December, 2002 | Big Sky Working Dogs

2002 The Year in Review

For the Big Sky Schutzhund Club of Montana

It was another super year for Big Sky Schutzhund Club. We were fortunate to host an Ivan Balabanov seminar in June and then to have Michael Ellis out for training in July and September. A BIG round of “Thank you!” to Ivan and Michael for their hard work, patience and expert training help.

B.S.S.C. held two trials this year, marking its first trial in another portion of Montana, hosted by Bruce and Rosellen Westerhoff of Worden.

The first trial was held in Bozeman with U.S.A. Judge Willie Pope on Aug. 17-18. Tracking was on plowed dirt and the obedience and protection were hosted by Sammie and Warren Jones.

The entire club membership pitched in to contribute and support the event. Lily Westerhoff, 8 years old, showed her malinois Joeri. The judge was impressed with this young athlete’s professionalism and handling ability in both the TR1 and BH. It was Jessica Boerger’s first schutzhund trial with her dog Couloir. They turned out a nice performance and took home the High SchH1 Score award. Rosellen and Nike also earned their SchH1 as did Teressa Keenan with Acky. Nike, 19 months old, was the youngest dog entered for a title. Sue Geske and her tracking machine, Tango,

had a marvelous track but other parts did not come together for them. Debbie Dilley and Babe also had some difficulties. Anne Camper and Danno gave the FH a try but it was not their day either. Debbie and Arek took home their first SchH3 title along with H.I.T..

Rosellen and Raudi gained another well performed SchH3 title along with Eugene Gelhard and Skipper. Thanks go out to Eugene and Rosemary for making the long distance drive from Utah to support B.S.S.C. seminars and this year’s trial!

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Go to the Gallery to see all the trial photos. Here are some highlights:

More photos in the gallery.

The club’s second trial was held Oct. 19th under U.S.A. judge Nikki Banfield. After playing with the wolves in Yellowstone National Park for a week, Nikki was refreshed and ready to get down to judging. We squeezed it into a one-day trial that included everything from TR1 to FH2. The youngest competitor, Coral Westerhoff, age 6, took home the High Tracking Score award with veteran dog Joeri. Coral laid a very nice TR1 track and showed her dog in a very professional manner. Looking like a little locomotive she plowed down the track with her tiny legs pumping out 200 paces each way to equal the other competitors track length. The FH tracks were laid on challenging terrain. Unfortunately neither team was able to finish the track, and it was discovered after the tracking test was ended that the farmer had fertilized the fields two days before.

Back at the trial field, Janice Bogy with Axel and new club member Ingrid Rosenquist with her spunky blue dog, Poe, turned out some nice performances to earn their BH. Sammie Jones and her high drive dog “Bubba Joe” showed great team spirit and club support by entering for their BH knowing they weren’t quite ready to do so. It was a high energy and happy performance by both dog and handler. Lily Westerhoff performed an OB1 with Joeri and did a wonderful job showing her. Unfortunately, Joeri could not make the jump. Lily’s mom also proved to be too much of a distraction so they did not receive their OB1 this time; however, Lily showed excellent sportsmanship as she gave a big smile and paid close attention to the judge’s critique. She congratulated the other team and complemented them as she left the field.

Rosellen and Raudi took home a new title, IPO3, along with H.I.T. Jessica and Couloir had the high protection score but unfortunately did not earn their SchH2 this day. Jessica also showed excellent sportsmanship and club support by entering her exuberant dog knowing he wasn’t quite ready. Good sportsmanship was the resounding theme of the day which ended with an evening filled with conversation, laughter and good food shared amongst dog sport enthusiasts, friends and family.

Thank you to Bruce Westerhoff and Warren Jones for another great trial with safe helper work. None of us could do the sport without you and your endless devotion to working our dogs all year long. Pass or fail, each team entered had worked very hard all year and gave it their best try and all deserve a pat on the back and to hear the words, “job well done!”. Now it’s onward to an even better training and trialing year in 2003!
— Debbie Dillie

Fall Trial Results!

