Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
'Tank' wins National Championships!
CLICK HERE to read the full release.
Renowned dog trainer and Co Owner of Sit Means Sit™ Dog Training, Lianne Hassen and her Labrador retriever, Tank, have achieved another competitive milestone. With a winning jump of 22 ' 10", Hassen and Tank became the Senior Division Big Air National Champions of DockDogs at the 2008 Championships held October 10th through the 12th, 2008. They also won the Cabela's Contingency Challenge from the sponsor of the event, Cabela's - The World's Foremost Outfitter for outdoor gear.
"We competed against 90 other dogs in the Big Air senior division -- it was definitely the most competitive division in the competition -- and Tank was amazing. He gave the best jump to qualify for the final eight competitive spots, then he completed the best jump to get into the final four and then he jumped the furthest right into the championship position! Not only is he a great competitor -- we had so much fun participating in the competition!" said Hassen.
DockDogs is an international performance sport for dogs comprised of three competitions; Big Air, Extreme Vertical and Speed Retrieve. In Big Air competitions, the length a dog can jump from the 40 foot dock into a pool is measured. Extreme vertical is essentially a high jump for dogs and Speed Retrieve was introduced as a run, jump and swim competition.
All of the competing dogs are classified for event. The classes in which the dogs compete include Novice, Junior, Senior, Master, Elite and Super Elite. The levels at which a Big Air team is classified is based on the length of their jumping ability. In order to qualify to compete in the DockDogs Nationals, Tank and Hassen needed to be titled in Senior Division, which meant that Tank needed 5 qualifying legs from other DockDogs Competitions jumping between 15' 0" and 19' 11."
"We're so proud of Tank, not only for achieving milestones like the DockDogs National Championship and the perfect score at the AKC Excellent B Rally competition this past spring, but also for his continued progress and enthusiasm for learning and competition. Tank was a rescued dog - he had already gone from home to home because he was labeled as "incorrigible" and "impossible to control" and by using the Sit Means Sit™ training methods, he is now not only beautifully behaved but also winning dog event competitions nationwide!" continued Hassen.
Sit Means Sit™ Dog Training which is owned and operated by Lianne and Fred Hassen, is an incredibly effective dog obedience system that is sweeping the United States and has recently expanded internationally. The system used by professional dog trainers and regular people alike enabled people to communicate with their dogs and achieve training milestones quickly and easily. The Sit Means Sit™ Dog Training system has been used successfully on every type of dog -- large or small -- young or old -- new to training or hard to control.
"I've been able to use the Sit Means Sit™ Dog Training system to hone and improve Tank's jumping skills, timing and results. He loves to swim and jump anyway, but getting maximum length on a jump requires work on the speed of approach and the angle of take off among other things," continued Hassen. "These Big Air dogs are going in excess of 20 mph off a 40 foot dock to chase their favorite toy - but to really compete we practice a ton and Tank has to be well trained to make that work. He is a fabulous example of the success we see every day with trainees using the Sit Means Sit™ system."
Lianne Hassen and her husband, Fred, both participate in numerous competitions nationwide promoting the Sit Means Sit™ dog training system. Lianne Hassen, in particular, has become extremely active with the DockDogs organization, founding the Las Vegas DockDogs club and recently launching LasVegasDockDogs.com to promote the sport.
"DockDogs is a terrific sport for dogs. Swimming is something that we have always encouraged with our dog trainees as it is low impact and excellent for cardio vascular health in dogs of all ages and physical conditions. When Tank and I became involved with this organization we knew it was a perfect fit and I've been thrilled to work as President of Las Vegas DockDogs in spreading the word on this fun and exciting sport for dog and trainer teams!" continued Hassen.
Sit Means Sit™ Dog Training can be found on the web at http://www.sitmeanssit.com/ and you can see video of Lianne and Tank's DockDogs win among their series of dog training videos.
About Sit Means Sit™:
Founded and Created by Fred Hassen in 2006, Sit Means Sit™ is a dog training system that has evolved into the largest U.S. based dog training company. The gentle training methods offer a high level of obedience to the pet owner and create a happier dog. Headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, this innovative obedience training company has over 99 locations throughout North America and Australia. You can find Sit Means Sit™ on the web at http://www.sitmeanssit.com/.
