Shadow Earns Rally Title at 6 Months & Top Title by 2 Years

Sandy River Casts a Shadow BN RAE, owned by Jan Treharne of Brush Prairie, WA, has been a fast learner since she adopted him at age 8 weeks. The Lab/Border Collie mix entered his first AKC Rally competition at age 6 months and sailed right through Novice, then Advanced and Excellent as a member of the AKC Canine Partners program. He recently earned the top title in AKC Rally – the RAE – at just 2 years and 1 day old! Jan tells us about their journey:

Shadow has amazed me since coming into our lives as an 8 week old puppy. 

He loves to learn new and different things so I started teaching him the AKC Rally signs at about 12 weeks. We worked in our kitchen, garage and backyard, or anywhere I could find to train. He picked up on it so quickly that at 6 months I felt he was ready to go to his first competition. He sailed right through Novice, Advanced, and Excellent. 

The highest AKC Rally title – Rally Advanced Excellent –  was our next venture and once again he was always in the ribbons.  He finished his RAE title at Greater Clark County Kennel Club on Nov. 29, 2015, at the young age of 2 years and 1 month and one day before the cut off for the AKC Rally National Championship.  

The Rally National was something I have always dreamed about, and this year it's coming true!  I am making the 2000 mile (each way) drive to Tulsa, OK, with Shadow and his brother “Logan” RAE2 (also a Border Collie/Lab cross). 

Shadow is also working on agility and is just starting his journey in this sport and loves that as well.  Working with my dogs keeps me young, and there's nothing better than the companionship of your best buddies to just make your day brighter.