Clever canines sure to wow crowds
The clever canines of Chelsea Marriner are sure to wow the crowds at this year’s Northland Field Days.
Dog trainer Marriner, from Rotorua, is bringing her team of highly trained dogs north for the three-day event at Dargaville from March 4 to 6.
She said her shows always seem to be popular.
“The kids watching can enjoy the show for its entertainment value. Those who have their own dogs can enjoy watching the show because they can appreciate the technical side and just how much time and effort has gone into training these dogs,’’ she said.
Marriner said people are often amazed at how much dogs can be trained to do.
She has 20 dogs, trained in all sorts of disciplines – agility, tricks, stock work and scent detection.
“Some can do most of the tricks but there are one or two which have their own special tricks,’’ she said. She said the old adage of never working with children or animals did sometimes hold true, but the unpredictability of her animals
made the shows all the more fun. “Sometimes I get the biggest laughs when things haven’t quite gone to plan,’’ she said.
Tricks include dancing on hind legs, weaving through her legs, stacking quoits and food bowls and one who does a routine of caring for a doll in a pram.
Marriner has been training dogs since she was a youngster and she represented New Zealand at the
World Agility Championships in England when she was 17.
It takes about two-and-a-half years to train her dogs for the shows, but most people could train their dog some basic tricks and commands in a few days, she said.
Although it is all fun and games for the dogs, the show also helped people understand the importance of keeping dogs stimulated to maintain their mental wellbeing.