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2006 KAELYN RAE BASTYR MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP WINNERCongratulations to the 2006 Kaelyn Rae Bastyr Memorial Scholarship
Winner, Sara Wiese! 2006
SCHOLARSHIP WINNER: SARA WEISE and CARL A Very Kind DogBy Sara Weise "Free Rottwhiler- A Very Kind Dog." A home made sign with these words was posted on the grocery store bulletin board. A photograph of a young and obviously rambunctious Rottweiler was hastily attached to the sign. Dad wrote down the phone number and the next day we were deciding whether or not we should add a one-year-old, unwanted Rottweiler to our family. After only a few minutes of visiting with "Sharky", there were no more decisions to make. We needed a dog, and the dog needed a home. Somehow, the name "Sharky" did not fit this dog's personality. Once we brought him home, I realized that his character was more in line with Carl from the Good Dog, Carl books. So, we named him "Carl". After only a few months of leisurely living, any manners Carl had were either worn down or forgotten. He became an obnoxious dog in desperate need of some training. Before I knew it, Carl and I were signed up for 4-H obedience classes. This first obedience class was challenging. I was only ten years old at the time and Carl outweighed me by at least twenty pounds. For ten weeks, I trained for twenty minutes every day. Carl has a stubborn and dominant personality, which caused much frustration. In a few weeks, however, he finally recognized me as the "alpha". We both gained a lot of mutual respect and Carl's training started to progress quickly. To the great surprise and astonishment of the entire class, Carl took first place in the Beginner's Class Graduation. I was urged to continue Carl's obedience lessons, so I signed up for 4- H classes the next year. After three seasons of 4-H classes, I joined a local dog club to continue training year round. I received a lot of help with Carl's Open and Utility level training and in a few years we were competing in the most advanced levels of obedience. In the seven years Carl has competed, he has earned fifteen titles in obedience, agility, and rally in both AKC and UKC venues. He has won hundreds of ribbons, dozens of placements, and a few very special awards. From one of the most special honors of winning the 2002 Illinois 4-H Grand Champion Obedience Dog to his first, and highly treasured, AKC High Combined in 2005, Carl has proven himself to be a very special dog. After many years of training and competition, Carl finished off his performance career last November when he completed his Utility Dog Excellent (UDX). In the next year or two, Carl will grumpily be looking forward to welcoming a Rottweiler puppy into the house. For now, he is satisfied with squirrel chases, bed lounging, and the occasional dog show. When I look back over the last several years of my life, I can see that Carl has been much more to me than a pet. He has been my best friend and most compatible teammate throughout my teenage years. Through working with Carl in training classes and at dog shows, I have learned the importance of good sportsmanship, self-discipline, and a certain kind of dog show "professionalism". He has been with me through thick and thin. He has helped me grow up. There are many to thank for all the fun I have had and the lessons I have learned in my short experience in the dog show world. I would not have gotten far, however, if it were not for my "very kind" dog, Carl, who is otherwise known as UUD UAGI Carl Ellis UDX OA OAJ RA CGC. |
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