Kennengail's Ballard aka Thor- German Boxer-Schutzhund Boxer-Working German Boxer

Working on the Group

2012-02-26T14:18:00.000-08:00

Is a bit rainy, cool, and boring today, so let me tell you what I've been up to lately.

Been working on tracking, attention in obedience and blind search, yes, I've been very busy lately, you see we don't surrender and we don't quit.

For your viewing pleasure, a video of me practicing the group, I have others, but one at a time. Our web mistress is also updating our webpages, you may want to keep an eye out for that too.

Protection Training

2012-01-27T19:41:00.000-08:00

Me working on protection with my buddy Charlie.

Tracking fool

2012-01-20T12:01:00.000-08:00

I'm also training tracking, is much more fun now that is in different locations and different tracks.

Still working on my obedience control, you see I get a bit excited at a trial and forget my self control, but I'll be fine, back at training and duplicating what makes me forget my control in a trial, so that next time, I am in control.

Thor's Fall Training

2011-09-12T20:03:00.001-07:00

I'm back in training, not that I stopped during the summer, but it wasn't as often as I would of like it to be, it's been a very hot summer here. But I'm back in training preparing for my next Schutzhund trial, to finally obtain my title. Come back often to see my progress.

Summer Training

2011-08-13T15:21:00.001-07:00

We have been training in preparation for the trial season coming up. Tracking is coming along just fine. I can find my articles no matter how weird my tracks are; and it's been weird lately.

We are working our trainer hard this summer, we need her ready for the trial season, we think she will be ready for when working trials come around, we know that we the Boxer Pack will be ready.

Thor Training Dumbbell Retrieve

2011-05-27T06:48:00.000-07:00

Dumbbell retrieve on flat exercises, my favorite, I get the DB bring back, repeat. After a few repetitions we play, boy, I like that very much too !!!

Sammy & Boomer think they can beat me at this, not in a million years !!!

Thor training for his Schutzhund titles

2011-04-10T05:29:00.000-07:00

We continue to work toward our schutzhund titles. I need a few things to work on as well as my handler. But we are hard at work, things are coming together and we will be ready for our next working trial.

Gotta go, my track has properly aged and there's a special toy that I must find !

By the way I found the articles, so I get to play, with my special toy. Later.

Thor's latest title

2010-12-13T16:16:00.000-08:00

I've done it again and just before Christmas, I've earned a new title while I wait for my schutzhund trials.

In 3 consecutive days not only did I earn my AKC CD (Companion Dog Title) but placed 2nd all 3 days !!! Thought my owner/handler was going to faint, she kept pinching herself, she didn't believe it. Not only did I get a new toy each day, I got to meet a lot of very nice people who wanted to rub my belly ! I had a great time. This is the life !!!

Training for Trials

2010-11-06T04:06:00.000-07:00

Well it's almost time for my upcoming working trials, I am preparing for them, my handler is preparing herself, she needs a bit more to work on, but we are getting there. Hope the weather stays cool, I like cool weather, don't like high humidity, my handler can't take it, LOL.

See you at the working trials !!! Wish us Good Luck !!!

Thor training tracking

2010-08-30T09:11:00.000-07:00

Thor is preparing for his upcoming Schutzhund trial. There are a few things to work on to make sure he has success in accomplishing his title. At this time, since is soo hot where he trains, he is working on tracking, will work on obedience and protection at night or early the mornings he does not track.

Sammy and Thor have a friendly competition going on, who ever beats the other's scores gets the new dog bed !!!

Thor Training Escape and Long Bite

2010-06-08T11:29:00.000-07:00

Thor is a Certified Service Dog

2010-06-01T17:52:00.000-07:00

Thor has successfully completed the Service Dog Training with the Public Access Test administered by Jacki Purdham from K-9 Friends LLC.

The purpose of this Public Access Test is to ensure that dogs who have public access are stable, well-behaved, and unobtrusive to the public. It is to ensure that the client has control over the dog and the team is not a public hazard.

Any dog that displays any aggressive behavior (growling, biting, raising hackles, showing teeth, etc.) will be eliminated from the test. Any dog that eliminates in a building or shows uncontrollable behavior will be eliminated from the test.

Protection Seminar

2010-05-08T11:02:00.000-07:00

Preparing for our Schutzhund Titles

2010-03-20T04:23:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I posted my thoughts, well here it goes.
Still training for my Schutzhund titles, there have been some delays, my handler is injured and is difficult to train with her, but she's better and soon we'll be out there training again. But I do practice my dumbbell exercises and send outs, and also our blind search and track that elusive article that hides from me in the grass, but alas I can find it !!!

