NZ's biggest dog sports event gets under way

Media Release 21 October 2005

NZ's biggest dog sports event gets under way

Competition started this afternoon at the country’s biggest dog sports event. The NZ Kennel Club ProPlan National Dog Training Assembly (NDTA) kicked off at the Taupo Events Centre in Spa Road and continues until Monday afternoon.

“It’s wonderful to be greeting old friends from all over the country arriving to compete,” said NDTA chair Jeanette Peacock.

“We’ve been planning this for 18 months and I’m so happy we are finally under way. Taupo is going to put on a weekend to remember,” she said.

NZ Kennel Club members are competing in agility, obedience and working trials disciplines. The NDTA is held annually in a different region each year.

Mrs Lesley Chalmers, NZ Kennel Club president, said “Our dog sports arm is a vital and fast-growing part of the organisation. NZKC’s 50 dog training clubs, from Invercargill to Whangarei, are the foundation for competitive agility and obedience. But they also provide domestic training classes where members of the public can learn to train their own dog.

“People competing here this weekend are also delivering a public good as instructors back at their clubs. They are an important part of ensuring dogs and their owners are recognised as being an integral part of New Zealand communities,” said Lesley Chalmers.

Agility is a fast and furious sport (think of 'TUX Wonder Dogs' on the TV) where dogs and handlers aim to complete a course of jumps, tunnels, A-frames and other equipment in the fastest time with the fewest mistakes.

Obedience is a precision sport with handlers and dogs completing a series of exercises including heelwork, recall, retrieving an article, scentwork and stay commands.

ENDS

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