Featured Club Member – Page 2 – Lone Star Dog Obedience Club

Featured Club Member October/November 2021

Margery Cannon

I was first introduced to dog sports and events while I was training my first Golden in 2007. Some people there were going to dog shows for conformation and obedience. I was so excited, I signed up with the help of a neighbor who did conformation. I was so green and had no idea what was expected of me and my dog, I went anyway. Although I was not even close to passing, I was hooked! Competing with the dogs who are your family is very addicting.

I have been competing with all of my dogs since the beginning of 2008. I even took my son’s cocker/beagle mix and put two titles on her when I was in between retiring Hazel and working towards getting a new Golden puppy. I used to take my boys out of school to go to shows because both my Goldens were working on their CDX titles and I needed another handler.

During our marriage of 34 years, we have owned Chow Chows, a Min Pin and 5 goldens. Once we had our first Golden, we were hooked on Goldens. We love every aspect of the breed.

My goals with my fur babies are to have fun with all we do. I want my dogs to be the happiest in the ring. Pass or fail, they will always be the loves of my life. I am interested in trying field work and hoping to learn agility in the near future.

One of my favorite memories with my Golden dogs are when I did Therapy work with Trigger and Hazel and the men in the assisted living were so glad to see a real dog finally coming to visit them. It reminded them of their days hunting with their dogs.

My first event was the show at Market Hall in Dallas. After that, I have taken my dogs all over Texas and Oklahoma. My girl Jenna was invited to Nationals in 2018 when she was 12 months old. I joined the Golden Retriever Club and learned quite a bit about the breed being involved with all aspects that the Golden can do.

I first heard of LSDOC when they did the match in Addison 2019, and thought it was amazing club to have all that knowledge in one club. I am so pleased to be allowed to join such a team.

One of my favorite locations to work my dogs are anywhere they are allowed in. I often train at Barnes and Noble book stores along with Lowe’s where I do most of my Canine Good Citizen Tests.

I am very big on socializing my fur kids. All of my dogs have been very good in public and can go almost anywhere and be somewhat behaved. (I think it’s a Golden trait.)

Featured Club Member September 2021

Marcene Perry

I started in obedience as a child with a mixed breed dog my family had. Guy was a very good boy, and we really liked obedience classes, but at that time mixed breed dogs could not compete.

As an adult, I got back into obedience training in the 70’s with a German Shepherd someone had given my father. He was a very poorly bred dog and very afraid of the world. I started taking him to obedience classes at the Atlanta Obedience Club to help him deal with strangers. He died very young and I went looking for another Shepherd. I got Bo, who was a much better Shepherd and continued classes with the Club with him. I also took my mother’s Silky Terrier to classes. During that time Bo got a CDX and Toto, Mother’s Silky got a CD. I also became interested in conformation and joined the Atlanta Kennel Club. I got two Springer Spaniels to show in conformation neither of which was able to finish, but I enjoyed conformation shows. One Springer, Dinah, got a CDX and a TD. I am now a life member of the Atlanta Kennel Club.

I moved to Dallas in 1985 with one old Springer. After she died I was so busy with work that I just did not have time to get another dog. I finally decided in 2005 that I really needed to get back into dogs. I wanted a breed that I could show myself in conformation and obedience and that did not require a lot of grooming. Those 3 requirements eliminated a lot of breeds I really like, such as German Shepherds, Goldens and Poodles. I kept flipping through the Dog Book and coming back to Pembroke Corgis.

I got my first Pembroke, Decker, in 2006. My stated goal to his breeder was to have a Champion UD. Decker became a Grand Champion UD RAE. My most memorable moment in dogs was probably him finished his UD. It was a terrible struggle for both of us, but we finally did it. He made it very clear that he did not like the obedience ring, so he retired from that.

My second Pembroke, Herbie was a Grand Champion CDX RE NA NAJ and the first dog I trained in agility. Herbie had 3 High in Trials in obedience. He had some quirks, like seeing invisible things (sometimes) in the corners that were undoubtedly there to kill him.

My third Pembroke, Cherry, is a CH CD RA AX AXJ CA BCAT RATN. She’s had two litters, and I have kept three puppies from those litters.

Grand Champion Sugar Pie RN MX MXJ MXF is working on a MACH. She’s been a challenge to train in agility, as she was a wild bolter, and spent quite a bit of time racing around, and out, of agility rings. She’s now 5 and has settled down some and has 9 QQs towards a MACH. The bolting has kept me out of obedience rings with her, particularly after, at the National Specialty, she bolted out of the ring as I was walking around the ring in Beginner Novice. Maybe in a few years she can resume obedience (or maybe not).

The two puppies from Cherry’s second litter are now 2 ½. Sunny is close to finishing his breed Championship and at his first and only agility trial got his NA and NAJ titles, an Open Standard leg, 2 Novice Fast legs and a T2B leg. His sister Maddie has one 5 point major she got at her first and only all breed show. She finished her Novice and Open agility titles in her first three trials and is now in Excellent agility.

I’ve been having a lot of fun in agility. It’s a different kind of training and there’s a lot more to it then may meet the eye. When I started in obedience and through the 70’s the standard training method was a slip chain collar, a “firm correction” and some praise. The mere thought of cookies was ridiculed. Training has come a long way since then and I think much for the better.

Featured Club Member July/August 2021

Walter O’Brien

Who or what influenced your interest in Dogs and Dog Events?

The first person who influenced me was my first mentor, Patty Gailey. Patty was able to do both conformation and obedience with her dogs. Patty was able to get a UDX as well as a CH on her Pembroke Welsh Corgis and that really motivated me to be able to put titles on both ends of my dogs. The other things that influenced me to put titles on my corgis where is the knowledge that they were so capable of doing so much.

How long have you been participating with your Dogs?

I have been in dogs since 1996, I first started in conformation and then slowly moved over two obedience as a compliment in the early 2000s.

What Breeds have you owned?

I have owned Pembroke Welsh Corgis, Cardigan Welsh Corgi and a Miniature Poodle. The breed that I really love though is the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. The Pembrokes really are a breed that “checks all the boxes” for me.

What are your Goals?

My number one goal right now is to finish a UD on one of my Pembroke Welsh Corgis. After that, my goals are to get my judging license in obedience and to continue to show you know be Obedience and Rally.

What is your favorite Memory involving a Dog

My favorite memory involving one of my dogs is when my first Pembroke Welsh Corgi almost won the Pembroke Welsh Corgi national specialty in 2005. Next to that would be when Sophie placed at Rally Nationals last December in Orlando FL.

What events they’ve attended

I have been to Westminster for the Westminster Kennel Club dog show and that is the one event that most everyone I know can relate to. Equally important to me he is having attended the Pembroke Welsh Corgi National Specialty. I have also attended multiple Rally National Championships, AKC Obedience Classics and AKC National Championship.

Contributions to LSDOC

As a former AKC Delegate, I listen into the AKC Delegate forum. I also am Judges Hospitality for the First LSDOC shows coming up next year,

Favorite Location where you have shown your Dog

I actually have two favorite locations for dog shows. The first location is Orlando FL. The entire scene in December at the Orlando Convention Center with the dog show and being with all my friends is the highlight of my year. While it is a large, noisy, crowded environment, the whole week of activities it’s something I look forward to. The second location that I have to mention is Winston Salem NC. The Winston Salem Dog Training Club is probably my favorite club that I do not belong to. I have judged for them several times and I’ve shown there several times and every time is always fun. The facility, while small rerally fits my eye for a near perfect dog show site.

Featured Club Member June 2021

Zelda Casanova

Who or what influenced your interest in Dogs and Dog Events

My interest in dogs happened by accident. I could not afford to ride horses once out of college & on my own. I thought Doberman Pinschers looked like thoroughbreds & figured I could afford a Dobe. I’ve been fortunate to have some wonderful mentors help me along the way-Edd & Irene Bivin (Dob Mann) , Lynn Eggers (Foxhall), Michele Young(Gracieux) & Peggy McConnell.

How long have you been participating with your Dogs

I have been showing my dogs in the breed ring & obedience for 33 years

What Breeds have you owned

I have owned Dobes, Dachsunds, a Great Dane, Chihuahua & Chinese Cresteds

What are your Goals

My immediate goal is to achieve a UDX on Kiss Jr my Crested & show him at the NOC next year.

What is your favorite Memory involving a Dog

My favorite memory is achieving 10th place in Open with Kiss at The Obedience Classic in Orlando 2 years ago. I had never been & had never shown at something that large or been in a runoff! Fun fun fun!

I also enjoyed working to achieve my Dobe Wally’s Top 20 obedience placing in 2015! We learned a lot together!