Virginia (Gin) Cummings

My name is Virginia (Gin) Cummings and I was pleased to be your CKC Obedience Representative in Zone 10.

Judge Lindsay Ibbotson, Gin & Clue
Photographer ~ Janine Starink

Dogs and activities related to them formed a major part of my life.

I was active in the Canadian Kennel Club (lobbyist opposing importation of puppies to Canada from puppy mills in the U.S., appeal committee, obedience rep), the Canadian Association of Obedience Trial Judges, the Pet Therapy Society of Northern Alberta (board member), the Working Herding Dog Association of Alberta (Past President), and the Canadian National Australian Shepherd Association.

I was a member of the Australian Shepherd Fanciers of Alberta, the Working Australian Shepherd Club of Alberta, the Alberta Boxer Club, the Canadian Professional Pet Dog Trainers Association, the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, Therapy Dogs International and Delta.

My CKC involvements were varied but one of the primary reasons for this website was connected to my role as Zone 10 Obedience Representative. It is my hope that through this website, we can inform folks of various obedience activities in our zone as well as Canada wide.

Our family had Rough Collies when I was a girl and my fondest memories were of times spent with “Prince” my very special boy – he was a breed champion, an obedience competitor, a tracker and my best friend.

My grandparents had a Flat Coated Retriever and I remembered many a day spent with Prince and Pheobe either tromping through the pastures that surrounded their home or down by the creek on hot summer days watching the dogs play in the water.

When my husband, Ron, and I married we acquired a female German Shorthaired Pointer and quickly obtained a second. We showed both dogs in conformation and obtained their championships and obedience titles.

CH & OTCH Denali's Dream Come True

DeeDee was a rescue German Shorthaired Pointer who was going to be euthanized because she was gun shy. Ron and I bought her when she was 14 months old - after spending the greater portion of her life in a boarding kennel.

We spent months teaching her about everyday life noises, sights and events that were non events to most dogs. I clearly remember an evening filled with frustration when we'd been working with her on so many issues that I began to wonder if we'd taken on too much. I heard a noise and went to investigate.

She was practicing going up and down stairs! On her own - Up - Turn Around - Down. Up - Turn Around - Down - over and over.

Originally, we started her in obedience to build confidence. She ended up top obedience German Shorthaired Pointer in Canada, a breed champion and a group winner. DeeDee was with us until she was 14.

A year or two later we moved to 40 acres (where we still reside). Jo Raymer (Mantoga Shelties in those days - now it's Mantoga Papillions) made arrangements for a dog of her breeding to stay with us for awhile. His owners were in the process of building a new home.

I believe that we are each given a “gift” dog - one that seems to be in tune with us and who makes us look better than we really are. My gift was CH and OT CH Mantoga’s Merry Monarch (Teddy). Teddy set the competitive obedience world on fire and I happily went along for the ride.

Shortly following Teddy's arrival and after working with him for a few days, I realized that this was an exceptional dog. He was a quick study and was often ahead of me. After 3 weeks of training, I entered him in an obedience trial in the Novice class. He not only earned two legs that weekend but achieved High in Trial. After 3 months of training, he earned his Companion Dog Excellent (CDX) title & won multi High in Trial awards both in All-breed trials and Specialties. He went home for the summer, returning in September. I trained him over the Fall and winter in utility and he earned his utility title in the Spring. He was a recipient of the Catherine Coleman Moore Award and the Dog World award. Teddy ultimately became our dog and spent the remainder of his years with our family passing away at 16 years of age.

CH OTCH Mantoga’s Merry Monarch

We had 4 Bouviers des Flanders – 3 of them were conformation dogs while the 4th was my obedience dog, tracker and was trained in personal protection. His name was Woolly Bully and he was the first TDX Bouvier in Canada. What a boy he was!

At about the same time, we acquired a crossbred (Collie/ Shepherd/Golden) who was dodging cars frantically when Ron came out of his office building on his way to lunch. He knelt down and she dashed to the safety of his side. He put her in his car and called me to come and get her. As the kids and I were driving in from the acreage the kids named her “Julie” sight unseen.

Julie came for a day or two and stayed 16 years. She was my physical fitness co-coordinator and goodwill ambassador. I came to rely heavily on Julie in that she was one of the those dogs who is “born good”. I gave her puppies and she raised them for me. I was so lost when Julie passed away and I had to do all the work she’d looked after for so many years.

At one time we had 9 dogs – 2 more Mantoga Shelties – Aurora and Stormy – the Bouviers and a little Poodle named Pookie. I often said that I’d never been loved as much as I was by Pookie.

We used to laugh in that Pookie was the best friend of one of our big male Bouviers, Matty. Matt would start out across the field early in the morning and Pookie would hitch a ride by jumping up and grabbing his beard. She would swing along and out they would go to see what critters had been on the land the night before.

(Pookie is shown with Judge Marlene Jurykovsky
in a photo taken by Stu Wainright)

We “backed” into Boxers in that our son decided that as his own dog, he would have a Boxer.

After a short time, he went to Saskatoon to attend university and Bo stayed home with “Gramma and Grampa”.

I decided that since he was young and would be with us for a few years, I would work with him.

We lost Bo to a heart attack but you can see photos of our family members on our Heyday Aussies and Boxers pages.

"Buddy" update on the Boxers page!!!

We call this photo "UNCLE BO". Bo was BeeBop's best friend & he helped her raise her kids.
He'd just gotten two of the youngsters to settle down when my friend called his name.
He looked over his shoulder and the photo "Uncle Bo" was the result.

Once again – welcome! I hope you find your visit to this website fun and informative!

If you have questions or are looking for information please click on 'Forum' to read suggestions received as well as reactions to those suggestions, and also check out our 'Frequently Asked Questions' page!