Muncie Obedience Training Club

Dogs of every size, shape and, well, intelligence, competed at the Muncie Obedience Training Club's 60th annual obedience trial on Sunday.

About 90 dogs and their owners showed up at the Yorktown Middle School gymnasium to vie for ribbons, trophies and obedience titles. Levels of competition were offered for the beginner through to the advanced competitor, and in rally and agility.

In obedience competition, the dog and handler enter the ring with 200 points and go through a series of pre-determined exercises -- such as healing, standing when told, retrieving a dumbbell and leaping over high and broad jumps -- that get harder as dog and handler move from one level to the next.

The dog must obey commands quickly yet never anticipate what is coming next.

The judge deducts a half-point or more for any infraction, such as not sitting straight or outright refusing to obey a command. Perfect scores of 200 are rare, but not unheard of.

Westminster winners would feel out of place at an obedience trial. This is where canine nerds can show off.

The interaction of the two species can be fascinating.

Kathy Pardue said competing in obedience with your dog is a great way to bond with the animal.

"It's the 'together thing,'" she said while stroking River Phoenix, a Papillon that barely filled her lap. "When we're doing well it really feels good. But if one of us is having a bad day, the other can tell. River can feel my tension all the way down the leash. All of the dogs can."

Karol Paulus, Dayton, Ohio, had three Briards entered. A large, hairy, sheep-herding dog, Briards are seldom seen in obedience. Even more rare, hers are conformation champions as well.

Briards are a challenge to train, she admitted. "They are more sensitive to their surroundings than other breeds. That makes them difficult to train. They are good in obedience but it takes perseverance on the owner's part. It can be very time-consuming.

"But I enjoy having something different that everybody else," she added.

The club holds trials to show the public what obedience training can do for a dog, according to Jeann Crowcroft, club president.

"We think a lot of dogs end up in shelters because of behavior problems, and by training your dog you can alleviate those problems," she said. "Even a little training can make a big difference."