REVEALED: GEELONG’S TOP DOG
TALENTED pooch Sarah is living proof you can teach an old dog new tricks.
The scruffy labrador-smith field cross is no spring chicken, but she has skated, jumped and danced her way to success to secure the inaugural title of Geelong Advertiser Top Dog.
Fifteen-year-old Sacred Heart College student Milly Schroeder said her loveable pooch continued to be a fast and willing learner, even in her older age.
Sarah won the hearts of the Geelong Advertiser’s judging panel, standing out in a pack of high-calibre, showstopping local dogs that, among a host of other very clever tricks, can fetch their masters’ beers from fridges, open and close doors, sweep paths, negotiate small bridges with very large sticks, press traffic light buttons, deliver tissues to sneezing owners, play quoits and even do handstands.
Nine-year-old Sarah is the apple of Milly’s eye, and the two spend lots of time together in the back yard, playing and practising new tricks. Milly said she was very proud of Sarah, and hoped to one day become a professional dog trainer. “Even though she is nine years old, she is still energetic and tries to act like a puppy. She loves pats and loves a bit of attention,” Milly said. She said she used treats and a clicker toy to successfully teach Sarah to ride a skateboard, jump through a hoop and walk on her owner’s toes.
But while Sarah may have been judged Top Dog by the Addy judges, the competition among the dozens of entries was incredibly close.
Next week you can check out some of the best videos of the region’s smartest trick dogs, and pick your personal favourite, when the Geelong Advertiser showcases the videos online. Watch out for Addy Top Dogs Online on the Geelong Advertiser website from Tuesday