Oh Yeah, You Blend

Oops, they did it again! Jan Robles and Lobo (Alkemi Beowulf del Roble LS) have just earned yet ANOTHER breed first! Lobo just earned his Water Dog title through the Newfoundland Club of America! I don’t even know what that entails, but Jan says she’ll explain it. Jan and Lobo are an incredible team, it seems like there is nothing they can’t do when they put their minds to it. Lobo was also the first Swedish Vallhund to earn the Senior Barn Hunt and Master Barn Hunt titles, the first SV to earn a drafting title, and he is currently the only Swedish Vallhund Club of America Versatlility Champion who has earned all his required points from performance and companion events only. He also has his Silver Crazy 8’s title in Barn Hunt, his UD in obedience, his PT in herding, his BCAT in lure coursing, his advanced trick dog title and his AX AXJ in agility. His official name (with AKC titles only!) is Alkemi Beowulf Del Roble Ls UD PT FDC AX AXJ BCAT RATCH CGC TKA. Lobo is Nina’s son (with Tempest, AKA Mystarz Baileys Blazer) and Zhora’s litter brother. Jan also owns Zhora’s daughter Cora (formerly Popcorn), who is racking up titles of her own already! Jan was getting a female puppy from the litter Lobo was born in (the Tempestninas), until I heard her greet him when she was doing the puppy temperament assessments…she said “hello puppy!…oh….HELLO puppy!” and I knew right then something magical was happening. Jan is an incredible dog trainer and she and Lobo were just meant to be. It’s an amazing feeling as a breeder to know your puppy is truly living his best life, not only does Lobo (and Cora) have a wonderful, loving home, they also get to DO ALL THE THINGS. Thank you Jan! 

Jan says “

This email may be longer than you wish to receive, but my heart is so full right now with gratitude for those who have helped us on this journey.

As background you remember that Classy, my last Malinois, was my once in a life time dog and I never expected to have another.  Lobo clearly dashed that belief the instant we met.

Aside from how special he is and and what an incredible bond we have, I give huge thanks to my Berner connection.  After I got Glory, her breeder moved to NC from Colorado.  Shortly after our move to NC in the fall of 2016 one of woman who bought one of Glory’s puppies contacted Eden Jonas (Glory’s breeder) and told her I had moved.  Eden then contacted me and invited me to join a group of primarily Berner folks, but also a Newfie person, for some draft practice.  This was the beginning to me pursuing Lobo’s ANDD as well as DD titles as well as building friendship in our new home.

Sidebar here:  As we were preparing for his DD last year, Eden had serious doubts about whether Lobo could do the  1/2 mile freight haul pulling 60#.  He was a super star.

The token Newfie was Ariel and her owner Debbie Dennison.  Aside from some draft practice, we were just casual acquaintances.  Then earlier this year I took Cora to a building to get her used to an obedience ring prior to her CD and Debbie was also there working her Newfie.  As we were chatting afterwards a woman came up to Debbie and asked her about water tests.  I expressed an interest and Debbie said Lobo could do it.  Once the lakes warmed up, we started training in May.  The rest, as they say, is history.

A ‘coin’ is flipped to determine if a life jacket or boat cushion will be the dropped article to be retrieved.  Almost universally people hope for the life jacket.  It can be as small as possible as long as it is Coast Guard Approved.  Boat cushions are considerably larger.  For the Newfie test the coin toss was life jacket.  Debbie was standing next to me and said, “You were hoping for boat cushion, weren’t you?”  Yes I was.  Lobo is very impressive bringing that in.  What I didn’t realize is that there would be a separation coin toss for our test.  The coin toss came up boat cushion and I was thrilled.  Debbie and I rejoiced.  The judges thought I was crazy.  But as you watch this video, you will hear that the spectators got progressively more enthusiastic as Lobo’s test continued by the time he retrieved the boat cushion.”

Lobo is one of only two dogs who passed.

Favorite judge and friend Sherry Jefferson designed some awesome, fast and fun courses for us. Nina QQ’d on Saturday, Zhora QQQ’d on Saturday (her first trial back in a long time due to breeding and she was VERY slow since she thinks she is pregnant), and Alice got an Excellent FAST Q, did 12 weaves in Time 2 Beat and finished her Novice Jumpers Preferred title! A great weekend all around!