Renowned dog trainer and Co Owner of Sit Means Sit™ Dog Training, Lianne Hassen and her Labrador retriever, Tank, have achieved another competitive milestone. With a winning jump of 22 ' 10", Hassen and Tank became the Senior Division Big Air National Champions of DockDogs at the 2008 Championships held October 10th through the 12th, 2008. They also won the Cabela's Contingency Challenge from the sponsor of the event, Cabela's - The World's Foremost Outfitter for outdoor gear.
"We competed against 90 other dogs in the Big Air senior division -- it was definitely the most competitive division in the competition -- and Tank was amazing. He gave the best jump to qualify for the final eight competitive spots, then he completed the best jump to get into the final four and then he jumped the furthest right into the championship position! Not only is he a great competitor -- we had so much fun participating in the competition!" said Hassen.
DockDogs is an international performance sport for dogs comprised of three competitions; Big Air, Extreme Vertical and Speed Retrieve. In Big Air competitions, the length a dog can jump from the 40 foot dock into a pool is measured. Extreme vertical is essentially a high jump for dogs and Speed Retrieve was introduced as a run, jump and swim competition.
All of the competing dogs are classified for event. The classes in which the dogs compete include Novice, Junior, Senior, Master, Elite and Super Elite. The levels at which a Big Air team is classified is based on the length of their jumping ability. In order to qualify to compete in the DockDogs Nationals, Tank and Hassen needed to be titled in Senior Division, which meant that Tank needed 5 qualifying legs from other DockDogs Competitions jumping between 15' 0" and 19' 11."
"We're so proud of Tank, not only for achieving milestones like the DockDogs National Championship and the perfect score at the AKC Excellent B Rally competition this past spring, but also for his continued progress and enthusiasm for learning and competition. Tank was a rescued dog - he had already gone from home to home because he was labeled as "incorrigible" and "impossible to control" and by using the Sit Means Sit™ training methods, he is now not only beautifully behaved but also winning dog event competitions nationwide!" continued Hassen.
Sit Means Sit™ Dog Training which is owned and operated by Lianne and Fred Hassen, is an incredibly effective dog obedience system that is sweeping the United States and has recently expanded internationally. The system used by professional dog trainers and regular people alike enabled people to communicate with their dogs and achieve training milestones quickly and easily. The Sit Means Sit™ Dog Training system has been used successfully on every type of dog -- large or small -- young or old -- new to training or hard to control.
"I've been able to use the Sit Means Sit™ Dog Training system to hone and improve Tank's jumping skills, timing and results. He loves to swim and jump anyway, but getting maximum length on a jump requires work on the speed of approach and the angle of take off among other things," continued Hassen. "These Big Air dogs are going in excess of 20 mph off a 40 foot dock to chase their favorite toy - but to really compete we practice a ton and Tank has to be well trained to make that work. He is a fabulous example of the success we see every day with trainees using the Sit Means Sit™ system."
Lianne Hassen and her husband, Fred, both participate in numerous competitions nationwide promoting the Sit Means Sit™ dog training system. Lianne Hassen, in particular, has become extremely active with the DockDogs organization, founding the Las Vegas DockDogs club and recently launching LasVegasDockDogs.com to promote the sport.
"DockDogs is a terrific sport for dogs. Swimming is something that we have always encouraged with our dog trainees as it is low impact and excellent for cardio vascular health in dogs of all ages and physical conditions. When Tank and I became involved with this organization we knew it was a perfect fit and I've been thrilled to work as President of Las Vegas DockDogs in spreading the word on this fun and exciting sport for dog and trainer teams!" continued Hassen.
Sit Means Sit™ Dog Training can be found on the web at http://www.sitmeanssit.com/ and you can see video of Lianne and Tank's DockDogs win among their series of dog training videos.
About Sit Means Sit™:
Founded and Created by Fred Hassen in 2006, Sit Means Sit™ is a dog training system that has evolved into the largest U.S. based dog training company. The gentle training methods offer a high level of obedience to the pet owner and create a happier dog. Headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, this innovative obedience training company has over 99 locations throughout North America and Australia. You can find Sit Means Sit™ on the web at http://www.sitmeanssit.com/.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Mutts Prepare to Strut
Read Full Article HERE!
