It was a thrill to say the least when Cal and I completed the OTCH. It was also a relief due to the fact that he was 10 years young! It happened at the Palisades Kennel Club trial on October 12, 2006 in Sussex, New Jersey. So many of our friends were there to share in the joy of a Novice A dog going the distance to an OTCH. (Just a little trivia - only 1 in 10,000 dogs accomplish this!)
After the OTCH completion, Cal needed one more leg for the UDX 2. He did it in style at Back Mountain KC on Nov 5, 2006. He had a beautiful Open B class and a second place in a very large Utility B class earning 10 more OTCH points. It was a bittersweet moment as it was then that Cal was officially retired. He continues his love of retrieving bumpers and now has many long naps on the couch. I always miss him at the end of the leash in the ring, but he certainly deserves some R&R without any pressure. That is my favorite gift to him. When spring comes, he will be spending many days taking long walks at the beach - his favorite activity.