First of all, congratulations on your fantastic achievement in the FMBB 2024. We have been cheering you on whilst watching the competition from afar, and your results are truly an inspiration for us who have aspirations to compete internationally.
You live in Kamloops and are the owner and head trainer of Cherry Cheek Kennels. Your website states: “Originally from Ontario, Riley moved to BC in 2019 after deciding to dedicate her life to dog training after many years of enjoying it as a hobby”. Can you give our readers an overview of your life with dogs, what type of dog sport/activities you did in the past, how you started with schutzhund and Benny and how this all came to owning Cherry Creek Kennels?
Growing up in rural Ottawa I didn’t have many friends near my home so I would spend most evenings with my elderly neighbors. One who had 3 small dogs, and the other who were show-line Doberman breeders. My family got our first two dogs when I was a teenager: Phoebe the golden and Tonka the family-farm mutt. I actually had no introduction into the dog sport world until I was in my late teens, and I worked at a grocery store with someone who was a helper for a local IPO club. I went and observed for a long time prior to getting my first dog, Jet. We received a BH in 2017 and by that time I was more than hooked. While I was working full time, I began training clients’ dogs aa well as offering in-home boarding so I could get some more hands on experience with dogs.
Late 2018 I was offered a job in British Columbia selling dog sport equipment and training pet dogs professionally, so I packed up my life and moved to the Lower Mainland. After Covid hit, my partner and I decided to purchase a retired kennel in the interior of British Columbia. Cherry Creek Kennel was born!
You were 10th in the FMBB out of 133 participants, the most prestigious Belgian Shepherd IGP competition in the world. You also participated last year in the FCI World Championships, with a fantastic place 13. How did you train Benny to do so well in these competitions and what are your key motivators? We note the high scores of Benny in protection in both competitions, whilst (as far as we know) there is no Schutzhund club close to Kamloops.
There are many talented dogs and handlers nowadays. I truthfully don’t follow one specific method or person in regard to how I train. I go a lot by feel. I enjoy problem solving and discovering things on my own, rather than asking for help which has also been a downfall in some situations. Honestly, I rely on my relationship with my dog to get me through most mistakes I might make in training. If I make a mistake in my handling or in teaching, a good bond can get you through that in my experience. I think if you put too much pressure on yourself to be successful, or only have the sport specific goals in mind, you can tarnish your relationship with your dog and their joy for the work too.
As for protection, I really have my partner Dan to thank. Together we worked on the foundational training for Ben. I enjoy obedience training, while Dan has a passion and skill for helper work, I don’t often see. I’m so grateful for his knowledge and support in general, but especially protection. Wherever Ben might have lacked in genetic ability, Dan was able to build up those areas allowing Ben to shine.
As a business owner, how do you combine long periods away from home to train and compete, with a dog boarding facility that requires daily attention?
It’s really hard! I’m so grateful for my staff who keep the kennel running. While I am away, I still manage the majority of the computer work (social media, invoicing, payroll, emails). Without my staff I would have to close the kennel down while I travelled. When I started the kennel, I had a goal in mind of how I wanted to cultivate a lifestyle that supported me to be able to travel and compete. Over the last year or so I’ve really shaped it into something that works well for me. Nevertheless I sometimes wish I could completely disconnect from work and focus on training for Schutzhund full time (but who doesn’t!).
I again have to give a special “thank you” to Dan for overseeing everything and making sure everything is running smoothly.
Trials in Canada are relatively small compared to the FMBB and the FCI World Championships. How would you describe the key differences between participating in a National Trial in Canada and an International event like FMBB and FCI WC.
Each handler/dog team might highlight certain difficulties when comparing international trialing to club level or even national level in Canada. The closest IGP club is about 3.5 hours away from me, so I am (from one perspective) fortunate to not have a ‘home club’ that my dog is used to. He doesn’t have multiple years of the blinds being set up the same way, or the dumbbells being on the same side of the field. Every trial both Ben and I have to quickly grasp the concept of how the field is set up, the new environment and new people. We are used to living out of the car, being in a different time zone, and quick climate changes.