Nina Saturday Jumpers (QQ #5, first place, 23 points, 4.6 YPS):

Zhora Saturday Jumpers (QQQ#107, third place, 12 points, 3.989 YPS):

Alice Saturday FAST (leg #2!):

Zhora Saturday FAST (QQQ):

Nina Saturday Standard (QQ #5, first place, 33 points, 3.7 YPS, didn’t get recorded)

Zhora Saturday Standard (QQQ #107, second place, 18 points, 3.1 YPS):

Alice Saturday Standard (NQ):

Alice Saturday Jumpers (NQ):

Nina Sunday Jumpers (Q, second place, 23 points, 4.57 YPS):

Zhora Sunday Jumpers (Q, first place, 13 points, 4.05 YPS):

Alice Time 2 Beat (NQ, 12 weaves and ran out to celebrate):

Nina Sunday Standard (NQ, she didn’t believe me about the white tunnel because I was too close to it and had no room to show movement):

Zhora Sunday Standard (NQ):

Alice Sunday Standard (holy crap LOL…NQ):

Alice Sunday Jumpers (Q, NJP title, weaves on first try, lovely run!):

We’ve been working her weaves in the back yard with stick-in-the-ground channels. Sue and I had a “baby day” today after we got done clearing contact equipment out for the seminar this weekend. So we played with Alice and Blast. We decided to really work on weaves so we set up a course with 2 x 2 poles between other obstacles (this helps with collection and also with teaching the dog to see the poles as actual obstacles in a course), then we made one set 4 poles. Eventually we got to 12 offset poles (they’re offset a tiny amount, like an inch) AND 12 straight up poles. Her biggest problem right now? She wants to go faster than her body knows how to go. I can see real progress! I am so proud of her.

I am THRILLED with this dog, she proves over and over again what a great dog she is. She LOVES to work, she tries and tries, she’s honest and boy is she fun to work with! Melanie Miller is coming to Sue’s this weekend and thanks to Zhora’s hopefully delicate condition, Alice is going to run on BOTH the Masters day and the Open day. She was on the baby dog day last year.

You can see us working through some issues with awesome results. I love training sessions like this where you AND the dog are wanting more at the end! The DOG should always want to keep going, but it’s great when you both do!

Friday Orbit took the point, bringing him to 14 points with one point to go for his AKC championship!

Saturday was Alice’s turn, not only did she get the point under judge Krista Hansen (bringing her to 14 with just one to go for her championship), Ms. Hansen also gave her an Owner-Handled GROUP 1!!! And then Dr. David Hansen gave her a Bred By Exhibitor Group 3! What an amazing day this was! Standing in the OH Best In Show ring was incredible. We had to do three groups in quick succession, we got the OH group win, then I handed her ribbon to Ruth and ran over to the Bred-By Exhibitor group ring, showed there, then ran to the regular group ring, entered late, and showed there. The show superintendent kept stopping by the various rings and telling me what was going on, that she’d alerted the ring steward and that they’d let me in when I got there. It was SO COOL!

Sunday Orbit took best of breed to become my very first home-bred champion. I couldn’t be more thrilled, and Ruth has done such an awesome job training him and handling him. He has a great home AND he stays part of my breeding program. It’s just amazing!

And then they went on to be awarded his SECOND Owner-Handled Group 2!

What a weekend! My first home-bred champion, Alice within a single point of becoming my SECOND home-bred champion. Orbit two best of breeds and two Owner-Handled Group 2’s. Alice one best of breed, an Owner-Handled Group 1 (someone asked me today what it was like being in the OH Best in Show ring….the answer? IT WAS FREAKING THRILLING) AND a Bred-By Exhibitor Group 3. The Zhoraberts are proving to be as awesome as I hoped.

Judge and dear friend Sherry Jefferson gave us some typically awesome, fast, fun courses. Nina went 3/4, picking up Preferred QQ #4 (also 4/7 for the 2020 NAC). Alice had a LOT of fun, showed some moments of brilliance, and we had a jumpers run that was the best run I’ve had with her to date. Her name is “AliceAliceAliceHEY!” right now, since zooming is the order of the day.

