Kane County show featured plenty of 'good dogs'

Joan Mazat never has to worry about her Rottweilers jumping on people when they come to the door, or barking at folks on the street.

That's because she's been training them to be obedient since they were pups.

"The true nature of a Rottweiler is what you see here; calm and waiting with mother," Mazat said at the Fox Valley Dog Training Club's 58th Annual Obedience Trial and 3rd Annual Rally Trial in St. Charles Sunday.

Mazat's dogs, Bonnie Bell V and Rosden's Breezy of Windya, were among more than 200 dogs that competed for show titles and prizes over two days at the Kane County Fairgrounds.

On Sunday, 6-year-old Breezy earned her Companion Dog Excellent, Rally Excellent title, which Mazat, of West Chicago, said is akin to graduating high school in dog circles.

Mazat said she became interested in dog obedience after receiving Bonnie Bell as a gift eight years ago. She now trains with two dogs three to four nights a week, in addition to teaching classes and giving private lessons as the club's director of training.

"When I was given my first Rottweiler unexpectedly, I realized she was a responsibility," Mazat said. "Every time I step a foot out of the house, I'm representing Rottweilers."

Kent Hildebrand, publicity chair for the club, said 174 dogs from across the Midwest were entered in this year's obedience trials and 69 were entered in rally trials.

The competitions measure a dog's ability to obey commands to turn, heel and halt, among others, and to remain still while their handlers leave the arena for several minutes at a time.

Hildebrand, who has trained five dogs, said a lot of competitors start out hoping their dogs will learn to behave better and go on to become serious competitors.

"If I didn't do this, I imagine my dogs wouldn't come when they were called," Hildebrand said. "The dogs (that are trained) are more confident and they're better around other people."

While it's important to begin training a dog as young as possible, Mazat said, they often can still learn obedience skills well into their lives. "But it requires a lot patience and dedication," she said.

For information on classes offered through the Fox Valley Dog Training Club, visit www.fvdtc.org.