AT A TRIAL SOMETIMES YOU GET MORE THAN A SCORE……

It is said that every trial brings different rewards. First on people’s minds may be passing scores and earning titles. In the larger picture however there are other less tangible rewards such as teamwork and camaraderie, the sense of pride or pain one feels as our teammates succeed or fail. Watching the terrified look on the face of a first timer fade to cool confidence as their four legged partner leads them through the exercise. It is the bittersweet joy of a popular judge in the sport saying his final good bye to a career that spanned 50 years. Twin County certainly experienced all those benefits and more at our October trial this year.

We were privileged to have Rudy Mietzner from Edmonton, Alberta, back with us to judge our small trial as his last trial of a long career of schutzhund judging. As always Rudy was gracious, friendly and helpful to everyone. His steady guidance and calm demeanor seemed to give confidence to all and resulted in a very smooth run trial.

With 200 trials as his goal, health issues shortened his career to 196 trials. Though feeling better these days, Rudy completed his judging schedule with Twin County Schutzhund Club’s Fall trial. Ironically, a TCSC trial was his first trial as a judge in the United States in 1985. We felt honored to welcome Rudy back for that last trial. His last trial here was as good as his first. We had the privilege of presenting a Regional tribute to him with kind words delivered by Paul Schneider. Special thanks to Paul Schneider who spoke for the entire Region when he expressed to Rudy how much the sport will miss him.

Thank you Rudy for your contributions to the sport and to the many new sports friends over the years that you mentored and advised.

As usual we want to talk about the weather and venue. Mother Nature could not have been kinder and contributed to making the event very special. After a week of rain and wind, we had two beautiful days of cool mornings, fog, and all day sunshine. Considering the trial field was at a park and on the county fairground front lawn, it made a fine setting for the trial phases B and C. Tracking in the a.m. both days was on rough farm land, longer than turf length grass – wet grass. In fact Sunday it was white just short of frozen. Challenging and yet good for trial tracking.

We want to congratulate Dean Wilkins on successfully accomplishing VPG 3 with his dog, Dax. Even with a few problems in obedience, the overall performance in all three phases completed the VPG 3 and made Dean and Dax a happy pair. Dean has supported TCSC trials for several years so we felt a close appreciation for his success. Way to go, Dean!!

 

Four of the six Bs passed. Most of the trial’s successes were in tracking. The schutzhund entries with tracks performed and scored well; the TR 1s and 2 did well. Way to go all and keep up the good work.

 

Our club helper, Mark Glastetter, had his first opportunity to be trial helper. TCSC is happy to have its own helper for our trials once again. Mark was a busy fellow during the weekend as he was entered both days, arranged for the field and the farm, brought the jumps and other equipment in and did field set-up.

As anyone who has spent much time in the schutzhund world can tell you, individual clubs come in all shapes and sizes. When the club is small all the members have to be deeply involved in the trial development and finally in the execution.

Peter Klein had the pleasure of caring for the judge and ensuring he felt welcome and comfortable while he was with us for the trial weekend. He also arranged for the judge’s travel and hotel and did all the local chauffeuring. In addition Peter made and brought food for the concession and entered his dog in two classes where she shined in tracking both days with 96 and 93 respectively. Keith Czuleger, a new member, tried for the B and helped set up the field and move equipment and in general help keep things moving. Dain Neininger did field set up and helped in the kitchen. Although Carol Byron was disappointed that she could not compete with her dog Zach because of her shoulder surgery, she ran, arm in a sling, from one end of the field to the kitchen and back organizing the group, preparing the food, and serving lunch. Carol also arranged for the trophies and gifts and managed the last minute arrangements with the Park. Great work everyone. It took this coordinated effort from club members to make our trial happen and they were outstanding.

The small crowd of spectators was supportive and applauded in all the right places. A friend of the club dropped by with donuts and a crowd of people to see their first schutzhund trial. We thank them for coming and making the trial a warm and special event.

2009 PNW Regional Championship

2009 PNW Regional Championship

by Karen Bostwick & Warren Jones
photos by Warren, Glenn and others

German Shepherd Schutzhund Club presented a great venue for this year’s Regional Championship. While pulling all the details together, the members of GSSC entered and operated the event like pros. A member of GSSC offered free cold beverages to all and it was very appreciated on a warm day.

Any club that hosts a regional event is dependent upon the region to promote and support it. Regional Director Will Pope and Assistant Regional Director Warren Jones added their support and entry or participation. As always, Oregon clubs and individuals supported this event.

The entry was small but it did not diminish the effort and performances. The list of contestants included some new faces and some old ... uh ... older faces — long time sports friends. The dogs also included veterans, tried and true, and younger dogs that showed spirit and speed. When the entry consists of this range of experience, the competition takes on a new, fresh excitement.

Icon tracking in the lush grass

GSSC found the only irrigated pasture in the area, and this was on a small farm with limited parking, so very few spectators made it to tracking. Despite the near perfect conditions, nearly every dog lost concentration somewhere on the track, and scores posted included high score 92 and from there to 91, 90, 89 as top scores. Clearly green grass wasn’t a sure bet for an easy track.

Dago & Mark on their way to high tracking

The four BH entries provided a novelty — every handler was there for their first trial, so before we could get started, they all had to take the written test.

The BH handlers got to break in the novel group arrangement introduced by judge Lance Collins, who got it from the Canadian Nationals, who got it from… anyway, the group walks in a circle around four spokes that cut across the middle, and every other group member cuts across on one of the spokes, making a truly random pattern that set up some interesting collisions between group members at first, and no way for the handler to plan an entry until they were right on top of the group. Despite their inexperience (or maybe because of it?), the BH handlers all had success with the group… and in fact with all of the event: Everyone got a title!

Obedience for the schutzhund dogs came with a warm Sunday morning at 8 a.m. Of note was the excellent performance of Al Carlson and his favorite girl, Amy - favorite after his wife, Bev, of course. In spite of places where the judge found to mark off, the overall picture was one of speed, attitude, and a happy-to-be-there smile on her face. It was a real pleasure to watch.

Both malinois in the trial (Warren Jones’ Harley and Mike Casey’s Ikon) demonstrated excellent heeling and were approaching great scores until the go-out — both dogs decided the go out spot was the dumbbell rack!

Warren & Harley

Mark Gomersall and his GSD Dago turned in the top obedience score with a 90 SG.

Mark & Dago

For protection, it was the same. As a regional event, the helpers were top of the line with Will Pope back half, Jas Leverette front half, and Mark Gomersall doing the 2’s.

Emily & Barret return helper Mark to the Judge

Each dog was challenged equally on a field of beautiful grass and regulation distances to the blinds. Speed, grips and control were the challenges and met with different measure. Scores say one story and viewing from the side tells some more. The point is: you gotta be there to get full measure.

Mark and Dago again turned in a top score with a 90SG, which was enough to become the Regional Champion. A good dog with a good handler performed consistently with a great attitude and became the example of how it was supposed to look in all three phases. As a spectator, I found all of the performances to exhibit the picture of willing, well trained dogs performing. Yes, some will go home and work on some exercises that didn’t go as planned but the overall performances were good for the sport and stood up to regional event expectations. Judge Lance Collins provided exquisite detail in his critiques, so that all the spectators and handlers had a clear idea where the points went and what the judge was looking for. Thank you Lance for making a good show even better.

Lance & Will

Lynne & Cappy

Mike & Icon

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