Senior Dogs Learn New Rally Tricks

Meet Juno and Matsu.

Some of the best newcomers to the rally world have actually been around a long time! Ask Chrystal Sherritt Cleary, whose 11½-year-old Japanese Kai Ken, Juno, just started WCRL rally this year. 

“For us, rally is a formal way to play a new thing together with the communication and actions she can build on from all of our years hiking, playing, or just walking and doing daily things. Juno sparkles when we rally, and the way she looks up at me, her perky trot and the combination of focus and delight in her eyes tells me this is THE sport for her at this time. She is enjoying herself, confident in her knowledge and joyful in our relationship,” Chrystal shared.

Juno has Q'd in all her runs so far; she titled in Intro with the Award of Excellence and is on her way to completing Level 1 this fall. But according to Chrystal, the most meaningful extrinsic recognition was receiving the Judge's Choice award (the llama toy pictured!) for exhibiting the "Spirit of Rally" at the Monadnock Humane Society (NH) Trial in the spring.

Chrystal has a second senior Kai Ken dog also competing in WCRL rally, 10-year-old Matsu. “Kai dogs are very closely bonded with their owner, and Matsu enjoys the 1:1 rally connection — it plays to his strengths and joys!" she said. "Matsu tore his CCL in one knee a couple years ago but has healed wonderfully with TPLO surgery and excellent physical therapy. Rally is a game that he can play safely and joyfully, keeping active consistently in body and mind, and I don’t worry about him wiping out his other knee with too much jumping, twisting or turning hard. His focus and attention get a great workout!"

A town clerk in Landgrove, Vt., Chrystal also is an artist and illustrator at Chrys Cleary Illustration.

 

Photos by Chrystal Cleary.