I had never seen an Obedience Trial. I had never been to a training class, but I had two Cocker Spaniels who I said were "obedient", so I entered both of them in an Obedience Trial. This was September 1947.

My commands were a little unusual (to say the least) such as "no, you can't go" (for stay), "com'ere Lady" (for come), "lie down now", etc.

But one dog passed and I was hooked on Obedience. When I discovered (at the trial that there was a book that explained the rules and that there were clubs to teach dog training, I decided to start such a club. With the wonderful help and enthusiasm of a few friends and a paid trainer, I organized a training class. Within a few months indeed after the first three-month class, we took five dogs to the North Shore Obedience Trial and came home with 5 legs! We quickly became the Fox Valley Dog Training Club (1948).

That was 35 years ago and I am still very proud to belong to such a great club, which often has the largest Obedience Trial in the United States. You might say I feel like a bitch who whelped a Champion because you present members and all the hard-working members over the years have made a CHAMPION CLUB of Fox Valley. I am very happy to finish my judging "career" at Fox Valley's 32nd Trial. Thank you for asking me and please come by and introduce yourself to me at the trial. I'll be judging Open A. -- Aldythe Comstock.

Reprinted from the November, 1983 issue of Waggin' Tales. Aldythe Comstock became an Obedience judge in 1950, judging all obedience classes and tracking tests. Aldythe died in October 1987.