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Teamwork results in success at prestigious dog show

This was the seventh win in a row for five-year-old Williams Lake golden retriever Deuce and his owner Sindee Broen.
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Sindee and ‘Deuce’ from Williams Lake recently celebrated their 7th win at the Elsie Murray Dog Show

This was the seventh win in a row for five-year-old Williams Lake golden retriever Deuce and his owner Sindee Broen. The pair took ‘High in Trial’ recently at the Elsie Murray Dog Show in Cloverdale—an all-breed show and obedience competition.

“This competition in Vancouver is one of the highest-rated in Canada,” she said. “Deuce competed in the obedience category, winning the whole trial for both days of the event.”

Broen explained that each class is scored out of 200 points, and that if two people get the same score there is a ‘run off.’

Entered in the most advanced category, Deuce drops on command, comes on command and executes scent discrimination. The owner ‘scents’ an item and it is mixed in with other similar items, and placed by the judge. The dog has to unerringly locate the item scented by its owner.

Broen stated that other exercises at the event included hand signals and heeling patterns. “In one exercise the judge tells you to stand your dog and move to the other side of the ring,” she explained. “You face your dog and wait for a hand motion from the judge that tells you to have your dog sit, lie down or come to you.”

She noted that part of the enjoyment of these events for her is socializing with the other owners. “You get to meet with friends—this is the only place where you see them. We often go once a month. In the summer we go to fun, outdoor dog events in the Okanagan where everyone camps.”

Broen said that some dog breeds are more high-strung and may be nervous around people. “You take your own nerves into the ring too, and that can reflect on your dog,” she continued. “Your dog knows when he’s done well, and knows when he’s made a mistake—they’re so smart.

“To see a team, a handler and a dog together is a breathtaking sight when it’s done right.”