Wisconsin's Gerard the Poodle sets sights on nationals after winning at Westminster
SAUKVILLE, Wis. (CBS 58) --
Gerard the Poodle from Saukville made history last month at the Westminster Dog Show masters agility competition. Becoming the first standard poodle to win in the 24-inch division.
"From day one pretty much, we knew he was going to be a star…" said John Pittman, Gerard's owner-breeder-handler and owner of Gladystar Poodles. "He's an elite trick dog. That's the highest level."
'Elite Trick Dog' is an official and earned title.
"For the AKC elite title, you have to put it into a routine." Pittman said. "When we did his, we called it a one-act play. It's title was 'Naughty Boy Goes to School."
Here is the original, 'Naughty Boy Goes to School:'
"He skateboarded in with a backpack on." explained Pittman. "He sits in a school-desk chair. He knows how to spell his name."
That 'naughty boy' is in fact a very good boy. Gerard and John won at Westminster back on January 31st. Gerard was the top dog in qualifying.
"It's a hard environment to compete in." Pittman said. "Because there's so many people and its close and its loud."
Even in that environment, Gerard wowed the crowd with his speed. Even beating the usually fast border collies.
"He's definitely the first and only standard poodle ever to win Westminster in agility." Pittman said.
Was that a surprise?
"Not with Gerard!" he said. "He's pretty fast in agility."
Pittman owns Gladystar Poodles and is what's known as a breeder-owner-handler. Gladystar is named after his Aunt Gladys who gave him his first poodle when he was 10, and his first show dog, MagicStar.
He trains his dogs at Dream Acres in Mequon but also just in the agility course he built in his backyard.
Gerard is great at all of it. John and Gerard now have their sights set on nationals where they expect to be in the mix for another title.
"For the agility people, winning the national agility championships which is coming up at the end of March in California, that, to us, is really a big deal." said Pittman.
There may be a misconception about poodles. Maybe it's their hairdo. But John says, they really can do everything.
"They're the best dogs." Pittman said. "They're the most versatile for one thing. Plus, they make good family pets."
John says any dog, any breed can be trained.
"A lot of it comes down to your patience." he said.
And, perhaps, a switch in the owners' philosophy.
"I always train my dogs to do what I want them to do." said Pittman. "And I don't really train them to not do something."
As in, he doesn't train them not to jump on him. He trains them to jump on him only when he wants.
Being the trainer/handler, the breeder, and the owner is certainly a commitment but John, who has a full-time job as a programmer, won't call it work.
"I call it fun. That's the fun part of my life."