PATCH ~ Performing Super Dog
Patch was bought from a Dog Sanctuary in February 1974 ~ she was around 12 months old. Owned by Raylene, she was trained at home and an obedience club but never entered into a class situation. When Patch passed a "Mock Trial" the next step was to enter an Obedience Preliminary Trial run by the governing body which she passed with a score of 189/200 ~ (the pass mark then was 150/200) ~ after this she was eligible to enter in the Novice Class. She was awarded the title of Companion Dog ~ C.D. after passing three consecutive trials with scores of ~184~181~191 all out of 200 ~ (the pass mark then was 170/200)~
After C.D. is the C.D.X. (Companion Dog Excellent) the Open Class, this is where Patch really enjoyed her obedience work. She loved to jump, she was a real show-off and loved an audience. Patch was awarded her title after qualifying in three consecutive trials with scores of ~189~191~192 out of 200. Patch was C.D C.D.X. on April 9th 1978 aged approximately 2 and a1/2 years. She continued in the Open A class, as it was know back then(some people used to call it the Trophy Hunting Class). This is where she shined, most of her scores were in the high 180's through to the high 190's. After competing in this "fun" class (no titles awarded) the next step was to concentrate on U.D. (Utility Dog) Class. This is where the dog has to think more for itself, it has to work more away from it's handler. Patch was awarded her U.D. with scores of ~191~196~189~ all out of 200, but not consecutive this time. In all it took 15 months to get all of these titles! With some dogs it takes much longer!
All through her career she'd won numerous trophies, prizes and countless ribbons. She was also awarded "Top Dog" in her obedience club ~ 7 years in a row! For two years running she was the Top Trialling Dog in South Australia and was awarded the "Golden Dumb-bell" Trophy. Patch then went on to do her tracking. Passing five different tracks, she earned the titles of T.D. (tracking dog) and T.D.X. (tracking dog excellent) With all of these titles (Obedience and Tracking) she became an . .~Australin Obedience Champion~ She was the first non-pedigree bitch to be awarded this title. (There were two males at the same time, but Patch was the only female and they were all Border Collies) Immediately after the A.O.C. titles were granted, this practise stopped, a non-pedigree wasn't allowed to have this coveted title! Everything is different now!
Patch broke her own record of 6.8 seconds in a scent hurdle race where the dog had to go over four small jumps and then find it's own dumb-bell and return back over the obstacles to it's owner. Patch was also an inaugural member of the Pal Superdog Team and they competed on the Main Arena at the Royal Adelaide Show. She always ran the course last! Her owner, Raylene, believes that the organiser always thought he would keep "the best till last." Oh boy, could she jump! She would take off way before she should but somehow managed to propel herself through the air. The idea of the Superdogs came from Show Jumping with horses and it was judged basically the same way, penalty for knocking over the jump/s and the best time won. There were the single, double and triple jumps and a tunnel was also part of the course.
Patch was retired about 1985 and enjoyed her life with Kandy, Roscoe and her family.
On the 29th October 1990 ~ Patch ~ A.O.C. was put to sleep because she had cancer. She was approx. 16 years old. Patch was an exceptional dog at what she did and achieved.
Patch ~ CD - CDX
Patch ~ with her Golden Dum-bell, Sashes & Trophies
Patch's back to back Dumb-bells
~ Patch ~
Retrieving her dumb-bell over the obstacle in the Open Class
Patch and Raylene in action
Kandy Pet ~ Patch AOC ~ Roscoe CD ~ 1985
Ben ~ AOC
Ben was another Border Collie who was in the Pal Super Dog team and was owned by Raylene's brother-in-law Ian of DELAFORCE kennels. Ben was also an Australian Obedience Champion. Ben and Patch were the best of pals.
Patch and Ben after performing their talents. A well deserved rest.
Ben hurdling over the obstacle with the greatest of ease
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