On September 1st, Susan Bates and Storm became the first Norcal members to earn the MACh title. Storm now sports two champion titles in front of her name. You can now refer to Storm as OTCH-MACH DD’s Cookin’ Up A Storm UDX TDX JH WC (VCD3 OD OBHF ADHF*).  I believe Storm is the highest titled dog in Norcal. Below is a interview with Susan to give you some idea how a dog could earn so many titles.

(*pending GRCA establishment of title)

 Storm

Born: 8-19-91

Owners: Susan & Mike Bates
Breeders: Dee Dee & Billy Anderson & R.& A. Wejmar                              

Sire: AFC Glenhaven Devil’s Advocate UDT MH WCX OS FDHF
Dam: OTCH DD’s Cher OD OBHF

1. When you bought Storm, what were your goals?  Maintain her puppy spirit, do mainly obedience and some field and tracking (didn’t know about agility).  She still has her puppy spirit.
2. How do you find the time to train for so many different areas? What do you do for a living?  Time is a challenge.  I’m a multi-tasker; so doing a variety of activities with Storm energizes us.  Like everyone else who works, wee hours, late nights and weekends are when I do most training.  Also, Storm’s strong physical condition enabled her as a veteran to do a lot of her titling. The TDX and all of her agility titles were earned at 7 years and older, culminating with the MACh earned at 10 years old.  Becoming a dual champion at this age would not have been possible without her continued physical strength.  For example, she had puppies last November at 9+ years old and was back doing agility in late Spring, satisfying the remaining one-third of her MACh requirements by September 1 (while running some of her fastest times ever).  It’s partly genetic, I’m sure, as her famous father “Luke” was still winning 1sts in field trials at the age of 11.  When I’m not training dogs, I’m a CPA and the Director of Deloitte & Touche’s Northern California personal tax services group.  Needless to say, March and April are not big training months for us. 
3. How many shows did it take to earn your OTCH and how many shows did it take to earn you MACH?  I don’t know, but she went from CD to OTCH in 13 months, mostly at age 3.  She went from NA to MACH in 3 years, between ages 7 and 10.  Satisfying the requirements of a MACh requires a far greater time commitment than an OTCh, and the trial season is far shorter. 
4. How old was Storm when you started Agility training? Did her obedience training help her or hinder her?  She started at 7 years old.  The mantra of agility is “run fast, run clean.”  That requires a dog with speed and control (no, speed and control are not mutually exclusive).  Control does not mean slow; it means that the dog is listening and responding to the handler who is simultaneously providing proper and timely information.  Storm’s obedience skills enabled her to learn and advance rapidly.  The handler skills are far more challenging in agility vs. obedience.  In obedience the dog is usually the one who flunks; in agility, it is usually the handler. 
5. What competition does Storm enjoy the most?  It’s a toss-up between agility, tracking and hunting.  She intensely loves them all.
6. What are your plans for Storm now?  More agility, and veterans agility when it’s offered next year.  She is VST trained and will enter some tests this fall/winter.  Daily walks, hugs, kisses and couch time, as always.