NASS Impressions from Madison - Page 9

My impression of the bitework. I'll comment on dogs that were notable (either good or bad) in catalog order. #325 Romeo v Mittelwest- ran off field #328 Emor v Schimmelberg- good overall performance #329 Ham vd Urbecke- grip could be slightly more full #330 Tim v Bauhofer-Land- Strong bitework. Shows exc drive, a little hectic, no pause before bite on courage, full grip. #331 Uno v Haus Babilon- nice grip, showed confusion on courage (targeting) #332 Pablo v Mittelwest- readjusts grip #333 Karo vd Herdersfarm- Very good hard full grip, exc. performance. #334 Razor v Mittelwest- shallow grip, shows pressure from handler. #335 Yellow v Kalten Eck- poor heeling, ok grip on attack, better courage #339 Isko zd Drei Wieken- not full grip, courage is better than the attack. #340 Brando v Odh- bitework was poor #341 Niccor v Bad-Boll- bitework was fair #343 Gerry v Lebenhunger- bitework was poor #346 Wick v Bucchorn- Good bitework, nice grip, lots of speed on the courage. #347 Rauber vd Arzenbeurg- Nice grip on courage test, good nerves, good handling. #348 Drago v Huerta Hof- Shifts grip, couldn't see the courage but barking was strong. #350 Apoll v Senator- Very hectic grip. Missed bite on courage. Almost no out. #351 Poor bitework. Lots of handler pressure. Courage was better once away from handler #352 Fabian v Mittelwest- Shallow grip, almost No out #353 Urban v Gleisenauer Schloss- Nice grip, hard. Good courage test #354 Tom v Bauhofer-Land- Grip slipped in the attack, lost grip entirely on courage. Did not show strong fight drive #355 Kimbo vd Lohner Heide- almost no out #356 Wupp vd Urbecke- poor heeling, grip slightly shallow #357 Zano v Tal der Schatten- something happened during the courage test to cause dog pain- lost grip, didn't see mistake by helper? #359 Bandit v Stieglerhof- shallow grip #360 Atlas v Thurmont- chewy #363 Dallas v Steffen Haus- held grip well until expecting the out. Full grip on courage #364 Kevin v Murrtal- Good bitework. Good heeling. Full calm grip, got just slightly hectic when expecting the out #365 Olex v Wilhendorf- took a couple of dirty shots at the helper, good continuous barking #366 Alihazi Gino- Good full calm grip, nice speed #369 Wilson vd Grafschaft Mark- shallow bite #370 Pedro vd Jahnohe- nice commitment to grip, full bite #371 Zim v Bullinger- Shallow grip on attack, regripped, lost grip on courage. #372 Odin vd Zwei Steinen- loose grip on attack, lost grip on courage, barking was faded #373 Gliko v Hotkamper See- Shifted grip, came off sleeve in courage. #374 Fedor v Steinway Park- nice grip on courage, good speed #375 Quenn v Monchberg- poor out, handler pressure #376 Ernie v Hofjagerhaus- good grip, hectic near the out, silent guard #377 Coalition v Zeder Tal- hectic, shows pressure by handler

The males I saw fail the long bite were already showing issues in the attack, slight but tell tale issues. Some things to watch for are refusals to out -if they are slow to out when handler is in close proximity they may not out when the handler is away. Also shifting the grip during the attack- this becomes a problem on the courage due to the speed and motion of the bite. If a dog is opening his jaws and shifting his grip on the long bite, chances are higher he is going to lose the bite.

Thank you VanGuard for you impressions, although without knowing your credentials I guess I will rely on the video of the bite work to see for myself. I do hope that you all order the video and draw you own opinion. Take note of the "hits" (or no hits)with the stick and of the shifts in grip. I think you don't need anyone to translate the results if you see the video. Some of the top dogs in this competition were "blessed" if my sources are accurate.

