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. 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.
She was also my first dog to compete in a personal protection trial, entering the 4-Thought Streetwise Protection Dog Trial hosted by Walter Ward. It was the only protection trial she ever entered, and she won it handily, which made me the first female handler to win this tournament. What an incredible day that was... and it made me realize I enjoyed protection trials MUCH more than obedience competitions!
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 decline 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 K-9 Club 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)
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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” Protection Dog Trial. Nicky was also ranked number 1 in the world throughout the entire 2005 K9 Pro Sports season.
GREER: CH 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: CH (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 had earned over 200 titles), 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: SD DASH UCD ROM NWGC EGC MGC SNGC AGC NGC NWCH ECH MCH SCH ACH NNCH EN EV EE EI EC MN MV ME MI MC SN SV SE SI SC AN AV AE AI AC NN NV NE NI NC URO3 URO2 URO1 UNJCH NJ CH SPOT-ON (2022-Present)
Ritter with some of his Nosework ribbons
Ritter is a grandson of my Kevlar and a great-grandson of my Nicky. He is a sweet, happy boy who is extremely social with both people and dogs.
Ritter excels in competition and has earned eight championships and six grand championships to date, along with numerous other titles in UKC All-Breed Sports, including conformation, dock jumping, obedience, rally obedience, precision coursing and nosework - his favorite sport.
A remarkably gifted “super-sniffer,” Ritter earned all 25 titles that comprise the Elite Nosework title before he was two years old. This achievement earned him induction into the 2024 UKC Nosework Hall of Fame. He also ranked No. 1 in the 2024 Herding Dog Group Nosework Hall of Fame, earning more titles (24) than any other herding breed dog competing in UKC nosework during the 2024 calendar year.
UKC recognized Ritter as both the youngest German Shepherd Dog ever to earn the Elite Nosework title and the Youngest Dog of Any Breed to earn the title in 2024.
By June 1, 2025, Ritter had earned five individual Nosework Element Champion titles, completing the requirements for the overall title of UKC Nosework Champion and qualifying for the 2025 UKC Nosework Hall of Fame. According to UKC, Ritter is the youngest German Shepherd Dog ever to earn the Nosework Champion title, achieving this distinction at just 2 years, 6 months and 9 days old. UKC also recognized him as the Youngest Dog of Any Breed to earn the Nosework Champion title in 2025.
Ritter completed his nosework career in October 2025 after earning five individual Nosework Element Grand Champion titles. This made him a UKC Nosework Grand Champion and a Lifetime Member of the UKC Nosework Hall of Fame - an extraordinary accomplishment for a dog who was still only two years old.
He also ranked No. 8 in the 2025 Herding Dog Group Nosework Hall of Fame, earning 12 titles during the 2025 calendar year. UKC confirms that Ritter is the youngest German Shepherd Dog ever to earn the Nosework Grand Champion title, a distinction he achieved at just 2 years, 10 months and 25 days old. He was also recognized as the Youngest Dog of Any Breed to earn the Nosework Grand Champion title in 2025.
Ritter has continued his competitive achievements in 2026, earning his Rally Obedience 3, Rally Master, Companion Dog and Precision Coursing DASH titles. Having now titled in six different UKC venues, he has also earned recognition as a UKC Super Dog for demonstrating excellence across a diverse range of canine sports.
Ritter excels in competition and has earned eight championships and six grand championships to date, along with numerous other titles in UKC All-Breed Sports, including conformation, dock jumping, obedience, rally obedience, precision coursing and nosework - his favorite sport.
A remarkably gifted “super-sniffer,” Ritter earned all 25 titles that comprise the Elite Nosework title before he was two years old. This achievement earned him induction into the 2024 UKC Nosework Hall of Fame. He also ranked No. 1 in the 2024 Herding Dog Group Nosework Hall of Fame, earning more titles (24) than any other herding breed dog competing in UKC nosework during the 2024 calendar year.
