Publisher’s Message: Buzz Update and Thank You to Donors

Buzz and his ribbons from the recent Ann Arbor Kennel Club dog show at the Monroe County Fairgrounds.

Buzz and I are about to reach another exciting milestone in our long and storied Rally career together.

He just needs to qualify in all three classes – Master, Excellent and Advanced – at two more shows to attain his Rally Champion 3 (RACH3) title, and we are entered on July 21 in Flint and again on Aug. 4 in Toledo, the site of our first two RACHs.

This means that he’s qualified in three classes in one day 60 times, and along the way, scored highly enough to receive a total of 300 points with 150 points out of the Master class.

That’s a lot of times strutting his stuff while excelling in the show ring. Hundreds of times, in fact.

He’s probably the only dog still competing from the group of original dogs to attain a RACH title when AKC began offering it in 2018.

Most, if not all, of the other dogs have long retired, and many of them have crossed the rainbow bridge.

Buzz has received an invitation to every Rally National Championship. And this year, we’d planned to go but I had an eye issue that forced us to stay home. And, he’s already qualified for next year’s event.

So, I consider myself extremely fortunate – especially since COVID took us out of competition for two years.

Buzz continues to represent after making national history in the sport while attaining spots in the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever history books along the way. And, it will be a while before another Toller surpasses his accomplishments in the sport. I’m hoping that it will be Aidan, but he won’t be ready for prime time for another year.

But on the flip side, both of us are getting longer in the tooth. Buzz received a cancer diagnosis and he’s 10.5 years old.

Did I mention I’m now 65 years old?

And I have been reminded this year that neither of us are quite as sharp as we once were.

So I’ll admit it, I got used to consistently performing at the elite level and bringing home the big ribbons as the highest scoring dog at the show. Buzz has a couple walls of ribbons as proof positive.

But this year, our performances aren’t as sterling. We’ve both been making mistakes out on course and losing to the younger dogs and handlers.

Buzz was never lightning fast out on course, but we were extremely accurate and a slower perfect score of 100 beats a faster 98 score every time. Even I can do that math.

So, I am at a crossroads. Once he attains his RACH3, what then?

Buzz still loves to show and continues to place in the top four in his classes, so it’s not like he’s an also-ran. I, however, still have higher expectations.

For the last four shows in a row, the highest scoring ribbons have gone home with other dog and handler teams. We’ve been close, losing by a point or two, or tying on total scores, but losing on time.

There have been times when I’ve made mistakes and others when Buzz has made mistakes – it’s a team sport and that happens. When I’m the one who lets us down, that’s the toughest; when it’s Buzz’s mistake, he’s a dog, and like all athletes, some days are better than others.

Either way, I always make sure he knows he’s the best and he’s a very good dog.

Buzz still loves to strut his stuff, tail held high and a waggin’ like the queen’s wave; I’m the one who probably needs to re-calibrate my expectations. But as a competitive person, I’m not sure how to do that. Or if I can.

So, the mental ping-pong begins: If Buzz can’t compete on the highest levels, is it time to retire him from Rally? Should we try another less impactful sport like scent work?

Maybe I should ask Tom Brady how he came to terms with his decision.

But first, RACH3, here we come.

Buzz, Aidan and I would also like to thank the following people who generously donated to my efforts and Chelsea Update. If you would like to make a non-tax deductible donation to our efforts, please send a check in any amount made out to Chelsea Update, 18829 Bush Road, Chelsea, MI 48118 or look for the donate button tab on the home page of www.ChelseaUpdate.com