RESULTS OF THE SECOND ANNUAL HGH HERDING COMPETITION
by Ulf Kintzel

On October 17th and 18th, 1998, America's second annual HGH herding
competition took place at White Clover Sheep Farm in Branchville, NJ. The
event was hosted by Inner City Schutzhund Club. Stephanie Dunion was the
chairperson and, as a native German, also had the job of translating the
herding critique.

The SV's Herding Judge, Manfred Voigt from Germany, a professional shepherd
and successful competitor himself, evaluated the event again. His wife,
Sieglinde, accompanied him on her first visit to the United States.

The well conditioned flock of 210+ sheep was again provided free of charge,
which is common practice in Germany, by Beth Johnson and Ulf Kintzel of
White Clover Sheep Farm.

The competition started on Saturday, October17th, with the handlers'
meeting. Judge Manfred Voigt, Chairperson Stephanie Dunion and the 7
competitors walked the course which was set up on the farm. The "Weather
God" was with us again this year. Both days were sunny and warm. The order
of the runs was, as usual, decided by drawing lots. Ulf Kintzel (me) was
supposed to take the first run, which is considered the most difficult
since the sheep are not yet accustomed to the course. If the owner of the
flock is competing, it is common sense to let him/her run first. However,
the dog I was supposed to handle decided to whelp that morning. Beth
Johnson agreed to run first. My special thanks to her for her fairness.

Here are the maximum number of points available for each exercise:

Exit from the pen................... 6
Traffic ..............................10
Wide graze .........................10
Placing ...............................8
Narrow graze...................... 10
Narrow road .........................8
Bridge ................................6
Grip ...................................8
Obedience ...........................10
Dilligence............................ 10
Independence........................10
Repen .................................4
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TOTAL ..............................100 (minimum passing score = 60)

The following grades were given to the qualifying dogs:

Three dogs received the grade "Very Good" (80-89 points)
Four dogs received the grade "Good" (70-79 points)
 
 

The winner of the second annial HGH herding competition, with 82 points and
the grade"Very Good", was Victoria Brown of Englishtown, NJ.

Dog: Reba vom Marinik, GSD, HGH, DL 536648/05, DOB: 6/8/94, Sire: Bacchus
vom der Gute Maedchen, Dam: Tracy vom Greenfield, Owner: Victoria Brown,
Breeder:
Anthony Irving.

At the exit from the pen Reba shows a very nice jump into the pen, however,
she jumps back out, stands in front of the pen and leaves her position
before the last sheep has left the pen.  During the traffic the dog makes
sufficient room when the car passes from the rear, she should cover the
whole length of the flock when the car passes from the front.  Reba
disturbs the flock once during the car passage.  In the wide graze the dog
is used correctly on the border.  Reba works dilligently, she should
however stay better on the border.  During the placement she is placed
easily, comes straight toward the flock as required, but does not go
straight back out.  In the narrow graze Reba again patrols dilligently,
steps out of the border a few times and needs handler help when being sent
to the other side of the graze.  On the narrow road Reba patrols both sides
of the flock but does not cover the right side completely.
At the bridge Vicki places Reba on time.  The dog leaves too early and goes
around the bridge, as do some of the sheep.  Reba shows a nice grip on the
ribs, she should be more obedient, she is, however, very dilligent and
independent.
At the re-pen, Reba is placed too far from the gate.

Victoria Brown won a leg on the new Kaman-Challenge-Trophy, which goes to
the winner of the competition for one year.  The trophy can be retired by a
handler who wins it three times in a row or five times overall.  The trophy
is offered by Charles and Roberta Kaman of Connecticut, founders of Fidelco
Guide Dog Foundation.

Vice-winner with 81 points and the grade "Very Good" was Michael Perna of
Wurtsboro, NJ.

Dog: Willi, GSD, HGH, SV Reg.: 44398, DOB: 3/30/96, Sire: Alf von
Fafnerhaus, Dam: Cora, Owner: Michael Perna, Breeder: Ulf Kintzel.

During the exit from the pen Willi jumps very nicely into the pen, is
placed correctly and stands until he is called.  During the traffic, he
should cover the length of the flock better when the car passes from the
front, the passage from the rear is done correctly.  In the wide graze
Willi immediately works the border, he needs help at the cross border.
After the placement Willi works all borders independently.  During the
placement Willi performs correctly, needing just a bit of help on his way
back to the border.  While entering the narrow graze, the flock should be
taken more together.  In the narrow graze the dog works the border but pays
too much attention to the handler.  Willi shows a very nice switch over to
the opposite border.  On the narrow road Willi should cover the whole
length of the flock better.  At the bridge he is placed correctly but does
not stand steady and goes around the bridge.  The grip on the ribs is
correct but too hard.  Willi is very obedient.  He could show more
dilligence.  He lacks some independence and gets supported by the handler.
At the re-pen Willi is correctly placed but does not stand steady.
 

Third place with 77 points and the grade "Good" was Sue Sternberg of
Accord, NY.

Dog: Vinnie, GSD, HGH, ILP 82142, DOB: unknown, Sire: unknown, Dam:
unknown, Owner: Sue Sternberg, Breeder: unknown.

During the exit from the pen, Vinnie doesn't jump into the pen.  He stands
only shortly in front of the pen and then leaves too early.  During the
traffic he should cover the whole length of the flock more on both passes
of the car.  In the wide graze he works on the border and cross border very
dilligently.  During the placement the dog performs the exercise well, is
easy to place, on his way back to the border he should go straight.  In the
narrow graze, Vinnie works all neccessary borders independently and
dilligently, he needs some help to switch sides and needs too much room to
turn on the borders.  On the narrow road the flock is partly off the road.
Vinnie should cover the whole length of the flock.  At the bridge, he
stands only shortly and is too far away.  Some sheep go around the bridge.
Vinnie shows a rib grip.  The dog should be more obedient.  Vinnie is,
however, extremely dilligent and independent.  During the re-pen he is
placed correctly and on time, goes back indepenently to bring the rest of
the straying sheep and, here, splits the flock.

