Nicholas S. Ott

Cpl. Nicholas S. Ott

AGE: 23 • Manchester

Cpl. Nicholas S. Ott, 23, of Manchester, was killed in action on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2011, in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Born in Neptune, Nick was a lifelong resident of Manchester. He attended and graduated from Manchester High School, where he lettered in football, wrestling and track. Cpl Nicholas Ott was a good leader and he loved his fellow Marines. Cpl. Ott, who was in Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom, received many medals and awards: the Purple Heart, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one Bronze Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with Two Bronze Stars, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal-ISAF, Rifle Marksman Badge and Pistol Marksman Badge.

Nick was predeceased by his maternal grandfather, John F. Kleinknecht. He is survived by his loving parents, Stephen and Debra Ott; his cherished sister, Julia Ott; his maternal grandmother, Janet Kleinknecht; his paternal grandparents, Paul and Jacqueline Ott; his aunts, Christine Ott, Sharon Watkins, and Marybeth Spann; and his cousins, Vanessa, Clint, Josh, Loren and Katelyn. He is also survived by his circle of friends.

Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 18 at St. John's Roman Catholic Church, 619 Chestnut St., Lakehurst. Family and friends are kindly invited to go right to St. John's R.C. Church, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 19. Interment to follow at the Brig. Gen. William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Wrightstown. In lieu of flowers, a scholarship fund for future Manchester High School graduates has been founded in Nick Ott's memory. Donations can be made by mail to the Manchester Township Education Foundation, P.O. Box 168, Whiting, NJ 08759 (payable to MTEF/Ott) orwww.mtef4kids.org. Tributes can be sent to www.andersoncampbellmanchester.com.

Memorial Services For My Nephew

The viewing for Cpl. Nick Ott will be held on Thursday August 18th at Saint John's Roman Catholic Church, 619 Chestnut St. Lakehurst NJ, from 3 PM to 8 PM.

A mass will be held at 11 AM on Friday August 19th, also at Saint John's Roman Catholic Church, followed by the burial at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Memorial Cemetery, 350 Province Line Road, Wrightstown NJ.

A Very Sad Day

My nephew, a marine, was killed today in Afghanastan. Please pray that this war is over soon.

Three Years... Really?

Is that really how long its been? Time flies... Its been three years since I sat in a hotel room, just me and  my dogs the night before a no-so-local show, checking running orders and marking up my show conformation making sure Im set on which ring each dog will be in and at what time. Deciding if I have time to stop for breakfast in the morning (theres a diner next to the hotel) or do I have to race to the show site caffeine-less so I will make my first walk thru.

Three years ago I was sitting on the hotel bed with my golden retriever "Cajun", my first Border Collie "Mayhem" and his son "Yikes!" Cajun and Mayhem are gone now, keeping an eye on me and the family from the Rainbow Bridge. Yikes! is retired and enjoying a life of leisure watching movies off my iPad and helping me with any chore I might have.. including raising puppies. 

Tonight I sit in this hotel room with the "New Guard". 'Wow!" and "Got'cha", both Mayhem sons, and a Mayhem Granddaughter "Tease". Its amazing how much your life can change in three years. Tonight I feel like Ive come full circle. After I lost Cajun and Mayhem I also lost a lot of my desire for competition. But over the last 6 months its been coming back. I booked this trip, a 3+ hour travel from my house, a few months back. Decided I was tired of the local shows and wanted to take a trip with the dogs. Originally a few friends were also showing at this event and we were all to attend it together. As fate would have it my friends either pulled their entires or couldn't come due to work conflicts. So... here I am with my dogs showing at a not-so-local show, by myself. 

Driving up here, thru horrible thunderstorms, I was reminded of the old days. Driving the RV thru all kinds of weather to get to all kinds of off the beaten path competitions. Finding great events like ones held in Stowe, Blackthorn and Fryburg. Wonderful competitors, decent accommodation  and spectacular scenery. Just me and the dogs, traveling all over the country together. Those were the days before two of my dogs fought against cancer... and lost, before I was diagnosed with diabetes... and am determined to win.

