Profiles

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="097d2c03.jpg"> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id26_m.htm#peter_lewis" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Profiles"><U>Peter Lewis</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id26_m.htm#mary_picture" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Profiles"><U>Mary Moffat</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id26_m.htm#linda_topliss" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Profiles"><U>Linda Topliss</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id26_m.htm#barking_logo" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Profiles"><U>Hetty vanHassel</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id26_m.htm#richard_curtis" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Profiles"><U>Richard Curtis</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id26_m.htm#cath_lewis_" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Profiles"><U>Cath Lewis</U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#99CC99" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Linda Topliss</B></FONT>    |     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Linda Topliss"><U>home</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id108.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Training Days"><U>Training Days</U></A>   |   <B>Profiles</B>   |   <A HREF="id156.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The French Connection"><U>The French Connection</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id152.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Demonstrations"><U>Demonstrations</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id48.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Otterhound"><U>The Otterhound</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Training Tips"><U>Training Tips</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id58.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Top Dogs"><U>Top Dogs</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id46.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Diary"><U>The Diary</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id50.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Poetry Page"><U>Poetry Page</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Working Trials"><U>Working Trials</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" 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Show"><U>Newark Show</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id57.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="All About Dogs"><U>All About Dogs</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id62.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Canine Supporters Charity"><U>Canine Supporters Charity</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id63.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Greyhounds"><U>Greyhounds</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="My Links"><U>My Links</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id112.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LDTC"><U>LDTC</U></A></div> <div> Profiles</div> <div> <A HREF="#peter_lewis" TITLE="Profiles"><U><B><IMG SRC="28845560.jpg" border=0 width="69" height="86" ALT="Peter Lewis" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B> </B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B><A HREF="#peter_lewis" TITLE="Profiles"><U><B>Peter Lewis</B></U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="#mary_picture" TITLE="Profiles"><U><B><IMG SRC="28a65560.jpg" border=0 width="101" height="86" ALT="Mary Moffat" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  </B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="#mary_picture" TITLE="Profiles"><U><B>Mary Moffat</B></U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="#linda_topliss" TITLE="Profiles"><U><B><IMG SRC="28b73610.jpg" border=0 width="115" height="97" ALT="Linda Topliss" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  </B><A HREF="#linda_topliss" TITLE="Profiles"><U><B>Linda Topliss</B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="#barking_logo" TITLE="Profiles"><U><IMG SRC="29142630.jpg" border=0 width="66" height="99" ALT="Hetty vanHassel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="#barking_logo" TITLE="Profiles"><U><B>Hetty vanHassel</B></U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>        </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>          </B><A HREF="#richard_curtis" TITLE="Profiles"><U><B><IMG SRC="4494a630.jpg" border=0 width="74" height="99" ALT="Richard Curtis" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="#richard_curtis" TITLE="Profiles"><U><B> Richard Curtis</B></U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>                            <A HREF="#cath_lewis_" TITLE="Profiles"><U><IMG SRC="29071590.jpg" border=0 width="113" height="89" ALT=" Cath Lewis" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B><A HREF="#cath_lewis_" TITLE="Profiles"><U><B>Cath Lewis</B></U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><IMG SRC="0b093590.gif" border=0 width="659" height="89" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="peter_lewis"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B><IMG SRC="2196d890.jpg" border=0 width="109" height="137" ALT="Peter Lewis" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>A Profile of Peter Lewis</B></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.adviceaboutdogs.co.uk" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.adviceaboutdogs.co.uk"><U>www.adviceaboutdogs.co.uk</U></A></div> <bR> <div> Linda has asked me produce a profile which is never an easy task but here goes.  </div> <bR> <div> I suppose I have always diversified in any subject that interests me.  Music for instance has played a great part in my life.  From classical and light operetta as a youngster and also a not very good bassoon player in the Epsom Junior Symphony Orchestra, I moved on to jazz as a teenager and young man.  These days classical and opera are my greatest loves but also good music of any genre is fine by me.</div> <bR> <div> My first dog was a black Labrador when I was a lad.  As an adult I had a Yellow Labrador I called Bill and joined the Surrey Dog Training Society.  They pressed me into obedience and working trial competitions in which I was lucky enough to be successful. Bill gained every working trial qualification possible including being only the second of his breed to get PDex and he also won a ticket.   </div> <bR> <div> Other dogs came along,  which were mainly Collies that I took into the Obedience Championship class having won out of the others below that. One, Tap, a Border Collie I made into a Working Trial Champion as well and another three were all awarded TDex.</div> <bR> <div> In the seventies I was Chairman of the Kennel Club Working Trials Council and was very proud to instigate and help set the rules for the working trial championships which continue to this day.</div> <div> I started writing books with my first, The Working Trial Dog, being published in 1978.  Very many other books have followed that initial hand written manuscript but latterly from computer input, thank goodness!</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="21f11bd0.jpg" border=0 width="273" height="189" ALT="Peter with Jean Paul." ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Peter with Jean Paul.</div> <bR> <div> Along came Agility and I thought this is for me. I was part of the initial rule making body at the Kennel Club and therefore quickly involved in 1979.  My previous dog training experience allowed me to become a winner and regularly qualify for the Olympia finals for the first 6 years.  Regrettably I was already too old and slow for what was going to become a game for quick movers, and eventually in the nineties I was forced to retire from handling due to medical conditions. However, I continued to teach and judge all over the world, for again having been in the right place at the right time I was able to teach much of the world this fascinating dog sport.</div> <bR> <div> Being completely addicted to dog training and its offshoots, when material became available I started reading everything possible about dog behaviour.  I didn't realise that inadvertently I was studying the subject, but all my previous practical experience allowed me to discard unworkable theories and only take on board what my instinct told me was workable.  It also made me think very carefully and construct some of my own theories.  Up until the late eighties I had not worked full time as a professional dog trainer, instead I was in suited occupations always beholden to the bottom line of the computer print out.  </div> <bR> <div> Following a heart attack which I blamed on the pressure of work I resolved to change direction completely and work for the vets as a behaviourist.  To be honest I wasn't absolutely sure I could succeed but my wife was very supportive and encouraged me to do so.  I was starting from scratch again as my high competition profile meant nothing to the vets. Now I am proud that I have over 50 vets who refer their clients to me, so I must have got something right.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="21b11bf0.jpg" border=0 width="273" height="191" ALT="Peter teach Whizz." ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Peter teach Whizz.</div> <bR> <div> At around the same time the Kennel Club Good Citizen Scheme commenced and believing thoroughly that the Kennel Club's considerable weight needed to go behind responsible dog ownership I was quickly involved.  This has taken me back to my roots as a pet dog trainer, and for many years now I have been able to play a major part in this scheme and have watched it grow in stature.</div> <bR> <div> I was present when my good friend from agility, Mary Ray, gave her first demonstration of what was called Heelwork to Music but at that time it was music incidentally playing while Mary demonstrated obedience heel work.  I was fascinated for here was a possible combination of my love of music and dog training.   Watching her work her stylish dogs I realised it could become a competition, but while trying to convince Mary that she should try and interpret the music I felt that I was intruding and therefore kept a low profile for a while.  </div> <bR> <div> When it was announced that Mary was to give her last demonstration at Crufts I resolved to really go for it, for as the whole thing appeared to be about to die I could not be intruding.  I convinced Mary and Dave that a competition could work and they finally agreed.  I drew up rules which Mary agreed and then we went to look at the Connexions venue just outside Coventry because it was big enough and had carpeting.  It was ideal and so the first event date was booked and subsequently my wife and I produced schedules for it.  I was one of a panel of 5 judges and needed to teach and convince the others that this new game could be judged.  I shall never forget that first event as no one really knew what would happen.  Talk about dipping one's toe in the water! However it was a great success and the rest is history.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="21d10be0.jpg" border=0 width="272" height="190" ALT="Peter & Moss." ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Peter & Moss.</div> <bR> <div> At first the Kennel Club would not recognise such events but the whole thing, particularly at Crufts became so much in demand eventually they agreed to rules being drawn up and I was asked to set up a working party to achieve this.  While I realise there are those that do not see why the sport needs the Kennel Club, I have to say that any sport needs a ruling body and whoever is doing the ruling will never please everyone.  With the KC staff not being involved in HTM they have no personal axe to grind. Neither are committee members allowed to sharpen knives. They have to be seen to be scrupulously fair.  It is my experience that when bodies are set up from existing competitors it is always a different matter.</div> <bR> <div> I have thoroughly enjoyed my dog training life and would not change anything.  I firmly believe that the diversity of disciplines has been an asset for it enables me to look either side of the tunnel rather than straight down it.  I hope that all that I have been involved in will continue to flourish, but the only one that will ever bring tears of emotion to my eyes is when Heelwork to Music is performed at the highest level.  Long may it continue to flourish!</div> <bR> <div> Peter.</div> <bR> <div> <I>For books by Peter Lewis available from Canine Publications go to his web site: </I><A HREF="http://www.adviceaboutdogs.co.uk/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.adviceaboutdogs.co.uk/"><U><I><B>Click Here</B></I></U></A></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><IMG SRC="0b093590.gif" border=0 width="659" height="89" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="mary_picture"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B><IMG SRC="09fcdae0.jpg" border=0 width="205" height="174" ALT="Mary Moffat" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>Mary Moffat:</B></div> <div> <B>MA with second class honours in History from Glasgow University. Worked both as a teacher and as a schools librarian.</B></div> <div> <B> Member of the Society of Authors.</B></div> <div> Location: Scotland</div> <bR> <div> "I have always enjoyed training my dogs. I first attended the local dog class and then went further afield and attended weekend residential courses. I have competed in Obedience and Working Trials and travelled all over the country when I was competing. I saw many places and met many people whom I would not have otherwise. I really appreciated the experience.</div> <div> Recently I have just discovered a whole new exciting canine activity -- Heelwork to Music".</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><IMG SRC="0a1cd840.jpg" border=0 width="205" height="132" ALT="Rough Island" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> Rough Island Scotland</div> <div> The inspiration for chapters 2 and 3 of Ghost Dog of the Solway.</div> <div> On the A710, 7miles south of Dalbeattie</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="09d443c0.jpg" border=0 width="68" height="60" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">   <A HREF="http://www.marysmoffat.co.uk" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.marysmoffat.co.uk"><U><U>http://www.marysmoffat.co.uk</U></U></A>   <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><IMG SRC="09e443c0.jpg" border=0 width="68" height="60" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Comment: Remember Greyfriars Bobby? This is a great site for book lovers of all ages.... dig deeply into this deceptively large website.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="0b093590.gif" border=0 width="659" height="89" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="linda_topliss"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B><IMG SRC="0cedbb80.jpg" border=0 width="219" height="184" ALT="Linda Topliss" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>Linda Topliss</B></div> <bR> <div> At the tender age of fifteen years Linda Topliss enjoyed her first obedience success with her eighteen months old dog, a GSD called Rolf (Meadow Close Stoney Prince) moving from Beginners class to take a C win. Unfortunately Rolf was killed in a road traffic accident shortly after their first success. Linda was devastated by her loss. Unsurprisingly her desire for obedience waned so she turned her attention to running a local riding school where she decided to demonstrate 'musical rides' at the local carnivals, this may have been the starting point in what was, for Linda, to later develop into Heelwork to Music.</div> <bR> <div> After leaving the riding school and getting married Linda's interest returned to competing in obedience again, and in 1977, The Queens Silver Jubilee Year, she was asked to give a display at the village fete. In an attempt to make obedience more spectacular she included weaves rolls walking backwards bows etc while music was playing. (Not choreographed in the same way as it is today).</div> <bR> <div> Military music with a good marching beat was a favorite that  time. The strong military beat helped to maintain an element of timing and rhythm in those early days. Also incorporated in Linda's displays were dogs jumping through fire hoops and retrieving burning dumbbells and climbing six-foot scales, which Andrew usually had the job of carrying to and from the venues huge success of the first display prompted other organisations to book a demonstration until ultimately a very successful display team came into being.</div> <bR> <div> In 1984 Linda and her husband Andrew moved house to a beautiful cottage with many acres of land attached. It was at this beautiful Derbyshire location where experimentation with sheepdog training and trialling became the order of the day and it was here where Sally, Linda's C dog, found her true vocation in life and Linda discovered yet another manner in which to train dogs.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1e825bc0.jpg" border=0 width="293" height="188" ALT="The cottage in a Derbyshire winter." ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> The cottage in winter.</div> <bR> <div> Between the horses, obedience, working trials and sheepdog trials, time was at a premium - until at an obedience show -Mary Ray asked her if she would be interested in the new sport - Heelwork To Music. Taking up this new challenge with Rory<I> </I>and Fenris <I>(Rottie and Rottie cross)</I> they entered every demonstration with shared enthusiasm until Rory's untimely and tragic death with cancer at eight years old.</div> <bR> <div> Linda has continued to work two dogs every year, being one of the first pairs teams to compete, and on one occasion worked two pair's routines partnering a different handler and dog. Choreography is another area in which Linda has excelled with the distinction of producing the first team event winners and has subsequently choreographed many winning teams.</div> <bR> <div> More recently Linda has demonstrated her skills at Crufts, Discover Dogs, All About Dogs, International Rottie Show, Bala World Sheepdog Championships, Hayfield Sheepdog Championships of The Peak, and various hospitals including the Chelsea and Sheffield Hospitals. During routines it still gives Linda great pleasure to see the unmistakable look of amazement, enjoyment and sometimes tears of emotion apparent on people's faces. The 2002 Bala World Sheepdog Championships saw the remarkable, and notoriously shrewd, shepherds gather to watch demonstrations of Heelwork to Music, which they watched intently, then promptly vanished at the finale with an air of nonchalance.</div> <bR> <div> In a quiet moment Linda will admit her love of dogs has bought her the occasional sad moments but the rewards from her 38 years of working with dogs, and the special friendships formed with her animals, and like minded people, will continue to motivate Linda in her future years as a dog handler, trainer and competitor.</div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><IMG SRC="0b093590.gif" border=0 width="659" height="89" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B> <A NAME="barking_logo"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B><IMG SRC="0f5f2420.png" border=0 width="242" height="66" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>Hetty vanHassel</B></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.barkingmaddivas.com/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.barkingmaddivas.com/"><U><B>http://www.barkingmaddivas.com/</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> Hetty started training dogs when she was 8 years old. First at a local<IMG SRC="0e3a0ef0.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="239" ALT="Hetty with Gyp when she was about 4 years old" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> dogschool but later she went to an official club to train with the dogs of</div> <div> her parents, dwarf poodles. When she was 16 she had wins in every</div> <div> competition in gedrag en gehoorzaamheid (FCI obedience) with Dana. A year</div> <div> later she wrote a letter to Mr. Charlie Wyant and was invited to come over</div> <div> to England to get some lessons from him. A few months later she had</div> <div> convinced her parents to allow her to buy her own dog. A border collie</div> <div> called Sealight Brisky. Brisky was supposed to become a star, showing very</div> <div> early that she was a superb working dog, but unfortunately she became blind</div> <div> at an age of nearly 3 years and had to be put to sleep two years later.</div> <div> Devastated of the loss of her chummy, Hetty decided not to buy another dog,</div> <div> but throw herself on her study.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Nearly one year later, missing the dogtraining so much, she bought another</div> <div> BC: Detania Rood Toffee. A red and white border collie with whom she did a</div> <div> lot of agility competitions very successfully. Toffee was more into action</div> <div> than into obedience, but learned Hetty the skills of motivation training. If<IMG SRC="0e5a0a60.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="166" ALT="Hetty and Violet touching paws/hands " ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="12"></div> <div> you can motivate a dog that is not interested in you or obedience training,</div> <div> than you can motivate any dog :-) In 1996 there came another dog in Hetty's</div> <div> life: Detania Rood Gyp. The naughtiest dog in the world. If there is</div> <div> mischief there is Gyppie <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>:-)</B></FONT> Gyp got many second places in (British)</div> <div> obedience as she always bit Hetty in her leg just in front of the judge,</div> <div> getting overexcited about doing heelwork. Maybe motivation training was a</div> <div> bit overdone with this dog?