Fourth place with 76 points and the grade "Good" was Dorit van der Wilden
of Roslyn, NY.

Dog: Tanaquil's Fiddlestix (Suki), GSD, HGH, D833659, DOB: 4/1/89, Sire:
Hiddenacre's Highwayman, Dam Tanaquil's XTC von MacBeth, Owner: Dorit van
der Wilden, Breeder: Margaret J. Wright.

Suki does not jump into the pen at the exit and is placed with help at the
gate and moves forward.  During the traffic the car can pass, the dog
should cover the length of the flock better when the car passes from the
front.  In the wide graze she picks up the border immediately, watches the
handler too much.  During the placement, Suki's performance is correct.  In
the narrow graze she picks up the border, works dilligently, shows a nice
switch to the opposite side.  She needs too much room to turn on the
border.  On the narrow road she should cover the length of the flock
better.  At the bridge, the dog is placed correctly, moves forward and goes
around the bridge.  The grip is placed correctly on the back leg.  Suki
needs to be more obedient.  In her work she gets supported by the handler.
At the re-pen, Suki is placed correctly and stands until called.

Fifth place with 75 points and the grade "Good" was Susan Sopranzi of
Augusta, NJ.

Dog: Chatelaine's Ace of Spades, GSD, HGH, DL 494446/07, DOB: 8/24/93,
Sire:  Mo-Jo Icon Corbeau, Dam: Almhar's Caliquen Treasure, Owner: Susan
Sopranzi, Breeder: William and Susan Hood.

During the exit from the pen, Ace jumps in, is placed in time, doesn't
stand steady and leaves too early.  During the traffic he should cover the
whole length of the flock.  In the wide graze, Ace needs help on the
border, could hold the border better and focuses too much on the handler.
In the placement,Ace is easily placed, however, does not go straight back
out to the border.  Here he needs a lot of help.  In the narrow graze he
should accept the border better, he disturbs the flock.  The switch over to
the opposite border is too close to the flock.  At the bridge he is place
corectly, doesn't stand steady and leaves too early, going around the
bridge.  Ace shows a correct grip on the back leg.  His obedience could be
better and he could be more dilligent.  He lacks some independence and gets
supported by the handler.  During the re-pen he is placed on time but too
far away.
 

The following dogs were shown for exhibition only:

Dog: Sage, GSD, HGH, SV Reg.: 44395, DOB: 3/30/96, Sire: Alf vom
Fafnerhaus, Dam: Cora, Owner: Beth Johnson, Breeder: Ulf Kintzel.

Sage jumps very nicely into the pen, he does not stand steady.  During the
traffic he makes enough room for the car and covers the whole length of the
flock.  In the wide graze he needs to be helped by the handler.  During the
placement he needs help, comes straight but doesn't leave straight.  In the
narrow graze Sage should work more correctly, is insecure and receives
help.  On the narrow road he should cover better,  At the bridge he is
placed, stands too far, leaves too early and goes around the bridge.  Sage
could be more obedient and more dilligent.  He needs the handler's support.
During the re-pen he stands correctly and steady until he is called off.

Despite not showing a grip, Sage received a "Good" with 70 points.

Dog: Bea vom Dolderbrunnen, GSD, HGH, SZ 1885464, 12/4/93, Sire: Yavo von
der Parquelle, Dam: Katja von der Queis, Owner: Ulf KIntzel, Breeder:
Manfred Voigt.

During the exit from the pen, Bea jumps very nicely into the pen.  She is
placed correctly and on time, but sits.  During the traffic she makes
plenty of room for the car.  In the wide graze she picks up the border
immediately and patrols borders with too much focus on the handler.  During
the placement she is easily placed, sits once, and doesn't go straight back
out.  In the narrow graze Bea shows a nice switch, works quietly, she
should hold the border better.  On the narrow road the flock is partly off
the road.  At the bridge she is placed on time and correctly, lies down and
goes around the bridge.  The grip is inconsistent.  Bea is obedient.  She
lacks a little independence and gets supported by the handler.  During the
re-pen she is placed correctly and lies down.

Bea received the highest score of 83 points and a "Very Good".

After every day's run the courage test was done by agitator Patrick Murray.
Two dogs, Vinnie and Suki, showed a strongly developed defense drive.  All
others' defense drive was existing.

Judge Manfred Voigt praised the improvement of the handlers and dogs in
comparison to last year.  This was shown by his evaluation of herding
technique, handling of the sheep, and use of the dog, which was all good to very good.
However, he criticized, in many dogs, the lack of obedience as the
foundation of any sheep tending training.

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We, the competitors, who trained our dogs at White Clover Sheep Farm, want
to thank shepherd Manfred Voigt for judging this event fairly and
consistentl; Stephanie Dunion for being the chairperson and translator;
Inner City Schutzhund Club for hosting, United Schutzhund Club of America
for their help; Beth Johnson for providing the flock and facility free of
charge; all sponsors, donors and advertisers for supporting this event;
Charlie and Roberta Kaman for sponsoring the challenge trophy; "The Seeing
Eye" for showing so much interest and courtesy: and last, but certainly not
least, all those anonymous and numerous helpers before, during, and after
the trial, whose work was very much appreciated.  Thanks!
 

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