Genetically, Ben is environmentally sound. Saying that, I have seen some dogs that are quite taken back by the large stadium, big flags, loud music, and hundreds of people around.
If I had to pick one key difference, it’s likely the obvious time change and long travel. From our home in West Canada, it’s a 4-hour drive to Vancouver airport, then 10-hour flight and 9-hour time change to Europe, followed by likely another at least 6-10 hours of driving.
In regard to the FMBB specifically, another huge difference is that it is the World Championship for the Belgian Shepherd in 10 different sports. I believe there were approximately 630 dogs in total competing. While some IGP handlers were on the field, you could hear the Mondioring gun shots going off in the field directly beside the stadium. It was something I had never anticipated to prepare for.
Our September issue had an interview with Anthony Hartlaub, the first Canadian to participate in an FH championship, and he mentioned that FH competitions were easier going than IGP international events. How did you experience the competition stress and the tensions between competitors?
We all appreciate the time and effort it takes to get to a world stage, even if you haven’t been there. Anyone who has stepped on the field with high aspirations feels the nerves, stress, and seemingly the weight of the world on their shoulders in that moment. Having that in mind, with compassion for everyone’s journey, makes me more sympathetic to the tensions between competitors. We all want to win; we all want to have the best trial day possible; and we all want to show what our dog is capable of. Failure, whether it be in the literal sense that you didn’t receive enough points to pass, or in the figurative sense like your dog did something they’ve never done before, is a blow to the ego without a doubt. Remembering that we are humans, and our partners are dogs is really key in my opinion.
Additionally, I am really an independent and introverted person by nature. Ensuring I took time to be alone with my dog was very important to me. I didn’t share a hotel with anyone. Instead, I took time away from my phone and social media to hang out with Ben, trying to stay true to myself and most importantly, my dog.
The event is over several days, almost a week. The top ranked competitors had two obedience and protection sessions. How did you (and Benny) experience this (we note that you moved up from 17th (after three rounds) to a final 10th place)? What would you advise in terms of motivation, training and preparing for these major events abroad, to those among our readers who also have similar aspirations?
The FMBB was such a unique experience for me in getting to compete again in obedience and protection so quickly following from a previous trial. Normally, after a trial you have time (as much as you want really) to prepare yourself for the next competition. You can reflect on your training, taking time to prepare yourself and your dog for the next competition. For me, I had about 4 hours of daylight (followed by the judges dinner) to try and decide what I wanted my training session to look like. I was pretty happy with my protection so I opted not to do any again. For obedience, I was mainly concerned with my motion exercises, because in the first round I missed two of them. I decided to practice some obedience in the hope I could clean up a little of the mess that was made in my first round.
In terms of motivation for anyone reading this article; I would say it’s important to respect your own goals and journey with this particular dog. I have big respect for anyone who puts themselves on the field, regardless of if it's for an IGP1 on their home field, or at the FMBB. Find people who motivate you to be the best version of yourself, and the best handler for the specific dog you have. Not every dog can go to the world championships, and that’s ok. Not every handler wants to go to the world championships, and that’s ok too.
For someone who might want to compete at that high level, something that’s really important is knowing the rule book. Know what everything is worth (points wise), know what’s worth focusing on and what should just be accepted. Know your dog’s strengths and try your best to show them off with pride. Accept your dog’s weaknesses and don’t hold it against them. Take a look at what your normal training looks like and dissect what might be different for you in a trial. Push yourself to experience that before you get there. For me, having people around during training is the biggest piece I am missing. So, I have to push myself to train in crowds, whether that means going into the city and heeling on the sidewalk or inviting people over and asking them to microchip my dog before I go on the field.
Thank you so much, Riley, for sharing your experiences and challenges with K9Force. We wish you and Benny every success in your future training and competitions.
K9Force (2024, June). In the Judge’s Seat: Exclusive Interview with Nathaniel Roque.
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