</div> <bR> <bR> <div> In 1997 Hetty read about dogdancing on the internet. Unfortunately no</div> <div> pictures on the net yet, so she asked people what it looked like and</div> <div> started training with Toffee. In January 1998 Mary Ray came to Holland and</div> <div> Hetty and Toffee took part, already being able to do various moves. In 1998</div> <div> several television shows asked Hetty to give a performance with Toffee. And<IMG SRC="0e7a0f50.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="245" ALT="Toffee creeping. " ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> in 1999  she decided Gyppie was grown up enough to start training her for</div> <div> dogdancing. Gyp is a dancing star. She loves it soooo much, even though she</div> <div> can still be naughty, she always tries hard to impress everyone. Together</div> <div> they did many demonstrations that year and many tele shows.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> In February 2000 a new puppy came into Hetty's life: Detania Musical</div> <div> Moonbeams, who was called Zima. Zima was a very cheerful little puppy,</div> <div> trying sooooo hard to please Hetty. When she was about 6 months old they</div> <div> started training dogdancing. That summer Hetty, Gyp and Zima performed on</div> <div> stage on a concert with 20,000 people cheering for them and again in a </div> <div> theatre a month later. Zima loved it soooo much she never wanted to go off</div> <div> stage after the performance.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> When Zima was 10 months old she was entered in the beginners class at the</div> <div> European Dog Dance Championships. Zima got a second place. Gyp was entered in</div> <div> the hightest class, also getting a second place. One month after the</div> <div> competition it turned out Zima had serious problems with her trachea and<IMG SRC="0e9a0240.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="292" ALT="Gyp twist. Gyppie on her back legs." ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> heart and had to be put to sleep. She was put to sleep at home in Hetty's</div> <div> arms with Toffee and Gyppie sitting next to them.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Some awfully sad months followed and then Hetty was given another puppy by</div> <div> Angela Gillespie: Detania Violet Elizabeth. She was already 4 months old</div> <div> but sooooo extremely naughty that she was a perfect match. Violet is now 2</div> <div> years old and will be a good dancer.</div> <div> But also in herding sheep she is doing very well and loves to do obedience</div> <div> with Hetty. In the meantime also Zima's mother came to live with Hetty,</div> <div> being just a pet dog, Delight enjoys the good life of laying on the sofa,</div> <div> getting uncountable amounts of cuddles and nice bones to chew on, but is</div> <div> also allowed to herd the sheep and have long walks in the woods together</div> <div> with the other divas (Vi, Gyp and Toffee :-)))) )</div> <bR> <bR> <div> In 2001 Hetty and Gyp went to England for the first time, to compete at</div> <div> Newark at the freestyle competition. She and Gyppie got a first place in</div> <div> novice. In 2002 Gyp, Vi and Hetty went to Coventry, where Gyp got a second</div> <div> place in intermediate and Vi a fourth in beginners. Gyp also danced in</div> <div> Brentwood where she also got a second place. Due to Hetty's graduation</div> <div> there wasn't enough time to prepare two new dances, so in 2003 only Gyppie<IMG SRC="0eba0c30.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="195" ALT="Brentwood, Hetty and Gyp." ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> will compete in Coventry, but with a smashing routine, choreographed by</div> <div> Heather Millar.  But Violet will probably compete next time as well, as</div> <div> Hetty has already found the perfect song for the two of them...............</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="0f1ae5a0.jpg" border=0 width="430" height="90" ALT="(Left to right) Toffee-Gyp-Violet-Delight." ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="0f3575a0.jpg" border=0 width="87" height="90" ALT="Zima" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="0b093590.gif" border=0 width="659" height="89" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B> <A NAME="richard_curtis"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B><IMG SRC="44882ae0.jpg" border=0 width="130" height="174" ALT="Richard Curtis" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Richard Curtis</B></div> <bR> <div> I actually started training dogs when I was nine with a Westie that had been brought for me after years of badgering my parents for a dog. I soon was taking him to obedience and I think for the next few years I didn't miss a class, almost!</div> <bR> <div> As this club also had a breed section I also started showing my Westie in breed and junior handling with various degrees of success. I was gradually getting more involved with the club that I attended and started stewarding and scribing for various people.</div> <bR> <div> After a about four years my badgering paid off, except the collie I wanted turned into another Westie!!!, as my parents were not at the time into anything larger it was another Westie or nothing.