Tuck, a six-year-old Golden Retriever, holds some of the highest accolades a dog can receive.
Trained since he was six weeks old, Tuck is a grand master obedience trial champion, ranking number four in the country. His owner, Gary Overs, feels the instant chemistry when they’re put to the test.
“When we’re heeling, he’s looking at me and nothing else matters. Nothing else around him, bombs could go off, you could drop toys, you could do whatever, and he’ll never take his eye off me,” he explained.
Tuck is also owned by Gary’s wife, Shelley. Gary has run obedience classes for 44 years and has run his own business for 37 years in Moose Jaw.
When he bought his first house at 18 years of age, he also bought his first dog. The idea to take dog obedience lessons was inspired by that same dog for the wrong reasons.
“I was telling the guys that I work with that ‘I got this awful dog that was running away on me, was dragging me, jumping the fence and escaping,’” he said. “One of the guys said, ‘Well geez, you should take him to obedience classes,’ so I signed up for classes and instantly I fell in love with it.”
By the next year, Gary was already an instructor. Gary has owned seven dogs before Tuck, all Golden Retrievers.
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While Tuck is skilled in areas such as directional jumping and scent discrimination, his Golden Retriever nature thrives the most in bird hunting.
“He loves to work at anything, but I think the field is where he really shines,” said Shelley overs. “He loves to be out there doing what he’s bred to do, it’s just it’s in his DNA to get out and retrieve ducks and that’s where he really loves to be.”
Gary Overs K-9 Academy trains 700 dogs per year. The couple says spending just 15 minutes a day on training can go a long way.
“Obedience is always maintenance,” Gary said. “Just because you train a dog to this level, they will get sloppy and start doing little things that they shouldn’t be doing. So, we always recommend everybody come back at least once a year. ”
Social interaction also remains a priority.
“Socialization is introducing your dog to everything in the world. Socialization isn’t about playing with other dogs,” Shelley said. “Your dog needs to be focused on you. Your dog needs to work around distractions without being distracted.”
While Tuck needs to recharge and loves to rewind in his crate, he shows his high interest in learning.
For all that hard work as a decorated champion, his reward is a $10 piece of plastic, a purple ball.
“That’s his very favourite toy right now, and that can change. But he would run through a wall for that thing,” Gary said.
Tuck won’t be slowing down anytime soon. The Overs plan to continue competing with him this summer.