Three years later I sit in this hotel room preparing for tomorrows event. Not exactly a fantastic hotel room, but my dogs are with me so how bad can it be? Watching them all sleeping, crashed out all over the room, brings back so many memories of the "old guard" (Cajun, Mayhem and Yikes!) and I cant help but smile. My happiest times are when Im alone with my dogs. No matter what the weekend results are, its a great weekend because I have my "kids" here with me... if only for a little while. Time flies, and I need to make sure I appreciate every minute of it.

Winner of this weeks Bowling Game in our FTBT Class!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otufPO7CfsE


This dog wins the most progress award in class today! Were on week 2 of FTBT Level I class and this little rescue BC just learned how to "push" and object last week! This is the first step in our "Bowling" game. We use this game to teach dogs the behavior of "push", which can then be used to teach the dogs to navigate an agility chute obstacle (especially when the material is wet from rain). The next progression of this game is to push the ball into bowling pins and the dogs learn to knock the pins over. This game is what we use to desensitize dogs to things falling (like jump bars, which can be a leading cause of jumping anxiety and inappropriate take off positions). We then take the game in the Level II class and move on to the sport of "Treibball" where the dogs herd exercise balls into a goal. A really fun game that dogs of all breeds and sizes can play.


Fit To Be Tricked Class focuses on specialized trick training designed to improve your dog's abilities in performance events while keeping them fit, increasing physical strength, decreasing muscle recovery time and raising your dog’s learning ability and focus. Seminars available: contact information@speedoggie.com FMI

Fit To Be Tricked Seminar Coming To Pittsburgh PA Area

Speedoggie Performance Dog Training
is pleased to announce a one of a kind training opportunity

"Fit To Be Tricked"

Specialized Trick Training
A Fun Way To Optimize Fitness, Flexibility & Coordination

with

World Renowned Animal Trainer

Sassie Frankie Joiris

 and

Agility Champion and Guinness World Record Holder

Chris Ott-Parker

Comprehensive program designed with
Internationally Recognized Physical Therapist "Ria Acciani, MPT"

This one of a kind seminar focuses on specialized trick training designed to improve your dog's abilities in performance events while keeping them fit, increasing physical strength, decreasing muscle recovery time and raising your dog’s learning ability and focus.

Frankie (Sassie) Joiris and Chris Ott-Parker are international seminar presenters and full time dog trainers with a combined 60 years experience training dogs in agility, obedience, conformation, search and rescue, hunting events, as well extensive experience in television and film. Both Frankie and Chris have competed at the top levels of multiple dog sports venues with multiple breeds of dogs and are well known for their ability to customize training to fit each team’s unique strengths and ability.

Date: June 25-26, 2011

Location: You Go Little Dog LLC

11099 Route 993, North Huntingdon, PA  15642

(Indoors, artificial turf footing)

www.yougolittledog.com

Cost: $175

Register: information@speedoggie.com

Frankie (Sassie) Joiris trains animal actors (birds, farm animals, turtles, cats and dogs) for television, film and print advertisements. Her dogs include Norfolk Terrier Ch MACH Stamp, RN NF JE, Boing! , a whippet, and puppy Toggle, a Pyrenean Shepherd. Frankie teaches agility at Morris K9 Campus in NJ, Talbot KC in MD, and Animal Haven in NYC. She is also an instructor at Camp Gone to the Dogs in Vermont. She writes on the subject of animal training for several publications, including Clean Run, American Animal Trainer, Pet Bird Report and Companion Parrot Quarterly. She also has a widely read blog at http://fjoiris.livejournal.com. Her style of training is eclectic and conversational and is focused on an individual approach to each animal. Frankie is a popular instructor since she works with and excels at training non-traditional performance breeds using many nontraditional methods. A link to student testimonials http://home.netcom.com/~joiris/id13.html

Chris Ott-Parker is an international level dog agility competitor, trainer and coach. Two time USA/AKC World Agility Team Member, National Agility Champion, Guinness World Record Holder and USA European Agility Open Team Member with two dogs. She is also one of the USAs top breeders of performance Border Collies with multiple dogs of her breeding being selected to represent the USA at FCI World Championships and Crufts as well as winning National Agility Championships. 

