Russet, a red merle, and Peach, a red tri, both Miniature American Shepherds, sit with their purple Rally Novice new-title rosettes in front of a Halloween backdrop.

Tails of Toy Aussies

Two little redheads, two Rally Novice titles

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Ashley

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Peach and Russet made their rally debut at the Burlington Obedience Training Club’s AKC fall trial at the Shelburne Field House in Shelburne, Vermont, on October 17 and 18, and these two little redheads had a stellar weekend. It didn’t hurt that we caught Vermont at peak foliage, a beautiful time to be up there.

Rally: three trials, two titles

Both dogs ran Rally Novice A, with two trials on Saturday and one on Sunday. In Saturday’s first trial, Peach took second place and Russet third. Not to be outdone, Russet laid down a 95 in the second trial for a second-place finish, ahead of Peach. On Sunday, Russet put up a very respectable 90, but Peach came out of nowhere with a perfect 100!

Peach, a red tri Miniature American Shepherd, heels on leash and looks up at Ashley during a Rally Novice run.
Russet, a red merle Miniature American Shepherd, trots at Ashley's side on leash during a Rally Novice run.
A yellow sticky note on the rally score board for armband 50, Miniature American Shepherd, crossed off with Peach's perfect score of 100.

Both of them earned their Rally Novice (RN) titles. Most importantly, they were THRILLED to be in the ring and such happy workers.

Russet, a red merle, and Peach, a red tri, both Miniature American Shepherds, wear purple Rally new-title rosettes above a row of rally placement ribbons.
Ashley kneels beside Russet and Peach, who sit on a decorated box with their Rally Novice new-title rosettes and a spread of placement ribbons in front of a Halloween backdrop.
Peach licks Ashley's face while Russet looks down at his Rally new-title rosette in front of a Halloween backdrop.
Russet squeezes his eyes shut beside Peach as both pose with their purple Rally new-title rosettes in front of a Halloween backdrop.

Russet: down for anything

Russet is down for anything and just loves to be included. He was nervous the first time I brought him to American K-9 Country, but he’s really blossomed since, and this weekend there wasn’t even a glimmer of it. A new sport in a new building, and he was a happy worker from start to finish. When I brought him back into the building at the end for photos, he came striding in like he owned the place, ready to work again. The happiest boy!

Rally was his only event. I knew he wouldn’t want any part of the judge’s hands-on exam in obedience, so I didn’t enter him.

Obedience: Peach’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde act

Rally and obedience are two different sports. In rally, you and your dog work through a course of signs together. Obedience is a set of exercises judged on precision, including a hands-on exam by the judge. Peach was my only obedience entry, in Beginner Novice A.

Peach choosing obedience as her sport is especially hilarious, because on most walks this girl is downright feral. In the ring, she’s a different dog.

It was a humbling weekend, though, with three “not quites.” In the first trial, Peach was perfect and I blew it on the recall. In the next two, she decided she was never getting booped on the forehead again and straight up dodged the judge on the sit for exam. Turns out Russet wasn’t the only one with opinions about that exam. (And then I blew the recall once more, for good measure.) Still, I’m incredibly proud of how far we’ve come as a team in such a short time, and we know exactly what to work on.

Peach, a red tri Miniature American Shepherd, lies on the artificial turf inside the trial venue on a purple leash.

Off duty

When they weren’t in the ring, both dogs very much enjoyed the hotel. After the trial, we went wine tasting in Stowe, where both dogs made a very convincing case for the cheese plate.

Russet, a red merle, stands on his hind legs and Peach, a red tri, waits at a man's knee as he eats from a cheese board at an outdoor table in Stowe, Vermont.
Peach, a red tri Miniature American Shepherd, peeks out from a white hotel comforter with one blue eye.
Peach, a red tri Miniature American Shepherd, sprawls face down across rumpled white hotel sheets with her hind legs stretched out behind her.
Russet, a red merle Miniature American Shepherd, sits in the middle of a big white hotel bed.
Russet, a red merle Miniature American Shepherd, curls up on a gray hotel couch against a mustard pillow and looks back at the camera.

Many thanks to BOTC for a wonderful trial and for being so welcoming to us newbies. We’ll for sure be back!

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