Even though it's been a while since the DM was held, I just want to tell you
a little about our first DM in rally obedience.
The DM Rally Championship was held for Hund I Fokus the weekend of August 23-24 at the beautiful
areas near Vilhelmsborg. For those who don't know this weekend, it's a big
weekend in the signs of dogs. There is obedience, rally, Heelwork to music, Hoopers and much more on the program this weekend, where the Danish Championship will also be held in several of the disciplines either Saturday or Sunday. In addition, there are “regular” competitions in the various disciplines, where you compete for the Dog in Focus title.
But before the DM itself, there is the entire qualification period, where you collect points. In rally, you must take part in at least 5 DM qualifying tests with 3 different judges.
The points you get for the tests, where the maximum number of points for each test is 100 points, are
together and thus have the same qualification points. The top 20 in each class when the qualification period closes are invited to the Danish Championship and compete against the others in their class. This year we competed in the expert class, and it took a lot more than the 5 tests to collect enough points, because you can't expect it all to work for every test :-) In addition, it also took quite high points in every class to qualify for the Danish Championship. We were selected as No. 9 with 495 points out of a possible 500. For the nerdy ones, this means that we had to have an average of 99 out of a possible 100 points in the 5 tests. It has therefore required hard work, precision and perseverance to qualify and no one, regardless of class, has gotten a place for the Danish Championship by sleeping.
I was therefore THRILLED when the official invitation from DKK ticked into my email inbox, and I said yes to my place with great joy and pride. The week leading up to the DM you go a little crazy, and suddenly I saw ghosts everywhere. Imagine if Oswald fell and hurt himself or cut a paw, and now be careful not to run too fast in the wet grass - and I could keep going. But I fortunately know that it is quite normal, and that there are several dog handlers who share the same concerns the week leading up :-).
On the day itself, all 20 in each class go on a course. Helle Juul had made a cool expert course with some fun challenges, such as a fetch/bring exercise with a
shopping cart with toys, and a running German restaurant on the right side just in front of a
jump. It gave a little extra thrill and excitement in the stomach for most people. Unlike normal
tests, you will only be notified at the DM if you have missed entire exercises and thus received 10
minus points. The smaller deductions will only be revealed later. I was MEGA proud of our first
track, and I think it went really well. I remembered to breathe, and some of my
concerns about, for example, the German turn also succeeded. I knew that there were a few small
deductions along the way, but it was a GREAT trip. From the results afterwards I can see that we
This course goes to 95 points.
At noon, the finalists will be announced, which are the 10 teams in each class with the highest
number of points. I have to be honest and say that I really dreamed of a final place, and I
I also had to hold back a tear when Oswald and I were called out.
For the final, all 10 finalists take a new course with a new judge. This time was the pitch
designed by Tina Klausen, and it offered cool jumps and sends in the field next to the jump.
It had gotten hot on the field around noon and Oswald was getting tired, so there
had to work harder for things on the final course. We also had to redo a sign, because
Oswald ran around the sign. It costs a minus 3, so I knew we had that one in
the backpack. Otherwise, my nerves got a bit out of hand, and I was convinced that there were quite a few more deductions - you are always your own worst enemy :-). However, I can see from the results that our ummer was the only deduction, so course no. 2 we go to 97 points.
The excitement is only unleashed at the end of the day at the joint prize-giving ceremony. I was
MEGA proud to be in the top ten, but inside my own head I thought we probably ended up a
place as number 7-9. So when we got past those places and continued down into the top 5, I just saw
touched and proud. We ended up in 4th place with 192 points out of a possible 200. I was (and am) SO proud of my big black lab boy, because 4th place was much more than I dared to dream of!
Yes, I would have liked to have been on the podium, but that's not the point. This was the culmination of a whole year of hard work, and with two good rides on the track, I couldn't ask for more.
Afterwards, we are back in our work clothes and are now looking forward to an autumn when we will make the leap into the champion class and play with the big boys. It will be
exciting and wild - but how lucky I am to share it all with my best friend.
Pottedash from Oswald and Trine.
Picture of Ninna Philipsen Photographer
About the blogger
Trine lives in Djursland with her husband Oliver, two old cats, and Oswald, who is from 2020, and Otto, who is from 2025. On a daily basis, Trine works as a pedagogue and teacher at a local elementary school, where Oswald is a school/reading dog twice a week. In addition, they train tricks, dog dancing and rally, and they have just started sniffing out FCI rally. When Trine is not at work, her free time is spent with Oswald and the weekends are often filled with dog training and competitions.
Oswald is a big soft boy who loves everything and everyone - and preferably with all his 37 kg at once. He may be big on the outside, but he is sure that he was born to be a lap dog. He loves to sleep at the foot of the bed under Trine's blanket, and preferably on his back with all his paws in the air.
Oswald loves to go wherever the trip takes him, whether it's visiting family, a picnic, training or when he goes abroad on vacation.
If you want to follow their everyday life a little more, you can find them on Instagram under @oswaldthelabrador.
