| Rory and Imp are quite a
sight at dog trials. Beautiful white Samoyeds, they both seem to delight in the activity and competition.
Their human, Ginger Jenks, has a pretty good time, too. And she should, because Rory and
Imp - whose American Kennel Club monikers are Champion Krystall's Roaring Glory and Champion Krystall's You're
Not the Boss a Me, are both champions and prize winners from several competitions. (Samoyeds are famously "independent thinkers," Jenks says.) Both dogs
have a lot of titles after their names, but the bottom line is that they both conform to the breed's standards
and are talented working dogs.
Jenks and Rory have been invited to compete at the prestigious American Kennel Club National Agility Invitational. Only the top five dogs in each breed in the
nation receive an invitation to attend. Top international agility competitors in their respective countries also may
enter. The event will take place in Long Beach, Calif., in early December.
At the same venue, the AKC will also be holding its National Obedience Invitational and the AKC/Eukanuba
National Championship. More information is available at www.akc.org
or www.topdogshow.com.
The AKC/Eukanuba event will be televised on Animal Planet and the Discovery Channel starting at 8 p.m. EST on Dec. 1
and Dec. 2.
You may be wondering how this compares to the Westminster Dog Show. That is held by a private kennel
club and does not include agility trials. This competition is organized by the ranking national dog organization, and
it is the ultimate agility title for dogs.
Agility is the fastest-growing canine sport. It allows dogs to demonstrate their versatility by maneuvering
through a challenging course of obstacles, including tunnels, weave poles, jumps and seesaws.
Jenks says competing requires lots of time and travel, with most shows at least four hours - and most are more
like eight hours - of driving time to attend.
About a month ago, Rory and Imp competed at the Samoyed National, which was held near Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. The
drive was two days each way, but it was worth the trip.
Rory won the National Agility title, and Imp won the Advanced A Rally, Best Working Bitch and Best Working
Samoyed. Jenks showed an Oregon breeder's dog and won the Open Dog class with him as well.
Rory celebrated his win with a leap into Jenks' arms.
Many congratulations and good luck in California. |
