My Dogs
I have had dogs all my life, but I didn't begin my involvement in obedience competions and protection sports until 1982. Since then, my dogs have been awarded numerous High-in-Trial Awards for Obedience, Nosework and Protection scores, and I was also honored with a Dog World Award in 1984, presented for exceptional performance in AKC obedience trials.
Although I have competed with many dogs in a variety of breeds, I am still constanly learning, and of course, still enjoying the bond I develop with each new dog. The following is a list of my competition dogs to date.
German Shepherd Dogs
OLIVER: CD CDX UD TT TC TDI (1982-1996)
Oliver was my first competition dog, and what an amazing dog he was! He earned his Companion Dog title in 3 straight shows with scores averaging 197, which earned him a Dog World Award for exceptional performance in AKC obedience trials, and ranking among the TOP 50 Novice-A German Shepherd Dogs in 1984. We then went on to earn Companion Dog Excellent and Utility Dog titles.
Besides excelling at competitive obedience, Oliver was also my introduction to protection training. He was an outstanding personal protection dog.
Besides excelling at competitive obedience, Oliver was also my introduction to protection training. He was an outstanding personal protection dog.
FALA: CGC BH CD UCD CDX UCDX TT TC TDI (1988-2002)
Fala was an outstanding obedience competitor, but what she really excelled at was protection work. She was a very hard, serious dog and introduced me to the sports of Schutzhund and French Ring.
Personal protection competitions were just beginning to be held at the end of her career, and I can't help but wonder how she would have shined had she been born just a little bit later to participate fully in the then growing personal protection dog sports.
RUDY: CGC BH CD CDX UD TT TC TDI (1996-2001)
Rudy was an enormous giant of a dog, with heart and drive to match his size. Unfortunately, his health started to downturn after he earned his Utility Dog title at age three, and he was gone by the age of five after two surgeries and lengthy radiation therapy.
He too was an enthusiastic protection dog, winning the Windy City K9 Personal Protection Dog Trial in 1997.
MOLLY: CGC, cd, TT, TC, TDI (2000-2014)
Molly with her then pesky 9 month old brother Nicky.
Molly was not really a competition dog, although I did put basic obedience titles on her, along with temperament test affidavits and certifying her as a Therapy Dog. She was extremely well trained in both obedience and personal protection, and although she only competed in one protection dog trial, she was used to prove her abilities in a real life setting.
Dear sweet Molly was the most wonderful "shop dog" EVER who went to work daily at our Ruff N’ Stuff Pet Center for more than 13 years, guarding the cash register and serving as the official tester of all toys and treats sold in the store. Her temperament was extraordinary, and although she stayed behind the counter the majority of the time, she gladly came out to greet the customers who asked to visit with her. She loved everyone and was especially kind to children.
Yet, at a moment's notice, she was willing and quite able to "locate and hold," shall we say, anyone who might decide to break into the store (yes, we would send her in to do a building search whenever the alarm went off at night). Similarly, no one could go behind the counter without being physically blocked as she would move to stand at the opening. Yet, if someone wanted to help themselves to the cash register, they were in for a world of hurt because she "meant business" and would happily "deter" them!
NICKY: CGC BH PPD FO AOB PA OB1 P1 OBPD1 PD1 BTr TT TC TDI (2001-2011)
.jpeg)
Nicky was an extraordinary competition dog and did a fabulous job in all sports, yet was a very serious protection dog. He achieved an amazing placement record in competition (placing in 29 of 33 shows, winning 55% of those and taking 2nd place in 30%) while competing in 4 separate performance sports and numerous distinctly different protection venues.
The personal protection tournaments he won include the Dog Sports Open (multiple times), The K9 Summerslam, Mr. K9’s Ladies Only Invitational, Sun Dog Street Dog Trial (multiple times), Sun Dog Pro-Am Trial and the 4-Thought “Street Wise” Civil Protection Dog Trial. Nicky was also ranked number 1 in the world throughout the entire 2005 K9 Pro Sports season.
GREER: UCH URO1 UAGI CGC (2009-2013)
Greer was a very large, sweet friendly boy whose always wagging tail was categorized as a deadly weapon!
At just one year of age, he completed his breed championship, earned an Agility I title and a Rally Obedience 1 title.