Well known for her ability to work with many breeds, dozens of Chris’ students regularly represent their breed each year at the prestigious AKC/Eukanuba National Agility Invitational (breeds including: Spanish Water Dog, Poodle, Cocker Spaniel, Wire Fox Terrier, Rottweiler, German Shepherd, Briard and Border Collie). 

Chris works with all breeds of dogs including mixed breeds at all levels of training and all ages. Her training program produces dogs that run and play in agility well into their senior years while remaining sound and healthy. Many of Chris' senior dogs (both her own and her students) are still very competitive in the championship programs of AKC and USDAA as well as other nationally recognized programs such as NADAC, CPE and DOCNA. Chris is also known for her problem solving skills and customizing training programs to fit each teams individual needs.

Chris' 30+ years of experience coupled with her outstanding accomplishments and those of her students makes her one of the highest qualified instructors in the entire country. More info on Chris Ott-Parker available at: www.speedoggie.com

Wowwie 2011 AKC National Agility Championships

To say its been a while since Ive written on this blog is an understatement. Life has been busy, my day to day and dog news gets updated on Facebook... and Im lazy :) But, I just returned from this years AKC Agility Nationals in Lexington VA and felt the need to update. So here goes.
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Bonnie and I arrived late afternoon on Thursday with plenty of time to unload, check out the rings and visit. I of course made a beeline to find Gayle and John York (who own Wowwies mother) and who also did all the videotaping for NAC (www.bowwowvideo.com). It was great to see them and catch up. Wowwie got to see and play with his Momma and baby sister... he had a really good time! This year Gayle DID NOT put a kiss print on Wowwies head before his runs... and now that we see how well he did without his traditional lipstick lip print, I will make sure she restrains from putting it on him in the future :) Sorry Gayle, but you know how superstitious I am.

The lucky drink! This would be all I drink at dinners before/during important events :)

Bonnie and I shared a stall with my training partner Jessica Ajoux, friend Stephanie Rainer, and mentor Diane Bauman. Linda Bohm a photographer (www.bohm-marrazzo.com) friend and fellow agility enthusiast also shared the stall with us. We all had a great time together and at the end of the day saturday, Bonnie, Jessica, Stephanie and myself were all 100% for the weekend! Talk about the power of surrounding yourself with positive energy! Jess, Diane and I been working together successfully for years. Add Bonnie, Stephanie and Linda and we have ourselves a "success party'. Amazing people, each bringing their own energy into the group. Lets do it again next year ladies!

Wowwie in the hotel room the evening before the NAC. He was feeling very sure of himself this weekend :)

Wow! and I only ran one run on Friday (State Team Tournament Day) because I wanted to take it easy on both of us. One run to determine where we both were mentally, physically etc was all we needed. Unfortunately that one run was in a ring that we would not be in again all weekend. The dirt in the rings in the one building was packed different than the other building, which caused a problem for many. 


Ria and David Acciani of Advanced Canine (http://www.dogpt.com) worked on Wow! all weekend to keep him in top shape. Wowwie loves them both and it gave us an opportunity to unwind and relax a bit at the end of our days.

Ria Acciani working on Wowwie on the weeks leading up to the NAC

David Acciani working on Wowwie during the NAC event.

Back at home, I was updating everyone via my Facebook page. The support from my friends and students was amazing. I cant thank everyone enough for keeping me focused and boosting my confidence in myself and my team. There were times on Sunday when I got a bit shaky. My friends and fellow "stall mates" werent having the best day of it. It finally came down to me to master that Round 3 course. From Diane Bauman at my side in the stands reminding  me of how prepared we were and going over the course together, Jessica Ajoux ringside working out the details of every handling maneuver to Bonnie Waseleski walking my dog when I was pressed for time, picking me up healthy food so I didnt forget to eat AND listening to me recite every command for my run over and over out loud to make sure my timing was perfect. I have a support staff second to none! Thank you guys, for every laugh, every hug and every high five. Im so lucky to have you all in my life.

