Deana Lancaster News Reporter dlancaster@nsnews.com EVERY available surface space in Ward Falkner’s Lynn Valley study is occupied. _ Walls, couches, chairs and desktops are covered in ribbons and rosettes of various hues; plaques and awards. “Slater's kind of taken over in here,” said Falkner. He was speaking about his Shetland sheepdog, obedience trial cham- pion, Simaril Slater. The four-year-old dog with the liquid brown eyes and mis- marched paws — one is white, the other nut brown —- has ~ been raking in the honours since he first started competing in obedience trials as a pup. And now they" have to clear space on the wall for an even bigger award, On Oct. 27, at the Canadian Professional Handlers’ Association annual banquet in Abbotsford, Falkner and Slater were officially recognized as the number one, all- breeds competitive cbedience team in Canada by Dogs in Canada magazine. ‘To do it, their accumulated sceres for the year topped those of 21,458 dogs and handlers across the country. “I knew to do it, we would have to go to every trial in B.C. that we. could get to,” said Falkner. “And to get the number of points that we needed we'd have to enter and compete in both open and utility classes. Of course the first question you ask yourself is ‘Can you work a dog like that?’ ” _Tt’s apparent that in Slater’s case, you can. Competitors in Ontario had it casicr, because with more to choose from, they didn’t necessarily have to compete in the more challenging outduor trials that Falkner and Slater did. “7 “Seanetimes there was wind or rain, In one trial we were a working articles (an exercise in which the dog picks one spe- < cific: object scented | by: its owner from among many) when there was thunder.” -.. Sheities are herders, and typically, they always like to know - where. everything is and what everyone is doing inside and outside the ring. It means that although very intelligent, it’s a -breed that sometimes has trouble staying focused in the ring. ‘: Not Slater though. . - ’ “The thing about Slater is that he’s not flashy or showy, but neredibly consistent. One of the other competitors calls him wy hit and run driver caughit CRIMINAL , Chaeges-.are : being considered after West Vancouver : Police arrested the < driver of a vehicle involved in several collisions Tharsday. ‘According “to ° the. “West Jancouver Police, a red Nissan. der. was observed dri-; ings: erratically.” wesebound along: Marine Drive at about 3 ‘The! sport®. ui volved ‘i : Awith ‘another Vehicle‘at Marine | Drive: and Taylor Way and had - : tled the scene. The Nisstm went on to strike two.-more vehicles at Bellevue;and 16th. At 15th Streets and - Bellevue the . Pathiinder struck a pedestrian. The pedestrian’ was taken to Lions~ Gate Hospital. with minor injuries. : The driver was eventually ‘ arre. ed-at Marine Drive and .. 28th Street. Uo Witnerses are asked to con- “tact Const. Del Bianco at 925-" 7300. : ine tops *Robo-Sheltie,"” said Ward with a laugh. “If dogs were people Shelties would be accountants, It's just bing, bing, bing, get it done.” When the vear was done, the smoke cleared, and the points tallied, Falkner and Slater emerged as the top team in Canada. Their success is no fluke. When Falkner decided to spend more time doing competitive trials he and his wife Joyce launched a hunt for the right Sheltie. They searched through- our B.C., Alberta and in Saskatchewan, and finally found what they were looking for — an intelligent, curious, active dog that didn’t spook easily — in Slater. Then the training began. “Everything you do in training your dog has to be made into a game. That's the secret.” Falkner and Slater work two nights per week with obedi- ence clubs, including the Capilano Dog Obedience Club, and they practise for about an hour a day. The ultimate motivator for Slater is not liver treats or dog biscuits, but a flashlight. That's right, a flashlighr. “Lhad a little light in my shaving kit, and U turned it on: one day and he went crazy chasing the beam. I thought, “This is great. But hey, no free flashlight. You gotta work tor it.” Falkner even uses the flashlight during competitions, to rev Slater up before going into the ring. “I've had judges and other competitors just crack up when they see it.” But it’s not all about sport and games for Slater. When he’s not taining or competing; he can sometimes be found work- ing as a therapy dog, visiting residents at Evergreen Lodge, an extended care facility in North Vancouver. it’s rewarding work, said Falkner. On one occasion, a woman asked Slater to visit with her husband, who was a new patient at Evergreen, partially para- lyzed and unable to speak as the result of a stroke. “I put Slater up on the bed and he put his head on the man's chest. 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