Agility

Agility is a newer sport to the dog fancy. Introduced at AKC events in the 1990's it has a strong history here in the state of Texas and Kord and I recently joined the ranks of agility enthusiasts.

As we have learned, agility capitalizes on the athletic ability and partnership skills of a team composed of one dog and one handler. Teams progress through an obstacle course composed of a combination of A-frames, dog walks, teeter-totters, crossovers, tunnels, shoots, weave poles and jumps, interspersed with tables or other marks for static exercises like sitting, lying or standing. The obstacles themselves are difficult enough but to increase the difficulty level they also throw in the element of time management with each team racing against a clock and the other competitors in their class. The dog with the highest score in the shortest amount of time is High In Trial. Though other dogs can also earn qualifying scores toward various agility titles by completing the course with few errors and good time.

Standard schnauzer owners are generally encouraged to wait until their dogs are at least two years of age before beginning agility training and as with anyone contemplating a truly athletic endeavor, should be examined by a veterinarian (or medical doctor ;-)) prior to initiation of a training regimen.

As our boy is a little under the recommended starting age, we will likely take it slow and work on agility as we have time between obedience courses for now. But stay tuned for photo's and videos of this and other dog sports in the coming year.

Obedience

Obedience training is ESSENTIAL for standard schnauzers. Many will say that its strongly encouraged but in our house we believe that it is a requirement for happy co-habitation.

Standard schnauzer are very intelligent, high energy dogs who will make their own fun if you don't find a job for them to do.

We started Kord in a basic obedience class three days after he arrived in our home. He was 14 weeks old at the time. Although I grew up with lots of dogs, my husband's family re-homed their small dog shortly after he was born and didn't get another until he was in college. So we decided to take the basic obedience class together and get our small family off to a good start. We LOVED it. It was something that we did together and because we both went to class, we both learned the skills at the same time, in the same way, and were able to be consistent in teaching and reinforcing our dog. Kord graduated from that first class in about 6 weeks.  Then he was off to a Cainine Good Citizenship class for another 6 weeks and earned his CGC certificate at about 7 months old.

Even though my husband no longer attends class with us, obedience is still very much an activity that we enjoy as a family. Kord and I have continued on in a series of courses designed to prepare us for obedience competition and my husband and son help with weekly homework and proofing practice (our two year old really excels at distraction :-)).

Kord and I wont enter our first obedience competition until sometime next year but this has been a great way for our whole family to enjoy spending time together.

If you haven't thought of it before please consider enrolling in a class of some sort with your family dog. There are all sorts of programs, for all different levels of experience and you are sure to find something that you and your family will all enjoy... With the added benefit that training will help to make your family pet happier, healthier and even more pleasant to live with.

Herding Instinct Test

Although this is old news to some we decided to add it to our new blog anyway.

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It was incredibly hot this Labor Day weekend and the weather report warned that storms were brewing but we packed up our little band and trekked out to the "wilds" of Hempstead, Texas for the Houston Herding Association's annual Labor Day Fun Day/Work Day. Joy Sebastian-Hall (Roux Crew) was nice enough to invite us and we looked forward to this event for weeks before the big day arrived.

Despite the weather and the distraction of an overtired toddler, Kord didn't disappoint us. He passed his herding instinct test, chasing sheep till his little heart was content and looked like he was having a blast doing it.

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I am attaching a link to the video we shot below.  Please excuse the quality... it was the first time that we used the camera.

Health Checks

Health checks are an interesting topic... but not one that is covered in any of the books or other websites that I have personally read.

Members of the SSCA and other reputable breeders will often elect to have the health of their breeding stock checked by a veterinarian with expertise in a particular area. Health certifications can cover most any organ system.  However, standard schnauzers are most often tested for hip/joint health and vision.  The two primary certification bodies for these are the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (among other things they maintain a registries for hip and elbow dysplasia, patellar luxation, cardiac diseases, thyroid disorders, and congenital deafness) and the Canine Eye Registration Foundation which maintains a registry of potentially inheritable eye diseases. Links to their websites can be found in our Favorite Links Section on the right hand side of this page.

The timing of these tests is very important.  Preliminary examinations of hips may be conducted anytime after the age of one but a formally recorded exam may not be conducted until the dog is at least 2 years of age. Eye certifications may be completed any time after one year of age. All tests should be repeated annually if the animal is to be used as part of a breeding program.

These tests require special training and not all veterinarians will be able to conduct all tests. If your personal veterinarian is unable to conduct the test, there may be special certification clinics held through local kennel and breed clubs in your area. These events are often held in conjunction with major shows (we had some of Kord's testing done through a clinic offered by the Houston Boston Terrier club in conjunction with the Reliant World Series of Dog Shows event this summer).

