1986

Strohs is Spoken Here

In the spring of 1986, Warren & Sam moved to Bozeman, Montana. They had been "playing" with Schutzhund back in California since the late seventies with mentor Bill Dotson. In Bozeman, they found a small but serious group of goal-oriented Schutzhund enthusiasts, and training started. The original group consisted of: Anne Camper, Ann Conley, Teri Rosgaard, Jo Sykes, Rachel Murray, Connie Waldo and Sam & Warren Jones.

We called ourselves the "Bozeman Barkers, Biters and Beer Drinkers" a name that wouldn't go over too well in the PC 90's. (We also briefly considered the name "Middle Yellowstone-Gallatin Association for Working Dogs" or MYGAWD.)

Although Conley pushed to have a USA recognised club, the rest of us were content to be an informal group of training and sport-friends.

1988

In 1988, Rachel Murray and her Rottweiler "Bushwhak'n Ernie of Chutzpah" represented our fledgling working club at their first trial.

03/12/88 Tri-State Schutzhund Assn.       SV Franz Dörr

Bushwhak'n Ernie of Chutzpah

ROT

SchH 1

94

86

86

S

266 G

She wasn't happy about the sufficient and never let training helper Warren forget it. Ernie wasn't a sufficient dog — far from it. It helped for all the club members to actually SEE a Schutzhund trial, and we went home with new goals and better ideas on how to achieve them.

1989

04/15/89 Tri-State Schutzhund Assn.       USA Willi Ortner

Bushwhak'n Ernie of Chutzpah

ROT

SchH 2

98

90

90

P

278 SG

In September of 1989, five of us travelled together to Spokane to trial: four attempting our first Schutzhund title ever, and Rachel & Ernie going for their SchH3. Just because I like looking at the names of the old dogs like Evita and Kay, the entire trial results appear below:
 

09/23/89 Tri-State Schutzhund Assn.       USA William Fields

1991

Sue and Sami travel to Germany and France for three weeks. Starting with the German National herding championships in the north in Mehle where they were fortunate to meet REIVision's Helmut Reichel, who took them under his wing for three weeks... continuing on to a stay with Karl Füller at Kirschental, then Straßburg for the World Championships (where they got their car broken into, cameras and Sue's passport stolen, resulting in an emergency trip to the American Embassy in München during Oktoberfest!) and an overnight visit with HGH Judge Leo Dürsch in Türken, and ending with camping on the grounds of the Bundessiegerprüfung (behind the Bosch Heimtiernärung vendor's booth) and dining as guests of the German team at the banquet. It was a great trip!

1992

The Treasure State Working Dog Association was formed in Helena in January 1992.

1993

Marty Legget, Regional Director, visited Helena for an affiliation trial. David Macias, Southwestern Regional Director, came for several seminars. Treasure State WDA is affiliated as a Full Member Club.

1994

TSWDA manned a booth at the County Fair in July, and in August held a seminar with David Macias.

1996

9/8/96 - Angie and Ahz (Artaq Ahzeen the Great One) from Treasure State WDA tried for a SchH 1 under Bill Fields at Rose City Working Dog Association's trial. Unfortunately, they failed tracking.

At the USA Nationals in Virginia in November, Shane Ot Vitosha and Kelly Martin place 4th with a 289V.

1997

2/8/97 - Raleigh Schutzhund Association trial with USA Mike Hamilton. Sue Geske, who had traveled out to North Carolina for a post doc in Plant Pathology at NC State and enrolled in vet school while she was there, also continued to train in SchH with Vallenike "Nika" von der Pfalz.

In May, Treasure State WDA hosted their spring trial with SV Rudi Mietzner. Ahz and John McDunn achieved their SchH 1 with the following outstanding scores:

05/16/97     Treasure State WDA       SV Rudolf Mietzner

Artaq Ahzeem the Great One

ROT

SchH 1

97

92

95

P

284 SG

Debbie Dilley also tried for her first SchH title with B-Kayla von Chirurgi's Haus, but found they needed a little more training first.

Unfortunately by July the Treasure State Working Dog Association was seeing hard times. Their few remaining members agreed to meet in Bozeman with the active training group there to discuss reorganisation. TSWDA members John McDunn, Angie McDunn and Wendy Pavey met with and voted into the club Anne Camper, Debbie Dilley, Marci Grebing, Sammie Jones, Warren Jones and Heidi Roberts. At the same time a name change was discussed due to confusion in the region with Tri-State (Spokane), Treasure Valley (Boise) and Treasure State (Montana).

Bylaws were changed, new officers were elected, and a fall trial at the Jones' training field was planned, with Judge Willie Pope.