My life threatening illness in early 2012 forced me to cut back on many responsibilities, and I sold Greer to a wonderful breeding kennel in Wisconsin to perform stud dog duties... a task I know he readily enjoyed!
KEVLAR: UCH (2010-2023)
I missed having a big, goofy male German Shepherd in the house, and brought Kevlar in to live with me in late 2012. Sired by my beloved male Nicky, Kevlar was a sweet and gentle soul. Kevlar was a UKC breed champion and during the period of 2012-2019 he sired 29 litters. At that time, he was ranked #2 Producing German Shepherd Dog Sire of UKC performance titled offspring (they have earned 168 titles to date), plus he also sired 9 Medical Alert/Assistance Service dogs, 5 Search & Rescue dogs, 2 Police Service Dogs, and a multitude of fine family companions and guardians.
RITTER: UCH MCH SCH ach NNCH UNJCH UNJ URO1 URO2 NC NI NE NV NN AC AI AE AV AN SC SI SE SV SN MC MI ME MV MN EI EE EC EV EN SPOT-ON (2022-Present)
.jpg)
Ritter is a grandson of my Kevlar and great-grandson of my Nicky. He is a sweet, happy boy, and is very social with people and dogs.
Ritter earned his UKC Breed Championship at 6 months of age with 5 competition wins, 3 Best-of-Breeds (over champions) and 3 group placements... even being awarded Group 1 in his last show! Ritter is a Champion dock jumper, and also titled in rally obedience and nosework, which he especially enjoys. He is a remarkably gifted “super-sniffer”, earning all 25 titles that together comprise the ELITE NOSEWORK title before he was 2 years old! Ritter was inducted into the 2024 UKC Nosework Hall of Fame, as well as the 2024 Top Ten GROUP Nosework Hall of Fame as he ranked FIRST in the HERDING GROUP for earning a total of 24 Nosework titles. The UKC also recognized him as the YOUNGEST dog of ANY BREED to earn the ELITE NOSEWORK title in 2024.
Ritter earned his UKC Breed Championship at 6 months of age with 5 competition wins, 3 Best-of-Breeds (over champions) and 3 group placements... even being awarded Group 1 in his last show! Ritter is a Champion dock jumper, and also titled in rally obedience and nosework, which he especially enjoys. He is a remarkably gifted “super-sniffer”, earning all 25 titles that together comprise the ELITE NOSEWORK title before he was 2 years old! Ritter was inducted into the 2024 UKC Nosework Hall of Fame, as well as the 2024 Top Ten GROUP Nosework Hall of Fame as he ranked FIRST in the HERDING GROUP for earning a total of 24 Nosework titles. The UKC also recognized him as the YOUNGEST dog of ANY BREED to earn the ELITE NOSEWORK title in 2024.
Dutch Shepherds
ÉPÉE: CH FO AOB PA jjch UNJ CGC TDI (2007-2021)
Épée was my first Dutch Shepherd and the first dog I showed to a Breed Championship. She also loved dock jumping and earned a Championship in that performance sport as well, making her the first Dual Champion Dutch Shepherd in UKC history.
Épée also competed in the UKC Dog Sport program (offering Obedience, Protection and Police Dog titles) and earned 3 titles. After retiring from competition, she performed therapy dog work on a weekly basis with her co-owner Deb Russell.
SNAP: ROM-XX GRCH CH UCD UAGI URO3 URO2 URO1 UJJ PTN NC NI NE VE NN PTA AC AI AE AV AN BH CSAU CGC (2008-2018)
.jpg)
Snap was the first Dutch Shepherd in the world to earn titles in the four different UKC venues of conformation, rally, agility and obedience. She then went on to earn multiple titles in nosework and dock jumping... while also enjoying bitework!
She was ranked in the UKC Top Ten Breed and Dog Standings for 4 straight years, earning her Grand Championship title in 2012 and finishing the year ranked the #2 Dutch Shepherd in the country.
Snap is a Dutch Shepherd Dog Club of America Register of Merit producer, which acknowledges the contribution of outstanding Sires and Dams in proven ability to produce working aptness and versatility in UKC registered offspring. Snap is ranked a Titanium ROM-XX dam, which requires 75 titles earned by offspring, 80% of which must be performance titles. Her progeny have earned 134 titles, with 128 being performance. She is the #2 producing Dutch Shepherd dam of UKC titled offspring and also the mother of 10 Police Dogs.