Mutts prepare to strut
Canines to converge for annual competitions at Dog Fancier's Park
By F. ANDREW TAYLOR
VIEW STAFF WRITER
Above, a Basset hound named Anna wears her schoolgirl outfit during the 2006 Strut Your Mutt event. Right, Joseph Cenicola and his dog Aida compete in the Howl at the Moon challenge in 2008. View file photos
Above, a Basset hound named Anna wears her schoolgirl outfit during the 2006 Strut Your Mutt event. Right, Joseph Cenicola and his dog Aida compete in the Howl at the Moon challenge in 2008. View file photos
View file photoRico, owned by Robert Pablico, jumps 17 feet 11 inches in the Las Vegas Dock Dogs competition during the 2008 Strut Your Mutt event at Dog Fancier?s Park. This year?s activities are set for Saturday.
View file photoShark splashes into the landing pool used for the Las Vegas Dock Dogs competition during the 2008 Strut Your Mutt event.
Once again, the valley is going to the dogs.
Strut Your Mutt, the popular annual event returns to Dog Fancier's Park Saturday. The event draws dogs and their pet humans to hang out and compete in a number of fun categories. This year will see the return of a favorite event from the previous year, flying dogs.
Well, not exactly flying, but at first glance, it may appear so. Dock Dogs will be competing in two events, Big Air and Extreme Vertical, both of which involve dogs leaping great distances from a dock to a pool.
The pool is 4 feet deep and 40 feet long and holds about 25,000 gallons of water. Dogs launch off of a 40-foot dock.
"It's open to any breed of dog," said Lianne Hassen, the president of Las Vegas Dock Dogs. "As long as they like a toy and they like to swim, they'll do great."
The group gets together at various times throughout the year to practice in the dock/pool setup the Hassen's have in the backyard of their Whitney-area home. Hassen notes that it isn't a sport that involves heavy training.
"It's not a sport like obedience or agility training, where you want to practice, practice, practice," Hassen said. "You want your dog to be hungry for it."
She said that what aficionados call over-jumping can be a problem. It's important not to overdo training so the dog remains excited for the actual competition, she said.
The sport has been around for 10 years and just celebrated that anniversary with competitions in Ohio in early October. Hassen said that about 19 Las Vegas dogs competed along with 500 dogs from across the country. Las Vegas dogs fared well in the competition, winning first and second place in the Iron Dog Competition, in which dogs need to excel in all three Dock Dog disciplines: Big Air, Extreme Vertical and Speed Retrieve.
Puma, owned by Alfredo Rivera, took first place, and Hassen's dog Rex, under her husband, Fred Hassen's, supervision, took second.
"It was freezing there. There was ice," Hassen said. "Las Vegas desert dogs did pretty good, all things considered."
Hassen admits that on the surface, it's a little ironic having dogs that live in the desert win in a competition that involves water, but that on further reflection, Las Vegas is a great place for Dock Dogs.
"It's so hot there. There's not a lot of sports we can do with our dogs," she said. "This way they get a chance to cool off, and we can have competitions even in the heat of summer."
In addition to the Dock Dogs, Strut Your Mutt will continue the wide array of fun competitions, including Doggie Limbo, Ugliest Dog, Howl at the Moon, Puppy Love Kisses, Silly Pet Tricks and many others.
"It's a low-cost community event," said Brian Saliba, special events director for Clark County Parks and Recreation. "Admission is only $2 and it's free if you bring a donation of dry dog food."
The event also collects donations of gently used bedding, toys, heating pads and other pet-related items that it distributes along with the food to local pet shelters.
"I don't think we've ever counted the pets that show up, but the average human attendance is between 4 and 6,000," Saliba said. "All the contests fill up, so that's at least 300 dogs with a lot of others just showing up to be there."
Strut Your Mutt runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Dog Fancier's Park, 5800 E. Flamingo Road, east of Boulder Highway. Admission is $2 or free with a donation of dry dog food. Information is available at www.strutyourmuttlv.com.
The Las Vegas Dock Dogs will be competing at 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. during the event. On Sunday, competitions will continue, with registration at 8 a.m. and rounds at 9 and 11 a.m. and 1 and 3 p.m. and finals at 4 p.m. More information is available at www.lasvegasdockdogs.com.
Contact Sunrise and Whitney View reporter F. Andrew Taylor at ataylor@viewnews.com or 380-4532.