Our first Rally Championship
Even though it's been a while since the DM was held, I just want to tell you
a little about our first DM in rally obedience.
The DM Rally Championship was held for Hund I Fokus the weekend of August 23-24 at the beautiful
areas near Vilhelmsborg. For those who don't know this weekend, it's a big
weekend in the signs of dogs. There is obedience, rally, Heelwork to music, Hoopers and much more on the program this weekend, where the Danish Championship will also be held in several of the disciplines either Saturday or Sunday. In addition, there are “regular” competitions in the various disciplines, where you compete for the Dog in Focus title.
But before the DM itself, there is the entire qualification period, where you collect points. In rally, you must take part in at least 5 DM qualifying tests with 3 different judges.
The points you get for the tests, where the maximum number of points for each test is 100 points, are
together and thus have the same qualification points. The top 20 in each class when the qualification period closes are invited to the Danish Championship and compete against the others in their class. This year we competed in the expert class, and it took a lot more than the 5 tests to collect enough points, because you can't expect it all to work for every test :-) In addition, it also took quite high points in every class to qualify for the Danish Championship. We were selected as No. 9 with 495 points out of a possible 500. For the nerdy ones, this means that we had to have an average of 99 out of a possible 100 points in the 5 tests. It has therefore required hard work, precision and perseverance to qualify and no one, regardless of class, has gotten a place for the Danish Championship by sleeping.
I was therefore THRILLED when the official invitation from DKK ticked into my email inbox, and I said yes to my place with great joy and pride. The week leading up to the DM you go a little crazy, and suddenly I saw ghosts everywhere. Imagine if Oswald fell and hurt himself or cut a paw, and now be careful not to run too fast in the wet grass - and I could keep going. But I fortunately know that it is quite normal, and that there are several dog handlers who share the same concerns the week leading up :-).
On the day itself, all 20 in each class go on a course. Helle Juul had made a cool expert course with some fun challenges, such as a fetch/bring exercise with a
shopping cart with toys, and a running German restaurant on the right side just in front of a
jump. It gave a little extra thrill and excitement in the stomach for most people. Unlike normal
tests, you will only be notified at the DM if you have missed entire exercises and thus received 10
minus points. The smaller deductions will only be revealed later. I was MEGA proud of our first
track, and I think it went really well. I remembered to breathe, and some of my
concerns about, for example, the German turn also succeeded. I knew that there were a few small
deductions along the way, but it was a GREAT trip. From the results afterwards I can see that we
This course goes to 95 points.
At noon, the finalists will be announced, which are the 10 teams in each class with the highest
number of points. I have to be honest and say that I really dreamed of a final place, and I
I also had to hold back a tear when Oswald and I were called out.
For the final, all 10 finalists take a new course with a new judge. This time was the pitch
designed by Tina Klausen, and it offered cool jumps and sends in the field next to the jump.
It had gotten hot on the field around noon and Oswald was getting tired, so there
had to work harder for things on the final course. We also had to redo a sign, because
Oswald ran around the sign. It costs a minus 3, so I knew we had that one in
the backpack. Otherwise, my nerves got a bit out of hand, and I was convinced that there were quite a few more deductions - you are always your own worst enemy :-). However, I can see from the results that our ummer was the only deduction, so course no. 2 we go to 97 points.
The excitement is only unleashed at the end of the day at the joint prize-giving ceremony. I was
MEGA proud to be in the top ten, but inside my own head I thought we probably ended up a
place as number 7-9. So when we got past those places and continued down into the top 5, I just saw
touched and proud. We ended up in 4th place with 192 points out of a possible 200. I was (and am) SO proud of my big black lab boy, because 4th place was much more than I dared to dream of!
Yes, I would have liked to have been on the podium, but that's not the point. This was the culmination of a whole year of hard work, and with two good rides on the track, I couldn't ask for more.
Afterwards, we are back in our work clothes and are now looking forward to an autumn when we will make the leap into the champion class and play with the big boys. It will be
exciting and wild - but how lucky I am to share it all with my best friend.
Pottedash from Oswald and Trine.
About the blogger
Trine lives in Djursland with her husband Oliver, two old cats, and Oswald, who is from 2020, and Otto, who is from 2025. On a daily basis, Trine works as a pedagogue and teacher at a local elementary school, where Oswald is a school/reading dog twice a week. In addition, they train tricks, dog dancing and rally, and they have just started sniffing out FCI rally. When Trine is not at work, her free time is spent with Oswald and the weekends are often filled with dog training and competitions.
Oswald is a big soft boy who loves everything and everyone - and preferably with all his 37 kg at once. He may be big on the outside, but he is sure that he was born to be a lap dog. He loves to sleep at the foot of the bed under Trine's blanket, and preferably on his back with all his paws in the air.
Oswald loves to go wherever the trip takes him, whether it's visiting family, a picnic, training or when he goes abroad on vacation.
If you want to follow their everyday life a little more, you can find them on Instagram under @oswaldthelabrador.