One of our teams, The Italian Job, qualified for the KC Obreedience Final at Crufts 2019
Qualified for the 2018 Finals but unable to compete at that stage due to bitches being in season and no substitutions allowed at that stage, The Italian Job were again successful in reaching the Obreedience Finals in 2019. Despite having to substitute a dog new to competition and the big ring, and another dog having to work for a different handler, the team did so well. Well done! We hope you all enjoyed the experience too…
![Part of the team's group heelwork exercise. Great positioning of each dog along the line and the dogs have even synchronised their head positions :-)](http://www.lagottoromagnoloclubofgb.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/cache/2019/03/Crufts-2019-204/3865716666.jpg)
![May Bransby with Brian. It was Brian's first experience of a big ring and an audience. The smiles and the claps are as a result of him remembering (eventually!) the final positioning of the 'Send to Bed' exercise :-)](http://www.lagottoromagnoloclubofgb.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/cache/2019/03/Crufts-2019-278-low-res/4213881414.jpg)
![May has done all this before with her usual dog, Peggy, who is on maternity leave. This was Brian's first time in a big ring, let alone performing Obreedience. He enjoyed himself :-)](http://www.lagottoromagnoloclubofgb.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/cache/2019/03/Crufts-2019-289/1878502493.jpg)
![Carolyn with Luna. A nice retrieve from Luna, one of the more experienced dogs in the team on the day (although she did have a rush to get to arrive for the Obreedience Final on time having only just finished her Breed Class in the adjacent Hall)](http://www.lagottoromagnoloclubofgb.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/cache/2019/03/Crufts-2019-286/3155387420.jpg)
![Ricco (Gaesten Zippy Zingo at Nelbekio RL4) during the recall part of the 'Stop' exercise - he needs to stop before the line on instruction from his handler...](http://www.lagottoromagnoloclubofgb.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/cache/2019/03/Crufts-2019-279/2606565432.jpg)
![Ricco having performed the Stop exercise and about to be reunited with his owner/handler Julie.](http://www.lagottoromagnoloclubofgb.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/cache/2019/03/Crufts-2019-281-low-res/2499596412.jpg)
![The Italian Job performing the Scent exercise. Nola working for Kath, who she'd only worked for once before.](http://www.lagottoromagnoloclubofgb.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/cache/2019/03/Crufts-2019-376/2581689641.jpg)
About Obreedience
![](http://www.lagottoromagnoloclubofgb.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/IMG_1798.jpg)
Obreedience was launched by the Kennel Club in 2014, with the aim of offering a less formal style of competitive obedience in a group environment. Heats are held at various dog shows and events throughout the year, and a final takes place annually at Crufts in March.
The Team and the Exercises
A team of four handlers and four dogs (two are entered as reserves) of the same breed take part in two rounds of competition: Firstly, all team members complete a round of heelwork together as a group, and are scored on their ability to complete different moves and follow instructions whilst remaining synchronised with their team mates.
Then four set exercises, with each team owner/dog duo undertaking one exercise each out of: Retrieve (handler’s own article); Send to Bed (own bed); Recall with Stop; and Scent (retrieval of handler’s article with decoy articles present).
![](http://www.lagottoromagnoloclubofgb.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/IMG_2689-719x1024.jpg)
![](http://www.lagottoromagnoloclubofgb.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/IMG_1797.jpg)
![](http://www.lagottoromagnoloclubofgb.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/IMG_0836-1024x682.jpg)
Further reading on Obreedience is available on the Kennel Club website: https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/events/obreedience/
We welcome new team members...
Anyone who would be interested in joining a team, or possibly forming a new team, would be welcomed – please contact Julie Nelson for more info… j.nlagotto@gmail.com.
Our teams:
We have had two Lagotto teams involved in Obreedience: The Italian Job in the North and I Quattro Lagotti (originally Lottie Team South) in the South. Here are some photos of our teams in action: