If you were alive in 1976, you saw Olympic gymnast Nadia Comaneci score the first “perfect ten” in history, in multiple gymnastic events - these events are still available for viewing on YouTube. Then in 1979 Bo Derek appeared in the movie “Ten.” Mention that movie to any teenage boy up to the age of 80 and he’ll instantly tell you all about that movie’s most iconic scene, Bo Derek running on the beach in slow motion.

Well, as of Saturday, October 27th, 2012, there is another “perfect ten,” right here in Mason, Texas, when Reigning Cats & Dogs’ fall obedience class graduated ten perfectly well-behaved trained dogs. The trainers dedicated eight weeks of their lives to shaping their dogs’ behaviors, overcoming various issues, ranging from shyness, fearfulness, “wild child syndrome”, puppy temper tantrums, and good old-fashioned doggy attention deficit disorder! All the trainers displayed an admirable amount of what my mother would call “stick-to-it-tive-ness,” keeping their cool while teaching their dogs to sit, lie down, stay, walk without choking themselves or dragging the handlers down the street, and the ever-elusive “come-when-called.” Trainer Lenore Newsom and assistant trainer Jocelynn Hemphill, the handlers, and family and friends, plus scribe Tommy Newsom braved frigid graduation day temperatures, and most dogs seemed to get extra-frisky in the cooler weather. Many dogs in this large class were rare breeds, but purebred or mixed breed, rare breed or well-known, all rose to the challenge, making this one of our best classes ever! A record four dogs scored within 3 points of each other in a battle royale for first place, and everybody demonstrated an amazing degree of competency! Look around Mason - when you see dogs NOT pulling on the leash, NOT barking at other dogs, NOT jumping on their owners, ask them - are you one of the Perfect Ten?

Reigning Cats & Dogs would invite every dog owner in Mason to make their dogs “Perfect Tens” by enrolling in our 8-week Saturday morning obedience classes. Next class begins in 2013, the first Saturday after New Year’s Day. Early enrollment is now being accepted as class space is limited. You may call 325-347-1700 for more information or come by Reigning Cats & Dogs for a behavior consultation or our famous “ten-minute-makeover.” Lenore boldly asserts she can teach any dog to walk on a leash without pulling in 10 minutes. But she says that teaching the owner takes longer!