6/8/97 - Alpine Schutzhund Club, USA Al Kerr. Anne and Elan, accompanied by Sam and Warren, travel down to Utah to try for Elan's SchH 3. Unfortunately it wasn't a good day for tracking. Highlights of that trip were watching one SchH3 competitor heel calmly into the blind for the callout on the courage test; see the blind flail wildly for a few moments (think Warner Brothers cartoon) and then see dog and handler heel calmly out. Another competitor, after a critique she apparently didn't like, snubbed Al Kerr by turning her back and walking away as he stuck his hand out for a hand shake. Al executed the best "New-Yawk" style nose-thumbing ever seen.

1998

1 May 1998 - Tri State hosts a trial and seminar with SV Günther Diegel. Yessie von der Zederau and and Ann Weiler attempt their SchH2.

1999

Front Range Hundesport      15 May 1999      USA Mike West

Arek von der vier Eichen

SchH 1

90

85

90

P

274

SG

Debbie Dilley

Twin Peaks Schutzhund Club      29 May 1999      USA Glenn Stephenson

Ivan vom Schloss im Wald	BH						P	Warren Jones
Danno Ot Vitosha	BH						P	Anne Camper

Twin Peaks Schutzhund Club      2 October 1999      USA Ernest Hintz

Danno Ot Vitosha	SchH 2	10	92	85	P	I	Anne Camper
Vallenika von der Pfalz	FH	86				G	Susan Geske

2000

See Archives for the full story.

Belgian Championships, April 2000

IPO2

Danno Ot Vitosha
 

AWDF National Schutzhund Championship      January 28-30, 2000   Obedience & Protection SV Walter Hoffmann; Tracking USA Mark Przybylski

SchH 1

Danno Ot Vitosha   Malinois   90   88   97   P   275   Virgil Davis
 

Front Range Hundesport       June 10, 2000      Judge: SV Tom Mitchell

SchH 1

Ivan vom Schloss im Wald   GSD   91   72   85   P   248   G   Warren Jones

BH

Rose vom Enztal   GSD                                               P    Sammie Jones
 

Tri-State Working Dog Assn.   Oct. 3-4, 2000   USA Ann Marie Chaffin

SchH 1

Vallenika von der Pfalz   GSD   91   80   P    -    M   Sue Geske

SchH 3

Danno Ot Vitosha   Malinois   93   76   80   vh   249   G   Anne Camper

2002

See Archives for the full story.

We hosted an Ivan Balabanov seminar in June and Michael Ellis came out for training in July and September.

We held two trials this year: the first trial was held in Bozeman with U.S.A. judge Willie Pope on Aug. 17-18. Lily Westerhoff, 8 years old, showed her malinois Joeri. It was Jessica Boerger's first schutzhund trial with her dog Couloir. They turned out a nice performance and took home the High SchH1 Score award. Rosellen and Nike also earned their SchH1 as did Teressa Keenan with Acky. Nike, 19 months old, was the youngest dog entered for a title. Sue Geske and her tracking machine, Tango, had a marvelous track but other parts did not come together for them. Debbie Dilley and Babe also had some difficulties. Anne Camper and Danno gave the FH a try but it was not their day either. Debbie and Arek took home their first SchH3 title along with H.I.T.. Rosellen and Raudi gained another well performed SchH3 title along with Eugene Gelhard and Skipper.

The club's second trial was held Oct. 19th under U.S.A. judge Nikki Banfield. Coral Westerhoff, age 6, took home the High Tracking Score award with veteran dog Joeri.

Rosellen and Raudi took home a new title, IPO3, along with H.I.T. Jessica and Couloir had the high protection score but unfortunately did not earn their SchH2 this day.

2003

See Archives for the full story.

Nike Ot Vitosha earned her SchH 3! Poe and Ingrid earn their SchH A! Ura Ot Vitosha arrives. Coral and Venus for achieve their BH.

The spring trial was held in Bozeman 28-29 June, with USA Judge Mike Hamilton, assisted by apprentice judge Ray Blomberg. High in Trial went to Rosellen Westerhoff and Nike Ot Vitosha, who also earned their SchH2 title.

Robert Kochan joins the club.

"Zouka" Bazouka van de Trinekesdreef joins the club.

Diva graduates from Guide Dogs for the Blind.

2004

See Archives for the full story.

Spring trial in June with Nathaniel Roque. Zouka, Ali "Bubba", Harley and Saga all earn their BHs. Robert and Nick earn

"Venus" a Danno daughter, with Coral Westerhoff and Terra with Debbie earn their SchH1s. Tango and Nike earn their FHs. The fall trial with USA Glenn Stephenson was cancelled. Arek leaves us...