[ Post a Response | Ask Cheryl Carlson ]
Posted by Chris Fraize
on 8/13/2008, 8:51 am, in reply to "Re: 2008 M.A.D. Summer Challenge."
65.175.253.59
Good morning Cheryl,
We haven’t selected the judges yet. As you know it can be difficult to find judges and decoys that share the same “vision” that you had when you wrote the scenarios for your trial. Again, as you have taught me selecting suitable judges is a critical step in a successful tournament. I am looking over a short list of names and should have a few names soon.
I was thinking of some of the great judges we have been lucky enough to have here in Maine in the past years. I always start with you (of course), Deb Hebler, Rodney Spicer, Officer Troy Casey, and the late Art O’keefe. There are more greats to be sure; I simply don’t have time to list them all.
I think of the decoys we have been lucky enough to have here and that list includes Shawn Flipp (I believe Shawn has decoyed every event we have had!), Bob Solomini, Mike Connors, Mac MacCluskey, and the new decoys; Nick Juiliano, Todd Swass and our trial virgin Walker Flemming. Again, there are many so many more that I can’t list them all here. Without them we could have never had even one event!
You are doubly blessed to have a training rich environment in a relatively small area of Michigan, Indiana and Illinois. That area has produced some great judges and decoys. You also have a wealth of judging and decoying talent at your fingertips in your club alone. Quietly and professionally many of your long time club members have compiled resumes that would put many a professional dog trainer to shame. French Ring, Schutzhund, Competitive Obedience, Agility, Personal Protection, Police K-9, Terrier Races, Weight Pull, Tracking, Therapy work, Hunting the list goes on and on. As time goes by and our club members gain experience in scores of areas of dog training as yours have hopefully we will be able to ask some them to judge our events as well as your club members have judged yours.
With gas prices skyrocketing and the cost of living on the rise as trainers, decoys and judges we will become more regionally isolated for the foreseeable future at least. I see this isolation as a long term benefit. We as a community (dog folks) will have to learn to get along and share ideas and experiences in a professional and friendly manner. As gas prices make the rest of us figure that fact our slowly and painfully, you and your club have been sharing ideas and experiences professionally for many years.
I will keep you posted on our trial and I look forward to hearing in great detail about the 10th annual DSO! I so wished I could have been there to celebrate with all the friends I have made over the years, help with decoying, judging or torturing folks as a distraction on the field or take part in the greatest personal protection dog tournament in the world. There is no place I would rather be in August than at the DSO!
Did I say we haven’t chosen the judges yet? ;0)~
Safe Training,
Chris Fraize
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