</div> <bR> <div> Things progressed on as you would expect but Toby as he was called eventually got to that stage where being a terrier I was limited with what I could do. Looking back though I feel that these two dogs stood me in good stead when I came to teach others as I still say there is nothing worse to train in my book than a male terrier!!</div> <bR> <div> So not having a dog to train to any high degree I started to teach a lot more and at fifteen I took myself away on an instructing course. I was lucky that I choose to go to a course run by Roy Hunter who certainly instilled into me the importance of kind and fair training. From then on I came back and have virtually been taking classes ever week since.</div> <bR> <div> From this course I then attended more and more course on everything to do with training from pet to competition etc. This again I feel now when I did get my first collie when I was nineteen stood me in good stead as I had an idea of the type of competition training I was going to use. All the books, videos and courses that I had attended had helped me to locate methods which I liked, taking bits from various trainers and using them how I felt best.</div> <bR> <div> I went to a couple of trainers and clubs around this time and started to also compete. The collie I had was not that easy to handle as she very much had a mind of her own!!! She could go into a ring win the class or look like I had never trained her in her life! I learnt a lot from her and how to handle the more `pushy' dog!</div> <bR> <div> Along then came my Sybil who most people will know, she started her obedience training from a young age; as I believe what you teach them in the first five months reaps benefits later on in their training. She performed well in the ring but then when she hit 'A' she started to show me by `messing about' that she found this obedience business very easy! I sensed that she needed something else to occupy her mind as I could see she found these things so easy.</div> <bR> <div> Having always taught my dogs various tricks I happened to see a competition advertised for the November of that year and decided that I had five months to train for it and I would have a go. At this stage I had never been to a HTM event in my life, the only person that I had seen was Mary Ray. I worked away at a routine and turned up at the event VERY nervous! Anyone who really knows me will tell you that I use to get horrendously nervous going into a obedience ring so how was I going to get on with all these people watching!!!!</div> <bR> <div> Sybil was a good girl for once and took me through it and I am glad to say that I won and so from then I was hooked!</div> <bR> <div> From then on I competed at various other events with degrees of success and after the Jersey event I decided that I would start to train my other Collie Jazz. She has always been an easier dog to train and her heelwork has always been her strong point, saying that though I aimed her more at the freestyle routine as I felt this opened up other ideas that I could develop. The two routines that jazz has done to date is to the themes of <I>Mission Impossible</I> and <I>The Great Escape </I>and has fortunately won with both these routines at the shows she has done.</div> <bR> <div> That brings me to the "new kid on the block" Disco who is a brown Portuguese water dog who looks very funky in her show cut!! In the time that I have had her she certainly has given me a lot of fun and a lot to think regarding the methods that I would use with her as she is a non-collie. Hopefully in future years she will make her debut in the ring when I feel she is ready.</div> <bR> <div> May I end by wishing everyone good luck with their training of whatever discipline they pursue and most of all enjoy it!!!!</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Best wishes</div> <div> Richard</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><IMG SRC="0b093590.gif" border=0 width="659" height="89" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B> <A NAME="cath_lewis_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B>Hi, I'm Cath Lewis.</B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="090ddae0.jpg" border=0 width="221" height="174" ALT=" Cath Lewis" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> I competed for many years in obedience, reaching ticket level with my dog Glyn, before I became too disabled to take part in obedience</div> <div> To begin with multiple sclerosis did not affect my mobility, when I was in remission, so I was able to continue training and competing.</div> <div> Eventually I became wheelchair dependent so heelwork To Music enabled me to continue training my current dog Kas. She can do quite a lot of different moves. This gives me great pleasure as I can carry on a working relationship with her. I can even compete on a good day. I was second in the disabled class at Newark. Are there any other MS sufferers doing Heelwork To Music?</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Love Cath</div> <bR> <div> You send e-mail to Cath at: <A HREF="mailto:lindatopliss@tiscali.co.uk" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:lindatopliss@tiscali.co.uk"><U>lindatopliss@tiscali.co.uk</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="0b093590.gif" border=0 width="659" height="89" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div>  <script language="JavaScript">  </script>  </div> </td> </tr></table></body>