New Titles
In the past month or so Nikon has earned four additional titles: UKC Champion, Tracking 1, Family Obedience, and Protection Alert. Now he is SG U-CH Alta-Tollhaus Bono BH T1 FO PA CL1-R HIT CGC OFA. The latter three were earned in late November at an SDA trial in St. John’s. The Tracking 1 title is the same as a SchH1 track. The Family Obedience is their version of a BH, which includes the exact same heeling pattern, long down, and out of motion exercises as the BH and then three additional “practical” exercises. The Protection Alert is however not comparable to Schutzhund protection, it is more like personal protection. The PA exercises show that the dog is under control at all times, will alert on command, will alert on his own when threatened, will remain alerting (barking) until the handler recalls the dog, and will allow the decoy to touch the handler while sitting under control. The decoys wear bitesuits and put a lot of pressure on the dog. Nikon earned those three titles with ease even though we only had a week to prepare and he got once chance to do the PA routine before the trial. We were the only team entered in the trial that did not belong to the club hosting the trial. I enjoyed doing SDA obedience with Chopper and am glad to have a dog that is well-suited (pun intended) for that style of protection. Nikon is now doing more bitesuit training so we can do the rest of the SDA titles as trials are available (that is always the trouble with SDA!) and will do his Schutzhund titles when I am happy with his tracking, which is my weakness because I do not enjoy tracking and cannot teach the problem solving we are working on with the snow cover.
My 4-month old puppy Pan also got two First Place ribbons in Novice Puppy at the UKC show and earned his AKC STAR (pre-CGC test for puppies).
Nikon and Pan watching Coke escape
Pan’s STAR class (poodle, flat coated retriever, yorkiepoo, female GSD)
Nikon’s conformation awards minus the official UKC title which I have not yet received
Nikon at the show losing to Gavin, haha
Nikon eating a bone that Schumi didn’t want (Nikon thinks Schumi is crazy)
Accepting Nikon’s SDA titles
Herding sheep
Tracking, Retrieves, and Training Places
I’m so glad you recommended the Barwig/Hilliard Shutzund: Theory and Training methods book. I have only read the early chapters on tracking so far but it’s soooo nice to have everything laid out so simply. We just got back home from our first time trying some track work. I had been trying to think of good training locations when I remembered the cemetery. It’s HUGE, beautiful, and fenced all the way around with roads running through it. I rarely see other people there and never any other dogs. We had the place all to ourselves.
While Nuke was locked in the car, I stomped out a two foot by two foot scent pad in the snow, then walked heel to toe in a straight line dropping a treat in every other step. I made two turns and looped back to the pad. Then I put Nuke on a long line in a harness and started him at the pad with “find it.” Granted, this was an easy track as best I could tell, but he followed it perfectly all the way back around. Then we did it again slower, picking up the treats he missed the first time.
Then I made another, longer track, and this time took normal strides and put a treat in every fourth print. Again, perfect tracking, nailed every right angle turn. Now, it’s in the snow so for all I know he’s following it by sight, but it sure looked impressive to me. 
It’ll be awhile before I have a place with no snow to work in. I’ll have to get some survey flags so I’ll know where my tracks are laid.
The cemetery is PERFECT. After the track, we did obedience on the paved roads for awhile, then worked on retrieving. He does NOT want to bring the ball back. I have tried immediately throwing it when he brings it so he knows the game starts over; I have tried calling him and giving him a treat in exchange for the ball…. he just wants to keep it all to himself until he gets bored with it.
And then I started throwing the ball and then hiding behind a big headstone and making him find me, whereupon I rewarded him with lots of pets and treats. He’s really good at that, too. Next time I’ll get John to go and John can lay down a long track and hide at the end.
Anyway, I love this little dog to pieces and we are SO happy with him!!!
Thanks,
Stacy
Lance New TDX Today!!!
Mr. Lance and I went to Chicago and entered the Lincolnwood Training Club Inc., for GSDs (they had a combined TD and TDX test).
Mr. Lance wants to let you know that he is now a “TDX” boy. Here’s our picture for you viewing pleasure – I’m smiling still.
Judges were Pam German and Donna Kircher, and track layer Kirsten. Our maps show the “boy” booked this track and did it in 14 minutes – whew, he was a gooooood boy (no wonder my legs were tired).
Wanted to share.
Laura and TDX Lance
Ilea TD
Ilea earned her AKC Tracking Dog (TD) Title at Ann Arbor’s tracking test today! She completed her track within 5 minutes for today’s best time. The judges were Marilyn Johnson and Mrs. Susan Eldred. Eleven dogs were tested and just five passed. Ilea was very pleased and after completing the test, tracked her way back to our car. Dad was also very pleased!
Ilea receiving her Tracking Dog Title from Judges Susan and Marilyn in Ann Arbor today.