Wisconsin Poodle Triumphs in Prestigious Agility Competition
In the world of dog sports, few names stand out like Gerard, a standard poodle from Wisconsin, who consistently excels in agility competitions. His owner, John Pittman, proudly shares, “I always want my dogs to win.”
On Saturday, Gerard and Pittman celebrated their biggest victory to date at the renowned 150th Westminster Dog Show in New York City.
Hosted by the Westminster Kennel Club, this storied event is a highlight for purebred dogs, with televised coverage since 1948. While the show focuses on purebreds, all breeds have the opportunity to compete in the Masters Agility and Obedience Championships.
Gerard, at the age of eight, secured victory in the Masters Agility Competition’s 24-inch category by completing the final course in an impressive 36.55 seconds.
The competition involves 350 participants divided into five height categories ranging from 8 to 24 inches. During the preliminary rounds, dogs must excel in both the “standard class” and the “jumpers with weaves class.” The standard class challenges dogs with obstacles like A-frames, jumps, and weave poles, while the jumpers class is a faster course focused on agility.
From each height class, the top 10 dogs advance to compete for the title of Masters Agility Champion.
Pittman notes, “There are a lot of good dogs out there that are faster than Gerard, but maybe not as driven. So, we have always had a good chance to pull it off and win like at Westminster.”
Training takes place predominantly in Pittman’s rural backyard in Saukville, where he uses a clicker as part of Gerard’s training routine. This technique of clicker training helps Gerard master around 200 tricks, including skateboarding and even playing basketball.
Having trained over 20 poodles since the early 1990s, Pittman believes Gerard’s eagerness to please sets him apart from others.
