WCRL Comes Back to Dallas-Fort Worth

Judge Diane Cocchiara brings trials to What A Great Dog! Training Center.

In 2019, Diane Cocchiara dove into the world of dog training with her first dog, Eugene. The pair started working at What A Great Dog! Training Center in Richardson, Texas, where they were also introduced to rally and other sports. Soon after they started WCRL, the world went into COVID lockdowns, but Diane persisted.

“I got Eugene his Level 1, 2 and 3, Flash 1 and 2, Flash 1 Champion and Rally 1 Champion titles through USDAA@Home!^SM rally, and by then, everyone could tell I was addicted!” Diane said. “Eugene and his friends had a blast doing the program, and it really ignited my love for the sport.”

WCRL judge Diane Cocchiara

When Diane started teaching some of the center’s rally classes and sharing that love with her students, she realized she also wanted to bring trials back to the Dallas-Fort Worth area. What A Great Dog! returned as a WCRL host in August 2024, but they struggled to find local judges for the following two events. 

“The light bulb went off again, and I said I was going to become a judge,” Diane said. “Fast forward to this year, and I just judged my first trial here on June 20 with a record number of runs for our little series!

“We could not have hosted these trials without guidance from Bridgette Ashmore in Connecticut, who helped me learn how to host a smooth, effective trial,” she continued. “Gail Vendetti is another reason I’m where I am today, thanks to her kindness and encouragement as a judge for my virtual runs and her willingness to answer all my questions before my first judging assignment. Lastly, I have to shout out our other amazing local judges: Traci Murdock, Walter O’Brien and Gabi Vannini. We couldn’t do any of this without their support!”

The What A Great Dog! calendar includes three more trials this year: August 8, September 26 and November 14. For more information about their events, classes and other offerings, visit https://whatagreatdog.com/.