Smooth Select Dog: DC Stardox Twist And Shout
Smooth Select Bitch: GCH Bessdachs Electric Martini
Wirehair Select Dog: CH Dachsbauer Dust Devil W
Wirehair Select Bitch: CH Full Circle Ruffles And Flourishes W
Best Junior Handler: Emalia Williams
on the DCA test grounds at the Waukesha County Nashotah Park. Wisconsin is certainly blessed with what appear to be numerous well-maintained parks and forest areas, and this one is no exception. It is in a convenient location a mere 6 miles from Oconomowoc, just off a major road intersection. DCA was to be the inaugural earthdog test to be held here and Barb Teigen, who is a neighbor and frequent visitor was able to meet with the supervisors and negotiate getting their permission to make and dig in new liners for the weekend. The park manager and employees could not have been more accommodating. The exhibitors were greeted by an essentially private parking lot amply sized to accommodate over 100 vehicles with ready access to the dens. There was plenty of grass on which to set up ex-pens and chairs directly behind the cars, a picnic gazebo, toilets, and, perhaps best of all, admission includes access to the 6 acre off leash “small dog” enclosure at the far end of the park. More than a few new to the area dachshunds met up over the week to stretch out their legs after having travelled hundreds if not thousands of miles to attend the national. Co-Chair Phyllis Meseroll and husband test secretary Michael Nothstein, from Virginia brought their substantial motor home to the test site and plugged in, serving as their “field office.” Barbara Teigen, past AKC Earthdog Field Representative, had opened up her home a few miles from the park. Her garage had served as the final construction site for plywood top sections brought from Seattle being attached to 2 x 10 sidewalls. In the end a new set of liners including a Junior Earthdog den and a combination Master/Senior Earthdog den were ready to use. Karen Mann, test co-chair, transported a set of Introduction to Quarry liners from Texas to complete the test. In contrast to the midweek heat, Sunday dawned overcast, windy and cool (OK…cold.) The exhibitors who gathered for Master bracing included a mix of those who had been to Roscoe and were on their way to Oconomowoc and some who were just arriving a day early for the Olympia activities, having driven or flown in to nearby Milwaukee. The liners were in place and Master Earthdog judge Karla Deithorn, also a previous AKC field representative, had selected an entertaining hunt up route to the master earth. The handlers and dogs were treated to the park’s paths through open woods alongside a lake bank, crossing over to grass fields and denser cover. There was much for them to investigate as they made their way, and the false den along the approach was well off the path in deeper cover. When it was first buried a few days earlier one had to wonder if seen by the park walkers would they suspect a shallow grave?! Once the dogs reached the main den in the middle of a tall grassed area they had to use their nosed to identify and drop into the scented entrance, where the rat cage was back from the grate blocking the dogs’ access. The grates were positioned 10˝ from the edge of the liners forcing the dogs to have to enter the hole in order to discover the obstruction. Dog after dog “disappeared” from view and not a single entrant failed this part of the test. A favorite was the team of “Phinney” and “Ruthie,” who both got inside the entrance “vestibule” and were working the grate together before being pulled away for the rest of the test. All 9 dachshunds entered were able to successfully negotiate the tunnel and work the quarry, and in the end, there were 4 who qualified all parts of the test. “Ruthie,” belonging to Sarah Palm from Minnesota, achieved her 4th qualifying score to earn the coveted Master Earthdog title in fine style. Later, with the master obstacles removed, the den was converted to the Senior Earthdog test, this time judged by Tracy Freeling, from Texas. The “special” senior challenge is by most regards the “recall” portion of the test, and this did prove to be the undoing of a few of the dogs entered. However, in the end there was an enviable pass rate of 5 out of 9 dachshunds entered, including two who achieved “Double Q” legs towards the AKC’s new Endurance Earthdog titles. Especially sentimental was Pam Giles with her 13 year old “Kira” coming pack in to the pack to play in the dens again. Over at the Introduction to Quarry den, judge Susan Fuller, from California, worked with the 18 dachshunds entered, passing 6 of them on the test. Two of these dogs went on to pass Junior tests later in the day, but the sentimental favorite had to be “Eugene,” the exceedingly accomplished old man belonging to Barbara Teigen. At just three weeks shy of his 15th birthday this grand gentleman showed his true dachshund heart by making his way through the 10’ Intro tunnel, working the rats with all the enthusiasm he could muster, ultimately being rewarded with what had to be one of the most special ribbons for Barb to add to his enviable collection. The final class of the day turned out to be the Junior Earthdog test, judged by Lois Ballard. Lois not only had the largest class (29 entries) she was also
Dachshund Club of America
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AUTUMN, 2011