Twin County Schutzhund Club

Tacoma, Washington

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PAST EVENTS

WHY WE LOVE HERDING INSTINCT TESTS!!

Once again on May 22, 2010, Twin County Schutzhund Club (TSCS) had the great fun and pleasure to host a herding instinct test with old and new friends. Our judges were Joe Kapelos, Linda Leeman, Becky Giddings, and Ron Fischer who provided the same insightful testing and help to each and every handler. Our members orchestrated a great food concession with best-in-lunch award going to the Ron Burger. Everybody was busy setting up, cooking throughout the day and cleaned up afterwards. They ran the show and were entered as well. What a great group of people. All this made the entire day such a pleasure.

We started the morning with food concession in full swing, entry forms laid out and ring stewards in place. Names on the board and the introductory talk by Joe and Linda launched our herding day. First dog acted as a demonstration while being tested. Excellent. Next, a couple of puppies under six months doing a Puppy Run, not for certification but lots of fun. For those who have come to our tests before you may remember the good time you had with your dog there and how excited we were for you. We always enjoy each dog’s run and the special moment each has with the sheep. Memorable.

Each person entered had the adventure of seeing their dog or puppy move with the sheep and show strong herding instinct. We had an entry of some excellent dogs and puppies and each provided a good show and lots of applause. The day brought five month old puppies up to an eleven year old Collie each with their own style and energy. The Collie had his first experience and did a great job. Though we did have a couple ofAustralianShepherds,a Collie and even a Pomeranian, most of our entries were German Shepherds. All dogs were beautiful in the work and took home a TCSC certificate while they wait for their AHBA certificate.

As a schutzhund club, TCSC finds it not only fun but it also brings our schutzhund dogs out where the public can see them perform and work with sheep and dispel any of the pre-conceived ideas about what a schutzhund would do around livestock. The sheep were carrying only moderate wool at that time of year, more or less unprotected should a dog bite them. In the crowd and in the corral, the dogs all proved to be social, responsible, and happy in their work.

Twin County Schutzhund Club is looking forward to our next herding instinct test and we want to invite you all to come have a great time with us.

WHEN GOOD DOGS GO GOOD

What does it take to be a good dog citizen? Well apparently one of the ways is to pass a Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test. On July 24, 2010, sixteen TCSC members hosted and successfully participated in the CGC test and received their certificates saying the dogs had achieved an evaluation of acceptable behavior that all of our dogs should have under normal circumstances in public and with our families. We had the pleasure of two testers available and the excellent venue at Kerry Southern’s training facility near Puyallup.

Simple exercises including being greeted by a stranger, brushed lightly, heeling on leash, a short stay and recall. There is heeling through a group of about 6 or 7 milling people including a person with a walker and another in a wheelchair to demonstrate stability in a group and unusual obstacles. One challenge is for two handlers and dogs to walk towards each other, stop, shake hands without the dogs being unduly interested in the other dog. Then the dog is left with a stranger for three minutes and must be calm, not panicked until the return. No corrections or training collars are allowed.

In today’s society where our dogs are increasingly looked upon as a potential risk, this AKC recognized test for all breeds and mixed breeds presents a way for dog owners to demonstrate a certified behavior. The significant point here is that the national Real Estate community, national Insurance organizations, and the national Veterinary association all recognize this test whereas they do not know what the BH is as a temperament test. Having the CGC can literally make the difference of getting home insurance, purchasing or renting a home, and maybe even getting veterinarian care.

Twin County Schutzhund Club recognizes this as important in presenting our schutzhund dogs as good citizens and not a public hazard. Today a few more schutzhund dogs became ambassadors for good behavior.