Mutts prepare to strut
Canines to converge for annual competitions at Dog Fancier's Park
By F. ANDREW TAYLOR
VIEW STAFF WRITER
Above, a Basset hound named Anna wears her schoolgirl outfit during the 2006 Strut Your Mutt event. Right, Joseph Cenicola and his dog Aida compete in the Howl at the Moon challenge in 2008. View file photos
Above, a Basset hound named Anna wears her schoolgirl outfit during the 2006 Strut Your Mutt event. Right, Joseph Cenicola and his dog Aida compete in the Howl at the Moon challenge in 2008. View file photos
View file photoRico, owned by Robert Pablico, jumps 17 feet 11 inches in the Las Vegas Dock Dogs competition during the 2008 Strut Your Mutt event at Dog Fancier?s Park. This year?s activities are set for Saturday.
View file photoShark splashes into the landing pool used for the Las Vegas Dock Dogs competition during the 2008 Strut Your Mutt event.
Once again, the valley is going to the dogs.
Strut Your Mutt, the popular annual event returns to Dog Fancier's Park Saturday. The event draws dogs and their pet humans to hang out and compete in a number of fun categories. This year will see the return of a favorite event from the previous year, flying dogs.
Well, not exactly flying, but at first glance, it may appear so. Dock Dogs will be competing in two events, Big Air and Extreme Vertical, both of which involve dogs leaping great distances from a dock to a pool.
The pool is 4 feet deep and 40 feet long and holds about 25,000 gallons of water. Dogs launch off of a 40-foot dock.
"It's open to any breed of dog," said Lianne Hassen, the president of Las Vegas Dock Dogs. "As long as they like a toy and they like to swim, they'll do great."
The group gets together at various times throughout the year to practice in the dock/pool setup the Hassen's have in the backyard of their Whitney-area home. Hassen notes that it isn't a sport that involves heavy training.
"It's not a sport like obedience or agility training, where you want to practice, practice, practice," Hassen said. "You want your dog to be hungry for it."
She said that what aficionados call over-jumping can be a problem. It's important not to overdo training so the dog remains excited for the actual competition, she said.
The sport has been around for 10 years and just celebrated that anniversary with competitions in Ohio in early October. Hassen said that about 19 Las Vegas dogs competed along with 500 dogs from across the country. Las Vegas dogs fared well in the competition, winning first and second place in the Iron Dog Competition, in which dogs need to excel in all three Dock Dog disciplines: Big Air, Extreme Vertical and Speed Retrieve.
Puma, owned by Alfredo Rivera, took first place, and Hassen's dog Rex, under her husband, Fred Hassen's, supervision, took second.
"It was freezing there. There was ice," Hassen said. "Las Vegas desert dogs did pretty good, all things considered."
Hassen admits that on the surface, it's a little ironic having dogs that live in the desert win in a competition that involves water, but that on further reflection, Las Vegas is a great place for Dock Dogs.
"It's so hot there. There's not a lot of sports we can do with our dogs," she said. "This way they get a chance to cool off, and we can have competitions even in the heat of summer."
In addition to the Dock Dogs, Strut Your Mutt will continue the wide array of fun competitions, including Doggie Limbo, Ugliest Dog, Howl at the Moon, Puppy Love Kisses, Silly Pet Tricks and many others.
"It's a low-cost community event," said Brian Saliba, special events director for Clark County Parks and Recreation. "Admission is only $2 and it's free if you bring a donation of dry dog food."
The event also collects donations of gently used bedding, toys, heating pads and other pet-related items that it distributes along with the food to local pet shelters.
"I don't think we've ever counted the pets that show up, but the average human attendance is between 4 and 6,000," Saliba said. "All the contests fill up, so that's at least 300 dogs with a lot of others just showing up to be there."
Strut Your Mutt runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Dog Fancier's Park, 5800 E. Flamingo Road, east of Boulder Highway. Admission is $2 or free with a donation of dry dog food. Information is available at www.strutyourmuttlv.com.
The Las Vegas Dock Dogs will be competing at 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. during the event. On Sunday, competitions will continue, with registration at 8 a.m. and rounds at 9 and 11 a.m. and 1 and 3 p.m. and finals at 4 p.m. More information is available at www.lasvegasdockdogs.com.
Contact Sunrise and Whitney View reporter F. Andrew Taylor at ataylor@viewnews.com or 380-4532.
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