Hanzo & Fuego earned their American Schutzhund BT!
One of the coolest parts of this American Schutzhund trial for me was the environmental testing portion. I can’t express enough how valuable this information can be for breeders to get a general evaluation to these elements. When treated like a true test (and not something to be practiced or trained for in advance) it will provide incredibly useful insight to our breeding stock. Secondary to this and the obedience test, there is also a dog aggression test that results in a ban for failure. I think of all of the sports that claim to really evaluate a dog’s temperament, this is the most thorough and extensive testing criteria that we have available to us.
The evaluation categories are: footing on slippery surface, movement in tight spaces, standing on unstable surface, climbing, hunt drive, and suspicion & recovery, and each category is rated individually with ratings of either excellent, adequate, or insufficient.
This is video of Fuego’s environmental tests, only missing the slick floor video (was done indoors - both boys received excellent evaluations). Fuego received excellent for everything, with the exception of adequate on the climbing. Hanzo received excellent on 3/6, with adequate evaluations for tight spaces, unstable surfaces, and climbing. I can share his videos in a separate post.
Thanks so much again to Empire Working Dog Club for hosting, and to Tim Vaillancourt and Katie Schwarzwaelder Wells for their excellent judging!
Neither of my boys were prepped for this at all, so we went into this experience totally blind. I wanted to share my videos so people can see what the testing is like, and definitely would encourage anyone interested in the sport, but especially breeders to participate as well!
I truly will never be able to thank Jack for what he does. He selflessly pours an unimaginable amount of time and effort into the NC Troopers Association K9 Search & Recovery program, and the job is never easy, and the toll it takes is beyond what most of us could ever fathom. They have changed countless lives. To have been lucky enough to pair Fiji with Jack is something I will be forever grateful for, and a thank you could never be enough to repay them both for all that they do. I am so proud to be Fiji’s breeder, and so proud to call Jack a friend, and one of the truly greatest people that I know. This is a news segment showing just a glimpse into who they are.
NCTA K9 SAR is funded at their own expense. They provide qualified search teams 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to bring home the missing. Please consider donating through their page or website to help support them, at NC Trooper's Association K-9 Search and Recovery
https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/news/2024/01/22/nctak9-?cid=app_share
Fuego’s BH obedience
Minor whoopsie on one about turn (I definitely forgot to practice passing the leash behind my back, and he definitely thought I had something for him 🙈) but otherwise I’m so so happy with how he handled this. We’ve had very minimal formal trial prep, being so insanely busy and stressed between holidays and everything else going on this year, and he wasn’t bothered by any of it.
Feeling very lucky to have made it through everything so far, up to the point that this dog and I are back together. So grateful for every single person who played a part in it ❤️
Pasha (F litter, Char x Jedi) showing off his exceptional vocal talent!
Jamie & Char - training 10/12/21 IGP2 tracking prep
Char and her junior handler, Jamie ♥️
Char’s trial for our BH has been postponed due to the virus, so we’ll aim to prep for our IGP3 in the meantime. Stay safe, everybody!
Char vom Feuergarten at 10 months old, with helperwork by Ally Smith. I love working this little firecracker!