Nina Saturday Jumpers (Q, first place, 4.955 YPS, 25 points):

Alice Saturday FAST (OMG IT’S SHERRY YOU GUYS!):

Nina Saturday Standard (NQ, nice run):

Alice Saturday Standard (ZOOM):

Alice Saturday Jumpers (NQ, but what a lovely run, the best so far!):

Nina Sunday Jumpers (PQQ #3, first place, 4.82 YPS, 24 points):

Alice Sunday Time 2 Beat (ZOOM):

Nina Sunday Standard (PQQ #3, first place, 3.94 YPS, 36 points):

Alice Sunday Standard (ZOOM):

Alice Sunday Jumpers (quite a good run):

Zhora’s progesterone was at 1.3 on Thursday (day 6), which was higher than I expected that soon (she ovulated on day 14 last time, but day of ovulation can vary wildly from season to season, as any repro vet will tell you, Nina didn’t ovulate until day 21 when we did the frozen semen breeding for the B litter!), and then late yesterday (day 7) she was already at 2.5, which is associated with the LH surge, which happens before ovulation. So we could be looking at breeding as soon as Monday (eggs take 24-48 hours to mature and live for about 5 days after they are ovulated).

So the plan right now is to do another blood draw late tomorrow (Sunday, of course), drive it to my repro vet (the awesome Alliance Animal Hospital) in addition to sending some out to IDEXX so we know whether or not the numbers match. And then we may know about travel plans (one of the reasons Vallhunds are tough to breed sometimes is that you generally have to travel, or ship dogs or semen, to get the breeding you want).

Even when I have my ducks in a row, this time-critical stuff is always stressful!

We had EIGHT Vallhunds competing, super exciting, including the #2 (#1 until recently) dog in the country. So grateful to everyone who came and showed! Rebecca James, Pat Ray, Becky Lueth, Kat Klein and Ruth Travers!

Friday May 31, 2019 Judge Mrs. Murrel Purkhiser: Alice Winners Bitch for 3 point major, Orbit Best of Winners for the crossover major

Saturday June 1, 2019: Judge Dianne P. Miller. Alice Winners Bitch for 3 point major #2, and Orbit BOW for the crossover major again for major #2!

Sunday June 2, 2019: Judge Donna Conod. Alice BOS for a FOUR POINT MAJOR (3 point major for WB and then another point for beating the bitch special), Orbit BOW again for the crossover FOUR POINT MAJOR! What an incredible weekend!

Zhora JUST started her season this evening…plans are being made! Watch this space!

Lavonda Herring designed some technical, tricky, tough courses with low Q rates. My dogs LOVED them! NINA HAD A PERFECT WEEKEND! Zhora went 4/5, and Alice had an Excellent FAST Q and some really awesome runs, including a JWW NQ that felt gorgeous.

I am so honored to have these dogs.

Zhora Saturday JWW (Q, second place, 4.8 YPS, 17 points):

Nina Saturday JWW (P QQ#2, first place, 4.9 YPS 23 points):

Zhora Saturday Exc FAST (Q):

Alice Saturday FAST (Q):

Zhora Saturday Standard (NQ):

Nina Saturday Standard (P QQ#2, first place, 3.7 YPS, 33 points):

Alice Saturday Standard (NQ):

Alice Saturday Jumpers (NQ, but what a GORGEOUS run after the weaves):

Zhora Sunday JWW (QQ #106, first place and only 8″ R dog to Q, 4.49 YPS, 15 points, she hates this kind of opening and it shows):

Nina Sunday JWW (P QQ #3, first place, 4.77 YPS, 22 points):

Alice Sunday Time 2 Beat (NQ but some nice stuff):

Zhora Sunday Standard (QQ #106, first place and only 8″ R dog to Q again, 3.7 YPS, 27 points):

Nina Sunday Standard (P QQ #3, first place, 3.8 YPS, 34 points and a PERFECT WEEKEND):

Cora (formerly Popcorn) is the little sister (actually niece) of Lobo (Alkemi Beowulf del Roble LS), who was the first Swedish Vallhund to earn a drafting title (he was the first Vallhund to earn SEVERAL different titles, but drafting is what we’re talking about here).

Drafting is when a dog pulls a cart, to put it simply. It’s traditionally done by dogs like Bernese Mountain Dogs. Its traditional function was to allow the dog to pull a cart to move goods from place to place. Dogs are smaller and cheaper than horses.

So drafting as a sport, is basically obedience while pulling a cart, with some extra maneuvers in there to demonstrate a useful skill.

So here’s Cora at drafting practice. Cora (Alkemi Corona del Roble LS) is 20 months old and she lives in North Carolina with her owner Jan and her uncle (Zhora’s brother) Lobo.