The Martial Arts for dogs
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The Hall of Champions is the highest honor that can be earned by a dog in K9 PRO SPORTS.
A Hall of Champions inductee has exhibited much more than high proficiency in the art of Personal Protection or Patrol work. H.O.C. honorees have contributed to the positive image of properly trained protection dogs in their community or on their job as well as on the competition field.
H.O.C. candidates may have excelled in many sports in addition to their K9PS career or they may have simply excelled in their everyday performance as a P.S.D. or M.W.D.
An H.O.C. may have excelled in the community as a service or therapy dog as well as a truly talented PP candidate.
In addition to these community requirements an H.O.C. candidate must have participated in 4 K9PS trials, including one regional and one Finals.
They must have maintained a certifiable score at these trials, although the trials need not have been in one calendar season.
The dog must have been out of K9PS competition for two years.
H.O.C. inductees will be showcased permanently on the H.O.C. page of the K9PS web site. The dogs owner/handler will receive lifetime membership in K9PS.
An 11x14 pen and ink or charcoal portrait of the dog or team under an H.O.C. banner will be made from any photograph supplied. Other appropriate awards may be given at each dogs induction.
NOMINATIONS, should be made in writing and sent to,
K9PS
4901 F.M. 1187
Burleson, Tx 76028
All nominations must be signed and dated. Only two dogs may be inducted in one K9PS season. Nominees not inducted should be resubmitted the following year.
|
JULY, 2005 |
FUTURE
H.O.C. |
After World War II, the popularity of the German Shepherd or Alsatian exploded world wide. The picture of athletic canine beauty, their amazing trainability and devotion to man were well documented by police and Seeing Eye dog organizations. Standards used to describe the GSD’s temperament often used the phrase “Aloof with strangers, fiercely devoted to the family”
Devil, GSD partner to Thomas Ravn, War dog supporting US and allied troops in the war on terror in Afghanistan, was an excellent example of GSD standard. Leaning to the large side of the standard (near 100 lb, 44-46 k) he was powerful with undeniable man stopping ability. Raised by Thomas Ravn to meet or exceed all the exacting standards of the Danish Kennel Club, Devil titled in IPO, Obedience, SchH and more. Correctly colored black and red, the Apache colors of war, his true calling, with his partner Thomas, was Soldier.
Whether on
the trial field or the battlefield, Devil moved with purpose, with determination.
Possibly more than any other GSD I have seen, Devil, when moving out with
his partner, moved with a swagger that said “mission accomplished”.
You will often hear judges at the very top dog shows like Westminster,
say that the top dogs have “presence.” Not a quality that
can be written up or described, but one every one recognizes.
Devil had “presence” with “attitude!” the first time I saw him walking into the arena at a K9 PRO SPORTS trial in Denmark. I watched as every one he passed kept their eyes on him, and every one they approached stepped aside to allow them to pass. After spending my adult life at dog shows and trial fields, it was the first time I had seen “Presence” with “ATTITUDE”
The World Military Dog trials may be one of the largest dog trials ever. It is definitely the largest working dog event ever! This trial is open to every military working dog in every country in Europe. Each military pick their representative teams through elimination trials. The numbers of working dogs is so large that the eliminations take two years. Every other year the top 200 remaining teams meet for the final competition. Devil made that top two hundred twice, in 2000 and 2004.
At the 04 trial Thomas was trying to maintain the top 20 standing he had achieved in 2000. With the live search in the woods he had made a few judgment errors that cost him points. To finish in the top 20 he needed a top ten finish in the courage test.
The courage test was an exceptionally difficult one. Devised by a top
level 3 Ring decoy from France, there were obstacles to be overcome and
then large objects the decoy could grab and use to fend off the dogs.
The decoys’ athletic ability and skill had defeated the first fifteen
dogs. Not one of the dogs sent down field had stopped that decoy in the
required time limit; yes it was a timed event as well as a judged event.
Thomas took the field with Devil and knew Devil had no knowledge and no interest in finishing in the top twenty. Devil was oblivious to the acclaim, or shame, that might come from this test. Thomas knew Devil was not concerned with the skills or fame of the decoy, but Thomas, deep down, knew that little phrase from the German Shepherd standard read in so many countries, “Fiercely Devoted!” Thomas made but one request of his partner, “Take him!”
With a glance at Thomas, a lunge, and Presence with ATTITUDE, Devil charged down field. The dogs before him had skirted around or over the obstacles, Devil burst through them!
The dogs before Devil had joined in the decoys dance. Following his lead they jumped around the chairs and objects the decoy placed between himself and them. Devil crashed the party and took the lead, and it was not a waltz.
As the remaining teams roared their approval Thomas called Devil off the bite and left the field. He had shown the way for the teams yet to come and they were now ready to take on this most difficult test.
