MY DOGS
AXEL
SG Ferox v Tehillah IPO3 CGC HCT-s
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Handler Owner Trained (HOT)
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4x IPO3
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3x Regional Competitor
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2x National Competitor
Axel is the dog who started it all. When I first picked him up at 8 weeks of age from his breeder Shelley Fritzke in British Columbia, Canada, I had no idea what adventures our future would hold. He was to be a companion dog with whom I could potentially do work like Schutzhund or competitive obedience. I did my best to start him off right with what little I knew, until we could finally get out to the local Schutzhund club. Axel was 15 months old when I first had him evaluated, and once he figured out that he got to bark at the helper and bite a big jute sleeve, we were hooked!
Under the tutelage of the more experienced members of Placer County Schutzhund Club, such as Jim Lempner, Yvonne Emanuelsson, John Riboni, and Wendy Schmitt, I learned how to train my dog in Schutzhund, and how to correct a few of the mistakes I had made in his foundation, particularly tracking. We earned our BH when Axel was three, in August 2010. We then achieved our IPO1 at the 2011 Northwestern Regional Championship, taking home the 'IPO1 NW Regional Champion' trophy.
We failed our first attempt at our IPO2, but trialed again in February 2013 and succeeded in earning our IPO2. In May 2013 we earned our first IPO3 title with a qualifying score for the USCA GSD IPO3 National Championship. After competing in the 2013 NW Regional Championship, where we failed tracking but earned very respectable obedience and protection scores under one of the toughest judges in North America, GSSCC Judge Doug Deacon, we entered our first National Championship. We successfully earned our second IPO3 title at the National level in 2013. Axel and I would later qualify for and compete in our second National Championship in 2014. It was after this event that I decided to retire Axel and let him just enjoy life as my friend and family companion.
I owe so much to Axel. This magnificent dog got me started in the sport, and took me farther than I ever imagined. At 12 years old now, he still is just as handsome and has as much presence as he did during his competition days. Below are a couple videos of Axel in his prime, at our first National Championship event (complete with some handling bloopers!).
HADYN
Hadyn zu Treuen Handen BH
Hadyn is my up-and-coming young dog. He comes from Lisa Clark of Zu Treuen Handen German Shepherds in Indiana.
Hadyn joined my household in April 2016, at the age of 5 months. Hadyn and I earned our BH in March 2019, and are currently working toward our IGP1. Hadyn has also served as my demo dog during demonstrations on classical and operant conditioning for the AP Psychology classes at a local high school.
This rambunctious rascal has captured my heart and become a well-loved member of my pack (okay, not so well-loved by the cat, Kona). He is very strong in protection and in tracking, and his obedience work is animated and entertaining. He's happy to be wherever I am, and he enjoys camping, hiking, swimming, chasing squirrels, and annoying me at every possibility :).
I included two videos below of early training with Hadyn.
