Polokwane residents excel at PSA international trials

POLOKWANE – People keep dogs for different reasons… Some keep them as companions while others use them to protect their property or to provide a special service. Then you have those who compete in various canine competitions such as protection sports.

According to Wikipedia, protection sports tests a dog’s ability to protect himself as well as his owner or handler. The sport also tests the control, obedience and temperament of the dog.

Protections Sports Association (PSA) is a US protection sport that has been running in South Africa since 2017. On November 26 and 27,Get a Grip PSA club hosted the international PSA trials in Hartebeespoort Dam. The competition was facilitated by a judge, three decoys and two stewards from the US and saw clubs from Cape Town, Hartebeespoort Dam, Eswatini (Swaziland), Polokwane and Muldersdrift participate.

Jenny Venter and her dog Faizal, Alta Visser and her dog Lyka and Johan Smit and his dog Hakier, from the Polokwane Raptor K9 PSA Club, were among the participants.

Their results:

• Jenny and Faizal passed their Protection Dog Certificate (PDC) with a score of 140.5, coming third overall for the trials. In the protection they achieved a score of 85.5 out of 90, scoring second in protection.  

• Alta and Lyka passed their PDC with a total score of 133. Only five of the 13 participants passed on their first try. Alta was one of them. 
• Johan and Hakier sadly did not score enough points to pass their PDC but will be retrying their PDC in April at the Fur Missiles PSA Club that will be hosted in Muldersdrift.

Venter explained that PSA is one of the most difficult and stressful dog sports in the world and these trials were partially challenging as it was pouring with rain. “The sport is there to test your dog for controlled aggression and it takes guts to walk out on to a field and have your training judged.”

She added that with a challenge, there is a reward, making it all worthwhile. “The best part of the competition is to see your dog completing all the tasks successfully. The dogs are the true champions. South African clubs also made sporting history after Charles Sadler from Get A Grip PSA achieved his PSA 3 level-one,” Venter told Review.

During the trials, the team achieved their PSA entry-level and will compete in Muldersdrift in April for their PSA 1 titles.

Venter explained the average age for a dog to get a PSA 3 title is approximately eight years old. “Since the sport started in 2003 there have only been 29 PSA 3 titles. The sport is difficult, but the challenge to get a PSA 3 title makes it all the more fun.”

She said overall the competition was enjoyed by all. “Even though it was stressful, the overall feeling of achievement and again making history was super exciting.”

She said the bond you build with your dog is ‘super amazing’ and it is a proud moment when all the hours spent on training is proofed in a trial and you pass.

Venter added that all the members play a role. “Although we trial individually, we would not have been able to succeed without the assistance of our club members who help train our dogs.”

Raptor K9 PSA Club in Polokwane will be hosting the international trial in Polokwane in August 2022.

“We are excited to host the competition and in so doing, grow the sport and the dog training culture,” she concluded.