Stuck on You: My Schutzhund Life

I haven't updated since May after AWDF, oops!

A lot has happened since then, I feel it's worth updating because my dog is now IPO3 x2.

So, one of the biggest changes I've gone through is that I quit my IPO club. It wasn't an easy decision, I agonized over it for quite some time. It's always scary to step out of your comfort zone and I was worried about succeeding on my own. I decided to quit my club because I wasn't happy with the direction the club was going and I also wanted to work with other helpers and trainers outside of the club. At this point in my IPO journey I want to be selfish and do whatever I want to do without my choices having an effect on anyone. I don't think that mentality is very team player or well representing of a club. So, I quit.

Before AWDF when my TD & helper were out of town I worked with Kevin Coombs of Schutzhund Washington for trial prep. I also asked Kevin to take a peek at Atlas. At the time I was considering washing him from IPO. Kevin was up front with me that he had never titled a bull breed before but he was willing to take a look at him. Typically Atlas would go into avoidance, sniff the ground and ignore the helper. His first session with Kevin he was barking and chasing and tugging on a bite roll. I started working Atlas on Kevin and every week was more and more successful. Kevin has been working Atlas for 4mos, he has most of a hold & bark, he can do an escape, and we are starting to heel for bites.

Since we've switched training programs Stuck's confidence has grown. She's not concerned about me anymore, her grips are calmer, there's less growling. Kevin has been doing different things with Stuck to help give her more exposure and build her confidence by helping her overcome weird scenarios. It's really cool to watch her evolve into a more confident dog.

Which brings me to my main point for updating -

Stuck earned her first and MY first IPO3 on September 22nd at the USA Boxer National Championship with scores of 81-86-92. Tracking was a MESS but she never gave up. Obedience went okay, we had issues in practice two days prior with the jump and a-frame, so she did the retrieve over the jump but when she did the wall she came back over the jump. Protection was good, she put on a really good show but she was super naughty - forgey in the transports and she blew her blinds.

Since we titled at the boxer championship I decided to enter the PNW Regional Championship which was the following weekend. I knew Stuck was thinking about going into heat, wouldn't you know, she went in the day before practice! Stuck being in heat was a blessing and a curse. The positives were that we got to practice right before we went on the field, and I also think it's cool that she got to complete two phases in a row, like it says a lot about her as a dog if she is successful. The negative was that the sun came out and she was completely gassed after practice and then had to go out and complete two phases back to back! Stuck earned her 2nd IPO3 at Regionals under the director of judges Nathaniel Roque with scores of 84-83-90. We finished 4th out of 10 IPO3 dogs and we were only a few points short of the podium.

It's really wild to me that we are here. When I first started in IPO, roughly 6 years ago, all I wanted was an IPO1 and it seemed SO OUT OF REACH. And here I am and not only have we competed, we've competed at really difficult trials. I am not bragging because we are not podium all-stars, but even I am amazed that I was able to overcome my nerves and enter some championships. People get weird about "just trialing at club level" but honestly, that's all I've ever wanted to do.

I'm not really sure where we are going to go from here. I have said multiple times I don't want to put an IPO3 on my dog twenty times, but I am not sure that I am ready to completely pull her from IPO. I am thinking of trialing her in December, try to clean up some of our OB and make sure her blinds are solid. Of course with every IPO3 that means we have to track too which I am not excited about. There is someone in WA trying to make PSA a thing up here and I definitely want to get a PDC, MAYBE PSA1. They are having a trial next year which would be an easy drive, I think Stuck could get a sleeve PDC now, but I would like to train for the suit.

I'm also hoping to breed her before she's too old to get my next sport dog. I would love another dog like Stuck with a little more drive and a little less handler sensitivity. She's the perfect dog for me otherwise and the perfect partner. She's been everything I could have asked for in a sport dog and in a pet. We've had some struggles but I have learned a TON from her. I am really excited that we made it here and cannot wait for future adventures.

Here is a video of her protection routine at regionals: