast :))
Note that diva has her "good ears" on...lol
Entered our first AKC Rally novice class when Diva was just 8 months old. She not only got the Q but she won her class!
Playing the "bang" game in agility training
Down stay on the table
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