CH OTCH MACH8 Topgun’s VinEwood Makin’ A Splash UDX3 OM6 VER RAE2 MH MXB3 MJB3 XF T2B2

– Splash –
Owned by Kathy Patregnani

  • 2006: Junior Hunter, Working Dog Excellent
  • 2007: Novice Agility, Novice Agility Jumpers, Open Agility, Senior Hunter, Champion of Record, Agility Excellent, Open Agility Jumpers
  • 2008: Agility Excellent Jumper, Companion Dog, Agility Novice FAST, Agility Open FAST, Master Agility Excellent, Companion Dog Excellent, Master Excellent Jumpers
  • 2009: Master Agility Champion, Utility Dog, Agility Excellent FAST, Rally Novice
  • 2010: Obedience Master 1, Master Hunter, Utility Dog Excellent, Obedience Master 2, Rally Advanced, Rally Excellent
  • 2011: Obedience Trial Champion, Obedience Master 3, Utility Dog Excellent 2, Obedience Master 4, Obedience Master 5
  • 2012: Master Agility Champion 2, Versatile Dog, Master Gold Jumpers, Agility Master Century, Obedience Master 6
  • 2013: Master Century Jumper, Master Agility Champion 3, Master Bronze Agility 2, Agility Time 2 Beat, Utility Dog Excellent 3, Rally Advanced Excellent, Master Bronze Jumper 2, Master Agility Champion 4, Master Silver Agility 2, Master Gold Agility 2, Master Agility Champion 5, Working Dog
  • 2014: Master Gold Jumper 2, Master Century Agility 2, Master Agility Champion 6, Master Bronze Agility 3, Master Century Jumper 2, Master Agility Champion 7, Agility Time 2 Beat 2
  • 2015: Rally Advanced Excellent 2, Master Agility Champion 8

How does one put into words 12+ years of love and devotion?????

Splash came to me at 7 weeks, January 1, 2005. From the day he came into my home we started our journey together, and what a journey it was. Everything we did and accomplished together was merely a testament to the relationship, connection, and devotion to each other.

Splash earned his very first title, his WDX when he was 7 months old. The Junior Hunter title came along shortly before he turned 10 month old. Followed by his Senior Hunter title the following spring, just over 17 months old. He accomplished all of this with 8 straight qualifying runs. Quite an achievement for such a young dog.

At the same time we were working on “growing & training coat”. This is a skill I have never really understood, nor acquired. Even with his small amount of coat, he still was able to earn his Breed Championship just before his 2nd birthday. Of Course during this time, we were training for the Master Hunter title, as well as many important skills needed to succeed in obedience and agility.
Master Agility Champion was added to Splash’s name early in December of 2009, and the rest of his 8 MACH’s followed through his remaining years of competing.

And then, came the hardest title I have ever earned in all my years in dogs. On a cold, wet day, May 29, 2010 my boy Splash earned his Master Hunter title. The work we put into achieving that title was crazy. I spent many hours looking for ponds needed for the blind water work. When you live in the city that is not always easy. I had plenty of police officers hassle me for having my dog off leash in the city limits, which forced me to get creative with our water training.

I still remember our last MH leg. I watched him swim across the pond and when I saw him climb on to the other bank, I started jumping up and down! I grabbed one of the judges and gave him a huge hug. (I actually picked him up) The other judge said, “Don’t celebrate yet, he still has to find that bird and deliver that to hand.” But I knew, without a doubt, that was the easy part for Splash. Getting all the way across was his challenge. In perfect Splash Style, he came flying out of the long grass, bird in mouth, entered the water with an impressive ‘splash’. He then swam straight back across the pond to me, never once taking his eyes off me. I was never so proud in all my life. Just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes.

After we had the MH, I was really able to focus on his obedience and devote my weekends to attending obedience trials. In December of 2011 we added the Obedience Trail Champion to his already long list of earned titles.

Upon earning the OTCH, Splash became the first, and to my knowledge, the ONLY ESS to hold these esteemed high level titles. CH OTCH MACH MH- still seems unreal to me.

At the ESSFTA National in 2015, Splash made his last runs around the agility ring. And bitter sweet runs they were. He ran beautifully, won most of his classes, but for me, I knew deep inside that he had done everything I asked of him, for me, for us. And my gift back to him now is to allow him to enjoy the last years getting spoiled rotten. And so as Splash approaches his 13th birthday, he spends every night hogging my bed. He is my ever present shadow, getting more treats than he needs and enjoying his retirement, by his mom’s side, where he is happiest.

Thank you Splash, for the best ride of my life.