Summer 2019 Saber Tails 29
Triathlon Competition
The 2019 Triathlon offered some new events this year.
For the first time earning the Canine Good Citizen, Ca-
nine Good Citizen Advanced or a Trick Dog title could
count as one of the qualifying events. Two AKC Scent
Work Trials were offered for the first time. Two levels of
Triathlon awards were offered. To earn a regular Triath-
lon Award the dog must be entered in at least three dif-
ferent disciplines and qualify in three disciplines. For the
Beginner Triathlon award the dog must be entered in at
least three disciplines but only needs to qualify in two
of them. Having to enter three different disciplines en-
courages PBGV owners to try different things with their
PBGVs.
Agility started off the events that would count towards
the Triathlon. Two trials were held on the same day, off
site at a facility only a short drive from the show hotel.
Some great runs took place and some dogs found run-
ning on dirt a bit of a challenge. All dogs entered in the
Agility Trial were also Triathlon participants.
Obedience saw five dogs earning qualifying runs to count
toward their Triathlon. High in Trial each day came out
of the Novice B class. Rally had some good entries with
most dogs qualifying. As usual there was a few PBGVs
who decided to do Obedience and Rally their way.
Next on the agenda were two Scent Work trials that were
a great success. Sixty entries were allowed for each trial.
The morning trial filled with the afternoon trial only fall-
ing short a few runs. The majority of dogs doing scent
work were in the Novice classes. At the first briefing the
Scent Work judge asked if this was anybody’s first trial.
When about two thirds of the people raised their hand the
judge said “Oh my.” Most dogs entered qualified at least
once and several dogs qualified in all their runs. Owners
and their PBGVs seemed to enjoy doing scent work!
New Events Highlighted at 2019 Triathlon Competition!
A Trick Dog seminar held on Friday night was well at-
tended. There were a lot of things there to help PBGVs
learn to do tricks. By the end of the seminar dogs were
able to test and earn a Trick Dog title. Next was the op-
portunity to earn a Canine Good Citizen or Canine Good
Citizen Advanced title. A nice-sized group of PBGVs
took advantage of this and earned a CGC or CGCA title.
The 2020 National will be held the second full week of
April at the very dog friendly Roberts Centre in Wilm-
ington, Ohio. PBGVs will have the chance to enter
many different events to earn a Triathlon Award. There
will be two Agility Trials in the ballroom on nice agility
flooring. Two Obedience and two Rally Trials will be of-
fered along with two Scent Work Trials. There will also
be the chance to earn the Canine Good Citizen, Canine
Good Citizen Advanced, and Trick Dog titles.
Following the National in Wilmington there will be a
3-day hunt test only a few short hours away. The first day
is a day of practice and a chance to get the dogs out on
the field and be mentored by experienced handlers and
their dogs. Spectators can go out on the field and watch
other dogs and handlers. The next two days are test days.
There is a Hunting Instinct Test for beginner PBGVs
who have never hunted at a hunt test before. Hunt tests
have a laid back atmosphere and are a great place to un-
wind and spend some time watching the PBGV do what
it was bred to do.
As you can see there will be a lot of different things you
and your PBGVs can participate in at the next national.
So select at least three things to start to work on and be-
come a part of the Triathlon in 2020.
t
7 Dogs qualified in 3 disciplines or events
6 Dogs qualified in 2 disciplines or events
1 Dog qualified in 1 discipline or event
15 Dogs were Champions or Grand Champions
7 Dogs were males
11 Dogs were females