Oh Yeah, You Blend

http://m.union-bulletin.com/news/2015/nov/17/etc-swedish-vallhund-takes-barn-hunting-pro/?

Congratulations to Chris Buryta and Riley (Alkemi Aston Martin LS) on finishing Riley’s Novice Jumpers title (in under 19 seconds) at Countryside Agility! This is Riley’s first title and he and Chris have had many JOLT (just one little thing) runs but when it comes together for them, they are amazing!

Well, today was one of the best agility days I have ever had, at the Admiral Perry Obedience Training Club AKC Agility trial, under judge Windle Ewing, BOTH Nina AND Zhora double Q’d! Nina for #11 and Zhora for #10 (halfway to her MACH already, in less than 8 months!). The courses were tough and technical, and the Q rates were low, but my girls really liked them and ran them beautifully. I am so very, very proud of my girls, they gave their all today, they listened beautifully, and they did their jobs with style and joy.

We joke in agility if you’re having a bad weekend in terms of Q’s, that maybe it’s “double Q Sunday”, well today was DOUBLE double Q Sunday! I am on cloud 9.

Zhora Saturday Jumpers (Q and 10 points):

Nina Sunday Jumpers (Q, third place and 16 points, part 1 of QQ #11):

Zhora Sunday Jumpers (Q and 11 points, part 1 of QQ #10):

Nina Sunday Standard (Q, third place and 26 points, part 2 of QQ#11):

Zhora Sunday Standard (Q, fourth place and 18 points, part 2 of QQ#10):

Here is a very lovely note from Jan Robles, who owns Lobo (Alkemi Beowulf del Roble LS CDX CGC RATM):

“Lobo, Alkemi Beowulf del Roble LS (Mystarz Baileys Blazer X Vastogota Nina Ricci), was first introduced to the sport of Barn Hunt on July 13, 2013 in Pendleton,OR just shy of his first birthday. On August 24, 2014 Lobo was entered in his fist Barn Hunt trial. On November 1, 2015 Lobo earned his Master’s title. From day one Lobo exhibited the drive and passion that one hopes to see in a working dog. After the initial workshop, we did not compete in Instinct and went straight to Novice. We went months between trials and never had practices or workshops in between. Lobo clearly showed the drive and desire to work despite the lack of practice.

In this day and age when stock is not readily available to many Vallhund owners I think Barn Hunt is a reasonable option to verify working ability. Our breed was supposed to herd cattle, control rats and be a general purpose farm dog. The sport of Barn Hunt gives us an option to cultivate our breed’s working ability, drive and desire. If we don’t use it, we lose it.

To date, there are 19 Vallhunds with Barn Hunt titles. 6 have Novice and 2 have Open. There is 1 Master.

For almost 25 years I raised, titled and bred Belgian Malinois. I always bred Champion/performance titled dogs. I did not produce litters that were all working dog capable even though that was my goal. We need to pay special attention to the qualities that define our breed or we will end up with dogs that can not or will not work.

In the sport of Barn Hunt, I have seen way too many Rat Terriers with absolutely no desire to hunt. That is appalling and I don’t want to see us go down that path with our incredible Vallhunds.”

Such a fun trial with judge Christy Bowers! Zhora went 3/4 and continued to increase her speed yet again, breaking 5 yards per second in jumpers, placing two out of three times (and in the run she didn’t place in, she came 8th and the top 8 dogs were within 2 seconds of each other), and earning double Q #9. Nina was one stupid handler trick away from double Q #11 today. I was hoping it would be double double Q Sunday today, especially since Christy was playing Neil Diamond this morning while we walked, and since he was mum’s favorite, I was hoping it was an omen! And then both girls got jumpers but…so close!

Zhora Saturday jumpers (NQ but nice run):

Zhora Saturday standard (Q, fourth place, 23 points):

The score sheets from 12″ Standard on Saturday

Nina Saturday standard (NQ but nice run):

Zhora Sunday jumpers (Q, no placement but over 5 yards per second, 17 points):

Nina Sunday jumpers (Q, second place, 21 points):

Zhora Sunday standard (QQ #9, third place, within a second of first place! 24 points):

The score sheet from Sunday 12″ standard

Nina Sunday standard (NQ, all I needed to do was tell her “come table” after the jump after the dogwalk, lovely run anyway, AND she came to the table so fast her front feet came off, which isn’t a fault, just restarts the countdown, and she pulled them back up to save us a table fault, what a great girlie!):

HUGE congratulations to Jan Robles and Lobo (Alkemi Beowulf del Roble LS) on becoming the first Swedish Vallhund to earn the Master Barn Hunt title (RATM)!!!

This is a tough title to earn. Lobo had to earn five qualifying legs at the Master level, with a RANDOM number of rats to find (there are eight tubes on the course and anywhere between one and five can contain rats, it’s decided by the judge and is different for each dog). He also had to negotiate tunnels with up to five turns.

And all in under 4 1/2 minutes!

Jan and Lobo (who is just three years old) are an incredible team!