Thank you to Karen Bird and the Bernese Mountain dog Club of Great Britain for the invitation to judge 4 Limited Obedience Classes at the autumn Garden Party Weekend 25 Aug 2025. I must also thank my Steward, Jeanette for guiding the competitors round the ring.

Unlike the usual breed that takes part in Obedience, the Bernese take a more relaxed attitude to their work. I had to take this into consideration with my marking, also the fact that Bernese have thick coats and the day was very hot.

Starting with the:-

Introductory Class.

1^st place JAYSABERNE MY ONLY SUNSHINE (Ralph) Losing 7 out of the available 30 points. Handler and dog worked together as a team with minimal loss of attention, but generally did as handler asked. Well done.

2^nd place OPRAH RIOMADEA GRANDE (Oprah) Lost 11, very close between this team and:

3^rd place ANGELRAIN DARK PRINCE (Flynn) Lost 12. Flynn’s recall not as good as Oprah.

Pre-beginner Class. Just 2 entries in this class both from the same handler/owner.

Very similar performance from these two and the deciding factor to award 1st place to

CHIPPIS DIAMOND DUDE (Bert) was that brother Denzil CHIPPIS DIAMOND DAZZLE decided to have a wee up the ring post. Usually eliminated in Open Obedience Competition.

Beginners being more popular with 4 entries, but an extra exercise included means more points could lost.   1^st place went to ARVELLA ADORABLE ARTHUR (Arthur) Losing 11.5, the drop in the retrieve was costly but good heelwork kept the score above the rest. Well done.

2^nd place COLLANSUES BOB’S GOLD BLEND OF DELPHINIA (Jodie) Lost 15.25 a keen retrieve, anticipating and not wanting to give up the dumbbell lost points, otherwise very similar work to above placed dog. 3^rd CHIPPIS DIAMOND WISH (Annie) Lost 17.5 Another dog that could have been placed higher had they not eliminated in the ring. 4^th OPRAH RIOMADEA GRANDE GRANDE (Oprah) lost 40.5 heelwork and recall good, but more work to do with the retrieve.

Novice.  1^st place after a run off losing 4.75 MALINDIBEACH ARMANI ROSE (Armani) Armani worked first and set the standard losing minimal points for each exercise. Closely followed by CHIPPIS DIAMOND DIVA (Tilly) in 2^nd place.  Also lost 4.75. Heelwork similar to first placed dog, but recall very slow and crooked. However, the retrieve by Tilly will be the moment that I remember as the perfect exercise of the day. Very well done. 3^rd place was COLLANSUES BOB’S GOLD BLEND OF DELPHINIA (Jodie) making her second appearance in the ring. Another one that felt the need to eliminate in the ring, otherwise would have had a comparable score to the other two dogs.

I enjoyed the day judging and thank you to the ladies who put in a lot of work preparing the lovely lunch. Karen asked me before judging to choose one dog to present an overall prize to and as I mentioned earlier Tilly who performed  a perfect retrieve in the Novice class was my memorable moment.

One little word of advice for any handlers who may venture into Open Obedience shows, please take your dogs to the toilet area before coming to the ring as you will be disqualified if they eliminate in the working ring.

Overall performance Tilly CHIPPIS DIAMOND DIVA (Retrieve exercise)

Good luck and best wishes to all at Bernese Mountain Dog Club.

Betty Keepax.