Jake

Jake - Third in Bronze Carriage Dog class 2007 Jake was rescued via Dalmatian Welfare by his owner and handler Bill Hattersley from Kent. At only fifteen months old, he is one of the youngest dogs to compete and qualify at the national trials. Although he lives with horses, he is new to the carriage and had worked with it only a few times before the trials. This year Anne Dickens drove her pony Parker to enable Bill to compete. Next year Bill hopes to enter with his own Appaloosa Apollo.

Bill said of the event afterwards, “''The sheer capability of the Gold and Silver dogs was inspirational. I won't be resting until I can take my dog anywhere that I take my carriage. It's a great thrill to see any dog trotting happily and safely beside a carriage. When they are your dog and your carriage, then its something really special! One of the nicest things about the Carriage Dog Trials was the complete lack of pretentiousness among the competitors. Clothing and equipment were functional, (albeit a little dotty sometimes!). Hopefully there will become a time when we have so many beautifully trained dogs that we can recreate some Edwardian Elegance. Meanwhile the competitors were raising standards for their own sakes, simply to see if they could do better than before. As a result, competitors were as pleased to see others do well, as they were to do well themselves. It all made for a really good atmosphere''.”