Vanguard, can you post an impression on the females side so I can compare notes. Still learning here. I trust you title dogs based on adjectives you are using. The helpers were fabulous, but I sense a somewhat modified routine compared to what they do for the Nationals or for "working dogs" - correct me if I am wrong. The females by Haus Beal - Steve Beal's breeding - working lines, were the best I saw in that show. Mittelwest, females rock! From a fan I am now a follower. Thanks, Roger.

Steve Beals has some nice working females. His sable gal was actually pregnant and still put on a good show. He also did nice helper work for the males just prior to showing his girls. As for the show females, my #1 pick was Katina vom Bad Waldle. The judge was impressed by her, called her an alligator just prior to telling her handler to release for the courage. The helpers were all highly impressed w/ her as well. She got the crowd cheering. Some of the females (I didn't catch all): #282 Gretta v Wilhendorf- very poor heeling but very nice bitework (grips and drive). Showed good commitment to grips and nice speed in courage. #283 Romy v Mittelwest- good grips, calm but became hectic near the out., nice speed. #285 Olly v Mittelwest- poor heeling, hectic grip #288 Rona v Klostermoor missed the bite on the courage #289 Bella v Mittelwest- gripped, but began shifting bite into a shallow grip. #290 Heilei v Christinen Brunnen- bite could show more commitment #292 Attika v Oschentor- Full grip but came off sleeve after stick hit #293 Vita v Mittelwest- missed bite on courage #294 Nitza v Wilhendorf- good overall, nice energy level #295 Ginger v Wilhendorf- nice overall #296 Yani v Christinen Brunnen- hectic shallow grip #298 Tiana v Frutteto- shallow grip, lack of commitment to bite #299 Addi v Haus Beal- Full grips, nice speed, fully committed #300 Meggi v Farbenspiel- dirty, took a shot at the helper, nice courage, nice grip #301 Tweeny v Bodelshwinger Schloss- Good bitework, good grip, good commitment #302 Ubi v Mittelwest- hectic, ran off field #303 Daulokke's Merrie-Lou- some hectic behaviors, could be training related # 304 Betty v Thurmont- took a dirty shot at the judge, when barking did not look to the helper (who she should be guarding) #305 Daggi v Stieglerhof- very poor handling, too much build up for dog. not a good presentation #307 Katina v Bad Waldle- good fight drive, very nice hard grips, fast, clean out... see above comments Didn't catch the rest...

VanGuard, Thanks for the info!

I enjoyed the NASS show very much this year! A special thank's to everyone that worked so hard to make the 2004 NASS happen. You did a fantastic job and we noticed. My male Atlas von Thurmont made the V1 and and Betty von Thurmont at just 25 months old made the V5. Atlas is from my first litter and Betty from my second litter. It was extra special this year to be a part of this sport and see my puppies in the ring with the best of them. Betty made the schH2, two week-ends before the show and the KKl1 the week-end before the show and the 2004 NASS was her first working class show. Congratulations to all of you our American breeding programs are producing well and the judges noticed.

Hal, your two did very well, and was very awesome meeting you! thank you for my pic of Dr Luis and Creta and myself!! I will treasure that always :) Van to add to your bitework notes... i have the following, too for now 277 Jesta v Schlicher Hof very good full bite, 2 stick hits under control then good bite, out good was a good performance 278 Leslie v Bad Waldle good hard bite good guarding then 3/4 bite held on tight out good good guard 282 Gretta v Wilhendorf add good guard good bite good out. For the males, for Kevin we have Full powerful grip good out good guard. 370 good bite, 2 hits, out good, weak guard then 3/4 full bite outded weak guard 374 Fedor, good bite on sleeve good, powerful, good guard, then full bite, out good good guard 376 Ernie, powerful full bite, outed, good guard, then yes silent guard was very good working. 377 Coalition definately was not his handler seen him do much better with regular handler Ernie did very well... i didnt catch all the males

Hello All, I just heard here at the the show that Yasko will be in Dallas Texas 10-3-04. He will be available for breeding soon thereafter. DJ

Any idea of how much the stud fees Thurber