Ive never known a happier dog in my life!

Wowwie and I are very proud of ourselves. We worked extremely hard since September of last year getting him back from his whiplash (fell off a dogwalk) and getting our timing on dirt down to as close to perfect as we could get. And THANK GOD we did practice so hard as the footing in rings 1 & 2 were difficult.  Hard packed with a fine layer of loose slippery "gravely" dirt. The dogs had very little traction (as proven by watching the dogs in the Challenger Round and then the wide turns in the Finals). 


I also want to congratulate Wowwie's daughter "Thriller" and Bonnie McDonnald of Florida for running clear every round too! And finishing 4th in the 16" finals. Amazing accomplishment with a very young dog. Bonnie and Thriller will be at World Team Tryouts this year too! Incredible! from 16" to 26" in the blink of an eye! what'a team! 


Also Ann Braue and Wowwie's brother "Scream" were in the Challenger Round and were the demo dog for the 26" finals. As always Annie and Scream looked amazing! 


Donna Brown and "BAM" a half sister to Wowwie out of my dog "Mayhem" and my bitch "Frenzy" were also in the Challenger Round 20" and had a smoking clean round but were beaten out of first place :( Still an amazing team to behold! 


Sue Tovino and "Whip" (a repeat breeding of Wow),  and Denise Thomas and "Zippity" (a litter sister to Wowwie) were also competing this weekend. It was great to see all the babies! From what Julie Jenkins told me (Mayhem's breeder) there were 8 relatives competing this weekend! GO SPRINT BABIES!!!


I will post better video as soon as I receive it from Bow Wow Video. But for now, heres what we shot with the Flip Video camera


Wowwie NAC Rounds 1 & 2

Wowwie NAC Round 3 & Finals

I would love to run those courses on great footing and really push the dogs, but having to hang back and compensate for my teammate who was struggling to keep his feet under him was also a challenge we trained for (having run at on "dirt" many times, it can range from almost beach sand to concrete so we practiced everywhere). Im very proud of my boy and of our team. We will be working our butts off now fixing some skill issues we couldnt address before nationals (ie the dogwalk, which has been an issue since the whiplash). With the blessings of the universe Wowwie and I will have many more opportunities to compete and play with the big dogs.

The other great thing is that my health held up all weekend long. As many of you know I have been very sick. After struggling with health issues for a few years my health finally took a major decline starting in the fall of last year and hitting rock bottom two months ago. After failing with a few doctors to find the cause, I was finally diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and I have some heart complications. We started a new medicine regime. The medicines are pretty brutal to me physically but I did finally come up with a system to where I can take what I need to take and not be too sick to live. Im still having good days and bad days, but lucky for Wowwie and I, this weekend were all "good days"! :)

Another mental complication is that my nephew. who is a marine,  was air-dropped on the boarder of Afghanistan and Pakistan this friday (right when NAC started) with just the cloths on his back, his backpack and his gun. He will meet up with his supply plane at some point but he will be gone for 7-9 months. I said goodbye to him on Wednesday night. One of the hardest thing Ive ever had to do. To say that my entire world has been put into a totally different perspective is an understatement. And as I listened to the national anthem at the NAC this weekend, I thanked him and every other solider who risk their lives every day for my freedom. Before I left my nephew, he told me to "kick it" at nationals. I did my very best to make him proud. I look forward to seeing him this thanksgiving and showing him the footage from the NAC. He loves my dogs and he knows how hard we work to do what we do. He's always been one of my #1 fans. Somewhere I hope he knows in his heart we did good.

Wowwie and I have been thru a lot together, and our AKC Nationals experience this past weekend will be ranked as one of the best. He's the best partner anyone could ask for and I am blessed to be able to share an agility ring with such a spectacular animal. Thanks buddy for making my agility dreams come true. I cant wait to see where our journey goes from here.