Worden, Montana			19 October 2002			USA Nikki Banfield
	IPO 3		T	O	P	TSB	total
	Raudi v. Revolutionsküppel SchH3	GSD	94 SG	82 G	83 G	“a”	259 G	Rosellen Westerhoff
	SchH 2		T	O	P	TSB	total
	Couloir vom das Wendl-Rudel SchH1	GSD	50 I	78 G	84 G	“a”	212 I	Jessica Boerger
	TR 2		T				total
	Nike ot Vitosha SchH1	Mali	88 G				88 G	Rosellen Westerhoff
	OB 2			O			total
	Nike ot Vitosha SchH1	Mali		77 S			77 S	Rosellen Westerhoff
	IPO 1		T	O	P	TSB	total
	Bianka von Rosenhoff	Dobe	84 G	95 SG	—	I	—	Debbie Dilley
	TR 1		T				total
	Joeri Casa de Mandingo’s	Mali	96 V				96 V	Coral Westerhoff
	Can Tango v. Bullinger	GSD	92 SG				92 SG	Sue Geske
	OB 1			O			total
	Joeri Casa de Mandingo’s	Mali		67			67	Lily Westerhoff
	BH			O			total
	Broken Circle BucksKgdByTheC “Poe”	ACD		PASSED				Ingrid Rosenquist
	Axel vom Kajotenpfad	GSD		PASSED				Janice Bogy
	Ali von Herzensfruede	GSD		NOT PASSED				Sammie Jones
	FH		T				total
	Danno Ot Vitosha SchH3 IPO3	Mali	13				13 U	Anne Camper
	FH 2		T				total
	Aky vom Bergweiler SchH1 FH	GSD	5 U				5 U	Teressa M. Keenan

Summer Trial Results!

Date: August 17 & 18, 2002

Judge: USA Willie Pope

We had a great trial, with several new titles. Jessica got her first Schutzhund title ever with her great dog Couloir, taking home the High SchH 1 and High Protection awards! Rosellen with Nike and Teressa with Aky also received their SchH 1 titles. Debbie with Arek achieved their SchH 3 with flying colours, taking home the High in Trial, High SchH 3, High Tracking and High Obedience trophies. Rosellen with Raudi and Gene with Skipper again successfully repeated their SchH 3 titles.

Our youngest member, Lily, with her dog Joeri repeated their TR1 and added a new BH. Willie was very impressed with Lily’s professional handling and thought he might bring her out to his club to conduct a handler’s seminar!

Thanks Willie for coming over to Montana to judge — we knew you’d have a good time once you got here!

Bozeman, Montana			17 – 18 August, 2002			USA Willie Pope
	SchH 3		T	O	P	TSB	total
	Arek von der vier Eichen SchH3	GSD	97 V	90 SG	82 G	P	269 G	Debbie Dilley
	Raudi v. Revolutionsküppel SchH3	GSD	96 V	85 G	81 G	P	262 G	Rosellen Westerhoff
	Angus vom Hausreid SchH3	GSD	86 G	70 B	80 G	P	236 B	Eugenius Gelhard
	SchH 1		T	O	P	TSB	total
	Couloir vom das Wendl-Rudel	GSD	77 B	87 G	91 SG	P	255 G	Jessica Boerger
	Nike ot Vitosha	Mali	75 B	76 B	83 G	P	234 B	Rosellen Westerhoff
	Aky vom Bergweiler	GSD	85 G	72 B	75 B	P	232 B	Teressa M. Keenan
	Bianka von Rosenhoff	Dobe	52 M	88 G	68 M	vh	– M	Debbie Dilley
	Can Tango v. Bullinger	GSD	95 SG	48 M	7 U	ng	– M	Sue Geske
	FH		T
	Danno Ot Vitosha SchH 3 IPO 3	Mali	14	–	–	–	14 U	Anne Camper
	BH			O
	Joeri Casa de Mandingo’s	Mali		PASSED				Lily Westerhoff
	TR 1		T
	Joeri Casa de Mandingo’s	Mali	89 G				89 G	Lily Westerhoff

Photos from our first work session with Michael Ellis!

Michael is a great and innovative trainer. He has a very clear picture of the progression in training a young dog. His philosophy complements Ivan’s, but he also has a new perspective. He is a thinking dog trainer and a great communicator.

Second Working Weekend with Michael Ellis!

Date: 21 – 22 September, 2002

If you missed the first one, here’s your chance to work with Michael again.

Location: Bozeman at the regular training field (the Jones’). We’re hoping to make these work sessions with Michael a regular event. Please let us know if you’d like to attend. Training fees will be dependent on how many dogs are worked: we’re anticipating around $85 per dog for the weekend, but it may be somewhat more.

New Members!
Welcome to new members Eugenius and Rosemarie with Skipper from Utah! Thanks for your support at all our past trials and seminars; we look forward to seeing you at future events. As an associate member, you can now be assured of a spot in seminars, no matter how full they get!