My first Schutzhund Trial

2009-03-25T03:50:00.000-07:00

Let me in all fairness to Thor say that it was my fault I tried a little bit too hard this time. I had tried new things in tracking, and protection, a word to the wise, don’t change anything a month before the trial ! ! ! Boxers seem to have this memory reflex thing, I’m no dog psychologist, but that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Anyway off to report to the judge, we checked IDs on the dogs, we pulled numbers to see who was first for tracking, you guest it, I got it. My mom always said, “Get bad times out of the way quickly”. Our tracking was a bit off, so we had tried a few new things with a 50/50 chance of passing, is like a true and false test, so you try something new. Well, it did not work; it just caused more confusion for Thor.

In Obedience we did a round robin, so I went last, he did very well, the one who blew it was me, double commands, moving in the dumbbell retrieves, wrong commands, etc. Thor lacked a bit of attention in the obedience exercises but he was next to me and did not miss much. His moving exercises were very good, the recall from a down as always very fast, so as a result he sat crocked. Dumbbell retrieves very good, again the handler made the mistake of double unnecessary commands which the judge told me afterwards, he did not think I needed them. The send out, I was very proud of Thor, we worked hard on it, and he had just learned it, again very fast, he turned and down he went when I yelled down, I think so did the dogs there, I was a bit louder than usual too, speed probably caused us a few points, the judge said he did not go down fast enough, and that was probably because of Thor’s speed. I have watched that tape over and over and with the speed he built up he went down fast, but hey, I loved it and so this everyone else. Our score in Obedience was 83.

Now my favorite part of Schutzhund, protection. He was on, a bit too much if you asked me, first trial and all, he was very good. Blind search, hold and bark good, call out a bit confusing for both of us. The escape was good, the reattack also good, I saw full bites, the judge said not in all of them, but he looked good and by the noise from the people there he was giving them a good show. The courage test Thor loves it when the decoy spins him, he lives for that, but wait, I like for that too. He was as fast or faster than the send out. The side transport a bit confusing for both of us, but all in all Boy what a rush ! ! ! Protection Score 83 Pronounced.

So with a bit more experience under our belt we are looking forward to our next trial. At least now I know what to work on, for trial conditions as they call it. I had a great time anyway, and for the looks of it so did Thor and to me that’s all that matters. Until our next trial, Thor and Millie signing out. Watch out Sammy and Boomer is right behind us ! ! !

Schutzhund Protection Seminar

2009-01-19T17:44:00.000-08:00

My handler Millie and I went to a Schutzhund Protection Seminar with our friend Carl. We learned a lot and we are both becoming a good working team. I am preparing for my Schutzhund I trial, I wish to compete soon but I have a bit more to learn. Need to work a bit more on my tracking, and also need a bit more control on my protection routine, but I'm getting there.

My handler is working very hard to help me learn all that I need to have a good trial. I enjoy tracking specially finding the last article because I get to play with the toy of the day, I never know which toy it is, so I can't wait to get to the end, in obedience love getting the dumbbell and bringing it back to play a little more and then my favorite part of my training Protection, where I get to run around that blind at lighting speed towards the second blind and bark at the helper and get to chase him down and bark again and then run at him at full speed with my tongue sticking out and the wind in my hair, that's what I live for, to have fun and get to bite that sleeve now and then, sweet !!!

Preparing for the Schutzhund 1 Title

2008-11-03T11:25:00.000-08:00

I'm working on my Schutzhund 1 title. Taking my time, there is no rush, just do it and do it right. At the present time I'm lenghtening my tracks with 2 turns and 2 articles on the track, is going good I track mostly on grass, but have tracked in dirt, gravel, and pretty bad turf.

Obedience is going well too, finishing up putting everything together. I don't train everything everyday though, but I do train different things every day and I also get to play too.

Protection at this time I'm finalizing all the exercises and getting the timing down. Hopefully when the helper sees me coming he wouldn't freak out, I look pretty mean when I'm running at you, but I don't mean it, is just a sport to me. After training we are all my friends.

Here's Thor

2008-10-10T14:24:00.000-07:00

When we picked up Thor from the airport, I did not think he was in the little white crate he came in. He was way in the back and he was soo tiny and so dark fawn, he looked almost dark red, with the darkest black mask that I could not see him. So I stock my arm all the way to the back of the crate and lo and behold, he kissed my hand, he was there. He came forward, I had some kibble in my hand, he ate it and kissed me again.

What to call this my first Schutzhund Boxer hopeful? I like mythology so while I waited to get my little bundle of boxerdom, I checked all mythological gods, and heroes. Thor stood out the most, he is a protector of women and mankind too. He has red hair, strong, fair, nice and gentle, but if you hurt his loved ones he can be terrible. So that is how Thor's name came to be. Thor has a BH and a CGC title. Thor is now working towards his Schutzhund Titles.

Thor's dad is Absalom vd Svyatogor. Thor's mom is Cleito Kid Johnson SchH2, WH. Thor has some of the oldest and best known working boxer lines in his pedigree.