Watson named Best Dog, overall champion at Jamaica Kennel Club show

Last Sunday, Watson, a four-year-old imported male Rottweiler, was announced the winner of Best Dog in Show, Best Rural Dog, and Best Imported Dog at the Jamaica Kennel Club’s All Breed Championship Dog Show. His handler, Elsworth Roberts, was happy but not surprised. Roberts, who trains Watson for at least 10 minutes daily, feeds him a hearty chicken and rice meal once a day, and monitors his interactions with other dogs at Warrack Kennel, credits the dog’s obedience to his commands as the key to his victory. Watson, competing under number 106, emerged victorious in the end.

Watson was given a series of commands on the field by the judges in the competition, and also had to parade in style with Roberts on the field at the NWC Sports Ground, in Mona, St Andrew where the competition was held.

“I just gave him instructions and he just came out and did it. I’ve been training Watson over two years after he was imported in Jamaica. I feel happy. He has been winning competitions since he came to Jamaica. So, when we went into the ring, I was looking for a win,” Clarke, who has been a handler for some 26 years, told Saturday Living.

“He’s an intelligent dog who, when I train him and give him commands, he responds. We practise and he socializes well and he understands, and both of us work together,” he said.

After being asked if Roberts found it easier to work with imported dogs compared to locally bred ones, he said, “No, dogs are dogs.”

Watson has also won previous JKC All Breed Championship Shows, with his first victory coming at the True Pet Expo and German Shepherd All-Breed Championship in 2022, just days after arriving on the island.

Warren Clarke, the owner of Watson, and Warrack Kennel, was happy after he got news that the dog won on Sunday. He would like him to go overseas for more competitions. However, the restrictions based on Jamaican laws will not allow it to happen smoothly.

Clarke explained that it was very tedious to import Watson into the island, as it was with his other four Rottweiler dogs that compete, but, given their outstanding performances at local dog show events, he is happy he endured with his plans.

“The process to import is a nightmare, but we can understand the reason behind it, [though] it’s still not so welcoming. It also limits you. If you bring a dog to Jamaica and you want to compete internationally, if you fly out with that dog, you cannot bring that dog back into the island for another six months. You have to go through all the tests and treatments as when you were bringing them in for the very first time. So, if we want to compete in a Grand Cayman [competition] or the United States, you’re going to bring your dog there and come back without your dog for another six months,” Clarke explained.

Clarke hopes the government will consider creating a window or protocols that allow dogs like Watson to easily leave and re-enter the island to compete internationally, without the six-month wait period.

“Even if the dog comes back and goes through a quarantine process locally, we can look on it and cap it at two weeks and ensure they have their vaccines and everything that is lawful is abided by,” Clarke added.

Warrack Kennel has been in operation for 22 years, but importing dogs began four years ago.

With other champion Rottweilers like Xylana, Lima, and Xiva in his kennel, Clarke believes he is nearing his peak and may soon need to reinvent the wheel for championship trophies. He hopes Watson can help with procreation, to introduce a new breed of dogs for future success.

“Now, I have five champions in the kennel. I have a love for dogs; a love for Rottweilers. I continue to invest in Watson and other dogs like him because, after a while when all my dogs become champions and you have won all the titles there is to win, you want to start over and go back to compete again. And the only way to do that is to either have a breed or offspring or to bring in a new bloodline,” he said.

ainsworth.morris@gleanerjm.com