K-9 Obedience Club of Essex County to Hold Obedience and Rally Trials in Verona

Photos

Credits: K-9 Obedience Training Club of Essex County
Betsy Scapicchio and her Border Collie “Breakout’s Rev Em Up”, of Flanders, NJ, accompanied by Elizabeth Smith, Event Chairperson and Verona, NJ resident, and Richard Tucker, K-9 OTC President and Montclair, NJ resident. Credits: Stan Rogacki
Credits: K-9 Obedience Training Club of Essex County
Credits: K-9 Obedience Training Club of Essex County

K-9 Obedience Club of Essex County to Hold Obedience and Rally Trials in Verona

Carolyne Volpe Curley

Saturday, December 29, 2012 • 10:55pm

NORTH CALDWELL, NJ - Elizabeth Rogacki of North Caldwell, President of the K-9 Obedience Training Club of Essex County, announced today that her club will be sponsoring an American Kennel Club (AKC) sanctioned Obedience Trial at Verona High School on Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013.

Every January, the club holds one of the largest Obedience and Rally Trials in northern New Jersey. Rogacki explained, “There are typically 250 to 300 entries. Dogs and their handlers compete in many different classes in both obedience and rally obedience. The trial is open to the public and humans of all ages are welcome.”

Mixed-breed dogs that are registered with the AKC may also compete.

According to their website, the K-9 Obedience Training Club of Essex County is a “not-for-profit organization that has operated continuously in Essex County, NJ since it was founded in 1944.” They offer group obedience classes for all dogs - mixed and purebred. The club’s motto is, “A trained dog makes a better companion."

“We hold weekly classes in obedience at the Montclair Cooperative School on Tuesday nights,” commented Rogacki. The school is located at 65 Chestnut Street in Montclair; it is the only AKC affiliated obedience training club in all of Essex County.

The competition will include dogs and dog owners from many different levels of experience, beginner to highly skilled. One event that will be included is “Rally” which the Club describes as as “entry-level competition that is attracting more enthusiasts to the field of dog obedience.”

Show hours are from 9am to 3pm. The public is welcome to attend throughout the day, and stay for as long as they like.

Ticket prices are as follows:

$3 for adults
$2 for seniors 62 and over
$2 for children ages 5 to 12
Free for children under 4

All children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
No other pets but those registered to compete are allowed at the competition.

The Trials will be held at Verona High School, located at 151 Fairview Avenue, Verona.

According to Rogacki, “We have been holding our trial at Verona High School for more than 22 years. Before that the trial was held at Upsala College for many years.”

The High School cafeteria will offer Breakfast and Lunch items available for purchase. The Club’s “Canine Boutique” will have dog-related items available for sale.

“It is a good place to learn about different breeds and inspirational to see how well dogs can be trained,” concluded Rogacki. “It's interesting to walk into a building where there are over 200 dogs and hear little or no barking.”