UKC recognized Ritter as both the youngest German Shepherd Dog ever to earn the Elite Nosework title and the Youngest Dog of Any Breed to earn the title in 2024.
By June 1, 2025, Ritter had earned five individual Nosework Element Champion titles, completing the requirements for the overall title of UKC Nosework Champion and qualifying for the 2025 UKC Nosework Hall of Fame. According to UKC, Ritter is the youngest German Shepherd Dog ever to earn the Nosework Champion title, achieving this distinction at just 2 years, 6 months and 9 days old. UKC also recognized him as the Youngest Dog of Any Breed to earn the Nosework Champion title in 2025.
Ritter completed his nosework career in October 2025 after earning five individual Nosework Element Grand Champion titles. This made him a UKC Nosework Grand Champion and a Lifetime Member of the UKC Nosework Hall of Fame - an extraordinary accomplishment for a dog who was still only two years old.
He also ranked No. 8 in the 2025 Herding Dog Group Nosework Hall of Fame, earning 12 titles during the 2025 calendar year. UKC confirms that Ritter is the youngest German Shepherd Dog ever to earn the Nosework Grand Champion title, a distinction he achieved at just 2 years, 10 months and 25 days old. He was also recognized as the Youngest Dog of Any Breed to earn the Nosework Grand Champion title in 2025.
Ritter has continued his competitive achievements in 2026, earning his Rally Obedience 3, Rally Master, Companion Dog and Precision Coursing DASH titles. Having now titled in six different UKC venues, he has also earned recognition as a UKC Super Dog for demonstrating excellence across a diverse range of canine sports.
ÉPÉE: CH FO AOB PA UNjch 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 SD 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)
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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. At the time, her progeny had earned 134 titles, with 128 being performance. She was ranked the #2 producing Dutch Shepherd dam of UKC titled offspring and also the mother of 10 Police Dogs.
Snap is also recognized as a SUPER DOG by the UKC for excelling in a diverse range of sports by titling in 6 different UKC venues.
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)
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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 also enjoys bite sport competitions, having won her division of the Dog Sports Open in 2021.
LaRue is also 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.
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)
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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 more than 200 titles.
Nasty Girl: GNJCH UNJCH ACH NNCH EN EV EE EI EC PTE MN MV ME MI MC PTM SN SV SE SI SC PTS AN AV AE AI AC PRA NN NV NE NI NC PTN URO1 RATN DASH RACEA RACEN CA USA UFA UNJ SPOT-ON UADNJ RATI RUNN (2016-Present)
Nasty is the embodiment of "good things come in small packages". Standing just 9 inches tall with 5 inch legs, she is “puddin-style” petite— but lives LARGE in competition.
A multiple High-in-Trial winner in Nosework competition, Nasty earned an impressive 32 individual nosework titles, including two Nosework Championships. She was inducted into the 2023 UKC Terrier Group Top Ten Nosework Hall of Fame, ranking ninth among all terrier competitors nationwide. Her accomplishments continued to grow when she earned her ELITE NOSEWORK title and was inducted into the 2025 UKC Nosework Hall of Fame — an especially remarkable achievement considering elite hides may be placed as high as five feet off the ground.
Nasty is also a UKC Grand Champion Dock Jumper and holds multiple other titles in Rally Obedience, Terrier Racing, Lure Coursing, Precision Coursing, Barn Hunt and Socialized Pet Obedience. At nine years young, my little “short stack” Nasty Girl has now retired from all dog sports, wrapping up her career with 47 titles across 8 competitive venues and proving you don’t have to be tall to tower over the competition.
Nasty is also a UKC Grand Champion Dock Jumper and holds multiple other titles in Rally Obedience, Terrier Racing, Lure Coursing, Precision Coursing, Barn Hunt and Socialized Pet Obedience. At nine years young, my little “short stack” Nasty Girl has now retired from all dog sports, wrapping up her career with 47 titles across 8 competitive venues and proving you don’t have to be tall to tower over the competition.