LaRue: CH URO3 URO2 URO1 UNJ PTN NC NI NE NV NN PTA AC AI AE AV AN PTS SC SV SE SI SN PTM ME MV MC MI MN PTE EC EV EI EE EN UADSEJ (2015-present)
.jpg)
LaRue is a lovely little French import out of two Intervention/Detection K9s. She is certified as a Narcotics Detection Dog (Marijuana, Cocaine, Heroin, Meth and Ecstasy), although she only performed that job function for one year.
LaRue finished her breed championship with a bang being awarded Reserve BEST-IN-SHOW over multiple Champions and Grand Champions. She holds a Rally Obedience 3 title, 2 dock jumping titles and enjoys bite sport competitions.
LaRue is a multiple HIGH-in-TRIAL winning UKC nosework competitor who earned the ELITE NOSEWORK title (a combination of 30 individual nosework titles) and was inducted into the UKC Nosework Hall of Fame in 2022.
Parson Jack Russell Terriers
Kia: UFCH USCH UFR USR FO AOB PA OBPD1 CGC TDI (2002-2016)
Kia was a little dog with a very BIG heart, and was co-owned by Debra Russell and myself.
She completed Dual Racing Championships in June 2008. Kia was the first Parson Russell Terrier to earn this distinction and the ninth dog of any breed in the country.
Kia was undefeated during the four years (2005-2008) she earned her Flat and Steeplechase Racing and Championship Titles! She then continued to race in the Champion class and was ranked in the UKC Terrier Race ALL STARS in 2009, 2010 and 2011 before retiring in 2012.
Kia also received special recognition in 2006 for being the first Parson Jack Russell Terrier to earn Protection Dog titles in the UKC Dog Sports program (which offered Obedience, Protection and Police Dog titles) and she earned 4 titles. She was even awarded High Protection Dog 1 and High Police Dog 1 at one trial! (Okay, so she was the only dog entered in those events that day, but she was VERY capable of competing at that level, and has 2 trophies to prove it!) Not bad for a 20 pound dog!
Kia also received special recognition in 2006 for being the first Parson Jack Russell Terrier to earn Protection Dog titles in the UKC Dog Sports program (which offered Obedience, Protection and Police Dog titles) and she earned 4 titles. She was even awarded High Protection Dog 1 and High Police Dog 1 at one trial! (Okay, so she was the only dog entered in those events that day, but she was VERY capable of competing at that level, and has 2 trophies to prove it!) Not bad for a 20 pound dog!
Spalding: GNJCH UNJCH URO1 UAGI USA UFA CAX CA UNJ PTN RATI CGC (2008-2022)
.jpg)
Spalding was a pretty remarkable boy. He titled in the 8 different venues of rally obedience, agility, lure coursing, terrier racing, barn hunt, nosework, pet obedience and was a Grand Champion dock jumper, earning the 2014 Ultimate Air Dogs National FEATHERWEIGHT Championship. Besides being a versatile competitor, Spalding was also an outstanding producer. He is ranked as the #1 Producing Parson Jack Russell Terrier Sire of UKC performance titled offspring (with his progeny having earned 160 titles to date).
Nasty Girl: GNJCH UNJCH ACH NNCH PTN NC NI NE NV NN PTA AC AI AE AV AN PTS SC SI SE SV SN PTM MI MC ME MV MN PTE EV Ec EE EI EN URO1 RATN DASH RACEA RACEN CA USA UFA UNJ SPOT-ON UADNJ RATI RUNN (2016-Present)
Nasty is a chip off the old block, being my Spalding's daughter.
She is a multiple High-in-Trial competitor in UKC nosework with 32 individual titles earned to date including two Nosework Championships. She was inducted into the UKC Terrier Group TOP TEN Nosework Hall of Fame in 2023 (having won the ninth most titles of all the terrier breeds competing in nosework) and was inducted into the UKC Nosework Hall of Fame in 2025 after earning her Elite Nosework title.
She is also a Grand Champion dock jumper, and holds other titles in the sports of rally obedience, terrier racing, lure coursing, precision coursing, barn hunt and socialized pet obedience.
Above and beyond all of that, she has a sweet, social temperament and is absolutely adorable!