 HISTORY
MADE
HISTORY MADE:
First Great Dane achieves the AKC Obedience Trial Championship.
The Obedience Trial Championship is probably one of the most difficult Titles to achieve in the world of Dog Showing. The AKC likens the OTCH to a human completing a PHD. Only dogs that hold the UD degree may compete for the
OTCH. Once eligible, the dog must earn 100 points (based on number of dogs in the class and given to class placements). The final requirement the team must meet is to earn three first placements, at least one in each Open and Utility at all breed trials. When competing for an OTCH the dogs compete against current champions – in other words, to become an
OTCH, you have to beat the champions to win. An example of it's exclusivity:
In 1996 there were 103,776 obedience trial entries nationally for all breeds. Of these dogs, there was an OTCH awarded for every 1300 entries, or about .08 percent of entries became OTCH for the year. Comparatively, in breed competition that year there was one champion for every 75 entries, across all breeds.
The AKC OTCH program was officially started on July 1, 1977. In these past 29 years, there has never been an OTCH Great Dane. With likely less than 10 danes ever getting any points for
OTCH, Gayle Smith and her husband Michael have owned the majority, and now, deservedly have made breed history. Under their Kennel Name of Lazy Days Danes and in the Ohio region, Gayle and Michael have bred, trained and handled several decades of top obedience competition
danes, including one of the first UDX danes. They have shown multiple generations of UDX dogs at the same time, and garnered many awards, including representing the breed at the National Obedience Competition, assorted all breed and specialty HIT and
HCS, National all breed rankings and GDCA awards.
On 9-3-06 at Tonawanda Valley Kennel Club show in Albion, NY, under judge Jeffrey
Shoman, Gayle Smith and "Tilly" became the first Great Dane to be titled an AKC Obedience Trial Champion. Tilly met the requirements and then some, finishing with 101 points and two extra first placements. Tilly won BOTH Open B and Utility B (including a run off for Open B) and went High in Trial and High Combined Score. To date, Tilly and Gayle have a show record of 13 all-breed High Combined
Scores(HCS), 8 all-breed High in Trials (HIT), and 2 Specialty
HITs. Keep in mind also this young intact bitch has also produced a litter and been shown sparingly in conformation and trained in
agilty. And of course Gayle herself has managed to reach these heights in Tilly''s career at the same time she is raising and training two of Tilly's kids (of course Michael factors into this training schedule).
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OTCH Sterling Lazy Days Chntly Lace, UDX5, GDCA
HOF
"Tilly"
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Tilly's full name is now:
OTCH Sterling Lazy Days Chntly Lace, UDX5, GDCA
HOF
By BISS Ch Sirblue Pinza Western Warrior - Bonel Francesca
Owner: Gayle L & Michael J Smith
Breeder: Sterling Moffat & Teresa K LaBrie.
The Great Dane Club of America, Inc. congratulates
Tilly, her owners and her breeders on this wonderful accomplishment! We are all very proud.
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