Its important to know that even if you have the testing done through one of the special clinics, you are still personally responsible for mailing the exam form to the appropriate registry.  The form will have to be submitted with the appropriate registration fee. (It took me a couple of months to realize that Kord's name hadn't yet appeared in the registry because I hadn't mailed the form :-) But I will know for next time.)

Whether you plan to show/breed your dog or not, I believe it is a good idea to have the animal tested and registered.  The registries are an important tool for ensuring the health and longevity of our breeds but they don't work if we don't participate.

What is a Standard Schnauzer?

There are many different ways to answer this question but I will start with the basics.

The standard schnauzer is the middle and oldest of the three breeds of schnauzer. All three originate from the areas in and around modern day Germany. While the exact origin of the breed is unknown, it appears most likely that the dogs were first developed in the 1400's, used for a variety of farming related tasks including herding and guarding live stock, hunting rodents, pulling small carts and serving as guard dogs to the farmers who owned them. Because of the diverse purposes that these dogs served, they had to be small and wiry, powerful enough to protect, but gentle enough to live peacefully with live stock and families.

Although our dogs may live and work in very different environments than the ones for which they were originally bred, they still serve many of the same purposes... guardian, partner, and friend.  These dogs excel at obedience, agility, herding, tracking, therapy work and numerous other activities. They are true "working dogs" in every sense.

That's why the standard schnauzer as we know it today is a powerful, high energy, medium sized dog with a strong sense of independence and remarkable intelligence.

They are as different in temperament from their miniature and giant cousins as they are alike in looks.  This is very different than other breeds where dogs sharing the same name are merely different sizes of the same breed and it can be quite confusing at first. Although all three Schnauzer breeds share the same name and certain physical qualities, they are actually three distinct breeds with very different genetic heritages. Each breed was intended to serve a different purpose and that breed heritage while difficult to describe in words is nonetheless very distinct on closer association.

Some of our friends have described miniature schnauzers as the "gateway" dog. Many standard schnauzer owners, including our family, have also owned minis. They are phenomenal little dogs with many wonderful qualities to recommend them. However, if that is the reason you are considering a standard, please reconsider. Standards are more similar in temperament to other working group dogs (German Shepard's, Rottweilers, Boxers, etc) than to miniature schnauzers.

Because they are very independent and intelligent, standard schnauzers require a strong and assertive owner who is willing to spend time exercising, training and playing with their dog. If I make it sound like its a lot of work to own one of these guys, its because it is... but the rewards are totally worth the investment if this is the right kind of dog for you and your family.

Our own boy filled a void in our lives we hadn't even realized was there and now we can't imagine life without him.

For additional information about the development of standard schnauzers as a breed or about the modern accomplishments of these great dogs, please try the link for the Standard Schnauzer Club of America which can be found in the Favorite Links section on the right side of this page.

Our First Champion!

It was a lovely weekend at the Greater Humble Area Dog Show in Humble, Texas last weekend. Several of our Standard Schnauzer friends were in town for the event. The set up was organized and laid back, running like clock work, as we all learned our jobs and helped each other get the dogs ready. 

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Things were equally mellow on Sunday. Spirits were high as the gang sported little plastic cupcake rings, which were a momento of the occasion, and posed for the camera. Even the dogs were hamming it up for the camera.

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And we are "pleased as punch" to report that Kord showed well. He went first in his class and reserve winners dog on Saturday. Then he finished the weekend with Best of Winners and a 5pt Major which was enough to carry him to his championship on Sunday.

 Ch. Stahlkrieger's Southern Light, CGC - Greater Humble Dog Show: Oct. 10, 2010

A little shout out to our friend and handler, Maxine Petteway (Von Schaden Standard Schnauzers) and to our breeder, Cheryl Crompton (Stahlkrieger's Schnauzers).  We couldn't have done it without you!


We got into conformation in a way that is a little different than what is usually recommended ...  We wanted a nice puppy and knew that we wanted to do some performance sports with him (obedience and/or agility). We weren't originally looking for a show puppy, but we were curious about the sport.  I had only been to one or two shows and my husband hadn't even done that.. but we thought that it "might be fun" to try. Cheryl said she thought our boy could be finished if we wanted to try it and suggested that we talk to Max. Max spent months working with us, helping us to learn how to train him and getting his coat into condition... and low and behold, he did good. :-) But more importantly, we had a good time spending time together as a family, with our dog, and making new friends.

Everyone in our little circle of dog show friends has been amazingly kind and generous with both their time and knowledge. They are excellent role models both for the sport and as people. We feel very blessed to have them in our lives.


So, now we are hooked!

A little celebration as the judge chooses Kord!

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Although we have been attending handling classes and I have helped with other's dogs, I have been very anxious about getting into the ring with Kord myself. But after others did all the heavy lifting to get us to the major, I got brave and took my own dog in for Best of Breed judging. We both survived. Proof positive that "if I can do it... you can do it" :-)

Kord and I, in the breed ring for the first time together.