 |
|
||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
Feature
story by
Brenda LaTorre and Carolyn Winkler
Photos
by
Brenda LaTorre, Animals in Focus
(Click on photo for larger view)
"Shadow"
"Sheryl and Flash"
"K.T."
Tri-City Obedience Club in Arlington, TX
This month I am anxious to tell the story of a super group of new friends I have made at Tri-City Obedience Club in Arlington, TX. They function as a non-profit club for dog owners and also provide obedience training for owners and their dogs in the community. Nearly a year ago, the club treasurer, Charlene Dunn, invited me to visit them on a Wednesday night. Since then, Tri-City Obedience Club has graciously allowed me to photograph their trainers and members with their “four-legged friends”. The experience was a labor of love as I experienced the challenges and successes of the pets right along with their owners. I hope, in a sense, that maybe my presence also helped “train” some of the dogs who would go onto trials and shows by enabling them to get accustomed to seeing and hearing a person running to and fro with a camera in hand. I like to think so as I have grown to LOOOVVVE these pets as you may also as you engage with the pictures I have included in this story.
Charlene Dunn, who loves Labrador Retrievers, has provided me with much information about the kinds of photographs both trial and show entrants most appreciate. In addition, she has shared knowledge of the rules and protocols of obedience training that has helped me tremendously. Her black Lab, “Shadow” loves to have fun and is he ever the SPEEDSTER!!!
I’ve also had the privilege of getting to know Sheryl Archer, the trainer for the advanced class that is held at 9:00 p.m. each Wednesday evening. Sheryl’s sleek friend is “Flash”, a beautiful Golden Retriever.
Judy Brown is president of the club. Her Corgi, “K.T.” is a patient and “sweet-eyed” gem.
Dana
Walsh has a sweet Vizla, “Cleo” with a stunning red coat.
Dana and Cleo have helped introduce us to the sport of dog agility training.
We photographed the Paws Agility Trials in February of last year. Cleo
is featured in highlights
of the Paws Agility Trials.
"Dana
and Cleo"
"Alice"
"Mary and Alice”
"Julia and B.C."
"Toby"
"Faith"
"Jane and Dusty"
The very graceful black, Flat Coated Retriever, “Faith” is
the favorite friend of Malinda Miller.
"Kris and Zoe"
"Dune"
Next to steal your heart is Kris Wickett’s “Zoe”, a tea cup Yorkshire Terrier who is not at a loss for character and spunk!!! She is short in height but TALL in personality!
Nancy Gearhard and her fawn-colored Doberman Pinscher, “Dune”
were spotlighted in our last Animals in Focus feature article “He
Loves to Make Friends with Everyone”. We CONGRATULATE him as
he is now enjoying retirement from obedience training but still works
as a therapy dog with area rehab, hospice and psychiatric patients.
The following photos feature highlights from the other classes offered through the Tri-City Obedience Club. The schedule includes the following classes which are held every Wednesday night:
Puppy Class 6:00 p.m. Beginner’s Class 7:00 p.m. Intermediate Class 8:00 p.m. |
One Final Note: The Tri-City Obedience Club was meeting at the National Guard and Army Reserve Armory, a military training facility in Arlington near Randol Mill Park and had been since 1955. The Club is grateful to the Armory for their graciousness in sharing their facility for all of these years. Unfortunately, the facility is no longer available for use to the Tri-City Obedience Club. The Club is in need of a new space, preferably an indoor gymnasium. Please contact their training secretary Julia Jaeckels at (817)543-8909 if you know of a place in the North Arlington area that will welcome them. The Club’s “two-legged and four legged friends” are most grateful for those who offer them a new home!
Archive of previous article, "He Loves to Make Friends with Everyone."
| © Copyright 2004 - 2007, Animals in Focus. All rights reserved. |