Magic Mate really is top dog

Netherton Heading dog, Mate named Rally Obedience Grand Champion, and the sole holder of the title in the North Island. Photo / Melanie Camoin

Mate, a four-year-old heading dog, is one of the two in New Zealand to be named Rally-O Grand Champion at the All Breeds Dog Obedience Club held earlier this year.

Rally-O is a mix between Agility and Obedience which test dogs' and handlers' capabilities to perform a series of different exercises.

Part of the contest includes combinations of turns, presents, finishes, changes of position, heeling around cones, halts, stays and jumps.

Named "Magic Mate" by his owner, Netherton dog trainer Christine Nielsen, after she had been impressed by his latest performance.

"I am so very very proud of my Magic Mate, who has now gained the prestigious title adding this to his other list of titles and qualifications," she said.

"He is always at the top of his game, regularly gaining firsts in every class of the top levels of Rally-O."

The New Zealand Kennel Club (NZKC) said only one other dog in the South Island received the title, making Mate the only North Island dog to hold the prestigious recognition.

Christine said training develops close ties between the dog and its handler.

"I encourage all my clients to learn this new sport as it is a challenge to keep your dog connected while you read the signs and smartly manoeuvre around all sorts of distractions like cones, toys, food, signs and over jumps.

I feel these can be all great skills to teach any new handler/dog team to be confident in the ring when going on to do Obedience or Agility, as Rally-O can give you the control you need in other sports," she said.

Mate is also a Flygility Champion and has recently gained another title, placing first twice and qualified TCQ (Test C) at Rotorua mid-March.

"Which means he has won up the grades to the top level of Obedience," Christine said.
Training dogs for more than 35 years, Christine said expertise and passion are key to bring a dog up to this level.

"My passion is helping owners understand their dogs and getting the very best out of it. I train people to train their dog - from the very basic companion dogs to top level competition dogs and all those in between.

"I strive to be the very best dog trainer I can be ... and I have been fortunate over the many years of dog training to have had the guidance, knowledge and expertise of some of the greatest overseas dog trainers passed on to me.

"I only learn from the best and these trainers were the best," she said.

MATE'S LIST OF TITLES

CDXSilver: Companion Dog Excellence Silver
CGCGOLD: Canine Good Citizen Gold
UDX: Utility Dog Excellence
WDX: Working Dog Excellence
TT1: Tracking Trials
ADXSilver: Agility Dog Excellence
JDX: Jumpers Dog Excellence
FDX: Flygility Dog Excellence
RAE6: RO Advanced Dog Excellence for the 6th time.
TCQ: Test C Qualified.
FLYGILITY Champion.
RO Champion and Grand RO Champion.