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. 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 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” Civil 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 have earned 176 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: 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 UNJCH UNJ URO3 URO2 URO1 CH SPOT-ON (2022-Present)
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 people and dogs.
He excels in competition and currently holds eight Championships and six Grand Championships, along with numerous other titles in the UKC all-breed sport events of conformation (breed), dock jumping, obedience, 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 for earning his Elite Nosework title, as well as the 2024 Herding Dog Group Nosework Hall of Fame, ranking FIRST by earning the highest number of titles (24) among all the herding breed dogs competing in UKC nosework during the 2024 calendar year. The UKC also recognized him as the youngest German Shepherd Dog to ever earn the Elite Nosework title AND the Youngest Dog of Any Breed to earn the Elite Nosework title in 2024. In 2025, Ritter earned 5 individual Nosework Element Champion titles by June 1, 2025, which awarded him the overall title of UKC Nosework Champion and qualified him for inclusion in the 2025 UKC Nosework Hall of Fame. According to the UKC, Ritter is the youngest German Shepherd Dog to ever earn the title of NOSEWORK CHAMPION—achieving this distinction at just 2 years, 6 months, and 9 days old. The 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 5 individual Nosework Element Grand Champion titles, making him a Nosework Grand Champion and a Lifetime Member of the UKC Nosework Hall of Fame - an extraordinary accomplishment for a 2 year old dog. He placed in the 2025 Herding Dog Group Nosework Hall of Fame by earning the 8th highest number of titles (12) among all the herding breed dogs competing in UKC nosework during the 2025 calendar year.
He excels in competition and currently holds eight Championships and six Grand Championships, along with numerous other titles in the UKC all-breed sport events of conformation (breed), dock jumping, obedience, 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 for earning his Elite Nosework title, as well as the 2024 Herding Dog Group Nosework Hall of Fame, ranking FIRST by earning the highest number of titles (24) among all the herding breed dogs competing in UKC nosework during the 2024 calendar year. The UKC also recognized him as the youngest German Shepherd Dog to ever earn the Elite Nosework title AND the Youngest Dog of Any Breed to earn the Elite Nosework title in 2024. In 2025, Ritter earned 5 individual Nosework Element Champion titles by June 1, 2025, which awarded him the overall title of UKC Nosework Champion and qualified him for inclusion in the 2025 UKC Nosework Hall of Fame. According to the UKC, Ritter is the youngest German Shepherd Dog to ever earn the title of NOSEWORK CHAMPION—achieving this distinction at just 2 years, 6 months, and 9 days old. The 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 5 individual Nosework Element Grand Champion titles, making him a Nosework Grand Champion and a Lifetime Member of the UKC Nosework Hall of Fame - an extraordinary accomplishment for a 2 year old dog. He placed in the 2025 Herding Dog Group Nosework Hall of Fame by earning the 8th highest number of titles (12) among all the herding breed dogs competing in UKC nosework during the 2025 calendar year.
The UKC confirms Ritter is the youngest German Shepherd Dog to ever earn the title of NOSEWORK GRAND CHAMPION, a distinction he earned at just 2 years, 10 months, and 25 days old. The UKC also recognized him as the Youngest Dog of Any Breed to earn the NOSEWORK GRAND CHAMPION title in 2025.
To put this achievement into perspective: the initial Nosework titles require 2 qualifying scores in each of the 5 elements (a total of 40 scores). The Champion level demands 3 qualifying scores per element (60 scores total), while the Grand Champion level raises the bar to 5 qualifying scores in each element—an impressive 100 passing scores overall. Ritter achieved all 200 passing scores needed for his combined titles in just 18 months of competition, from April 2024 through October 2025—a truly remarkable feat.
While Ritter has officially closed his nosework chapter, he is far from finished. He will continue competing in obedience, rally, and protection sports — though given his considerable size and his firm belief that every judge requires a personal greeting with several kisses, his “formal competitions” sometimes turn into a social event.
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)
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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. 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)
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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 enjoys bite sport competitions.
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.
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)
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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 162 titles to date).
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.
She is a multiple High-in-Trial UKC Nosework award winner with 32 individual titles, including two Nosework Championships. Nasty was inducted into the 2023 UKC Terrier Group Top Ten Nosework Hall of Fame, ranking ninth among ALL terrier breed competitors nationwide. Her continued success saw her inducted into the 2025 UKC Nosework Hall of Fame after earning her ELITE NOSEWORK title, a significantly notable achievement given the demands of elite level searches which can be placed 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 will now retire 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.