"Sometimes referred to as “the poor Swiss farmer’s horse"
Today's draft tests are designed to mimic the types of obstacles a working Swissy may have had to negotiate while pulling a cart. Standing calm in harness and working steadily, dog and handler demonstrate their proficiency to work as a team to navigate a set course and earn various levels of draft titles.
Herding
The Swissy was also used to manage livestock (primarily dairy cattle) in the mountains of their native Switzerland. Today's GSMD can demonstrate herding ability through trials and tests with various types of livestock such as sheep, cattle and ducks.
Back Packing
Dogs need to be fit and ready to carry 20% of their body weight over a 10 mile trail or 8 miles over the course of two consecutive days. Owners must be fit enough to tag along.
For more information on back packing with your Swissy visit: www.GSMDCA.org
NWPD-Novice Working Pack Dog WPD-Working Pack Dog, or WPDX-Working Pack Dog Excellent
weight pulling
To earn a GSMDCA weight pulling title, the Swissy must successfully pull the following: WWD – 10 times their body weight at 4 separate qualified events WWDX – 15 times their body weight at 4 separate qualified events WWDS – 20 times their body weight at 3 separate qualified events
For more information and rules go to: www.gsmdca.org
Allie and comet
Hailey and Robert
obedience & rally obedience
Obedience: Dogs are judged on different skills at different levels. Beginning levels evaluate heeling skills on leash, with off-lead recall and on lead stationary exercises. More advanced levels include off lead heeling and control at a distance without verbal commands, directed retrieving, scent discrimination and directed jumping. Titles as follows: Beginner Novice (BN) Companion Dog (CD) Companion Dog Excellent (CDX) Utility Dog (UD) Utility Dog Excellent (UDX)
Rally obedience: Dogs are judged on the ability too complete a course a series of stations (signs), unlike regular obedience handler may encourage the dog through out the course. titles: RALLY TITLES
Rally Novice (RN)
Rally Advanced (RA)
Rally Intermediate (RI)
Rally Excellent (RE)
Rally Advanced Excellent (RAE)
Rally Master (RM)
Rally Champion (RACH)
For more information please go to www.AKC.org
Buzz in rally
Molly on her way to a perfect score in rally advanced
Dune CDX leg
Flipper one day of obedience 2 trials in one day haul! High in trial x 2 for her CD!
Halo Rally 1st place at the GSMDCA National Specialty 2011
Dune new CDX title!
winning!
Ella 1st place in Rally Novice
New Titles for Razzle and Biggie, good puppies!
BRANDING PROJECT NO 9
Clinton and Ruthie New CD!
exercise finished!
6 month old Tater 1st show day 2nd place perfect score in Rally Novice and her 1st conformation point