But they would
be without the services of this most skillful and courageous decoy. Devil
had broken bones in his hand and wrist and he would congratulate Thomas
for his dog’s performance as he stepped into the ambulance.
Devil would finish #17 once again one of the top twenty MWDs in the WORLD!
In the civilian dog world Devil would again do what Thomas asked, and do it at that exceptional level that comes only from those “Fiercely devoted” dogs he represents, the GSD.
There are few, if any, titles in the working dog world that demand the standards of training, skill and teamwork, required of the X in the Excellent title awarded by K9 Pro Sports. Fewer than three percent of all dogs certifying as K9PS Personal Protection Dog or K9PS Patrol Dog with a 65% proficiency rating ever achieve the 85% needed for an Excellent rating. Requiring an 85% performance in front of three different, street wise (police, military, or security experienced) judges in three different trials is truly the elite of the working dog world. Devil did it in four trials. I could go on for quite a while about the accomplishments of this dog but I will instead list some of his titles from international organizations.
I am humbled to have the high honor of adding to those titles, the induction of DEVIL; GSD to the
K9 PRO SPORTS HALL OF CHAMPIONS
1999 Danish
Ob Champ for GSD 100 out of 100
1999 SchH 1 Club Champ 271 out of 300
1999 Cert 1 Danish Air Force Patrol dog 154 out of 160
2000 Cert 2 Danish Air Force Patrol dog 210 out of 220
2000 Cert Swiss Army Patrol dog
2000 15 at World Championship Swiss Open 2000, 279 out of 300
2000 Ipo 1 Club Champ 279 out of 300
2001 Cert 2 Danish Air Force Patrol dog 205 out of 220
2001 Danish Military Champ 289 out of 300
2002 Cert 2 Danish Air Force Patrol dog 209 out of 220
2002 Ipo 2 Club Champ 289 out of 300
2002 6 st. Danish Military 260 out of 300
2003 deployed
2003 Cert 2 Danish Air Force Patrol dog 197 out of 220
2004 Cert K9 Pro Sport Patrol Div
2004 Danish Military Champ 295 out of 300
2004 17 at World Championship Swiss Open 2004, 279 out of 300
2004 Cert 2 Danish Air Force Patrol dog 214 out of 220
2004 4. at K9 Pro Sport WC
2005 Cert K9 Pro Sport Excelent Patrol Div
2005 Cert 2 Danish Air Force Patrol dog 201 out of 220
Bomber, owned by Patricia Hairston
K9 PRO SPORTS 2001 National Champion
International Protection Dog League
K9 Warrior Federation Hall of Fame
Art O'Keefe Invitation Only, Overall Champion
Nineteen NAPD tournament wins
Winner of local Tuff Dog & PP from San Diego to Washington state .
NPL 2
K9PS PPD
K9PS PrPDX
Service dog Cert.
Nursing Home & Hospital therapy dog
CGC
These accomplishments, and many more too numerous to list, are the work of
BOMBER HAIRSTON A.P.B.T.
The first dog inducted into the K9 PRO SPORTS Hall Of Champions, Bomber distinguished himself at his first trial in El Paso, Tx in 1998. Energy, intensity and devotion to his owner, Patricia Hairston , marked Bomber as an up and coming champion from the first time he set foot on the K9PS competition field.
Proving the predictions of those early judges, Leroy Azlin USPCA & Kenneth Humphrys USA , Bomber would go on to win every type of trial to be found on the west coast and in 2001 would take home the Silver Buckle as the K9 PRO SPORTS National Champion.
Bombers greatest accomplishment for dog owners, and especially APBT and Am Staff owners everywhere, was as a goodwill ambassador for the breed.
From nursing homes to children's events Bombers' outgoing friendly nature and excellent training made him a hit with all who encountered him. His good nature and patience with the elderly impressed newspapers and television stations alike. Bomber has been featured on TV as well as written up in the Los Angeles newspapers for his great demeanor and exceptional training.
At a time when the greatest breed ever produced in America is being constantly maligned in the press, Bomber has shown the true nature of this exceptional American breed.
Bombers' trainer, Louis Williams, is known for training dogs that not only excel on the competition field but also on the streets. In 2000 Bomber alerted his owner to a noise coming from the garage. Opening the garage door Patricia's husband, Eddie Hairston on crutches with a broken leg, stepped into a burglary in progress.
Startled the burglar picked up a hammer and attempted to make his escape, that's when he met The BOMB! Bomber took the man to the ground and dropped into a guard when Patricia outed him. He was still guarding when the squad car from L.A.P.D. arrived.
The officers were so impressed they had Bomber escort the perp to the car where they cuffed him and took him “down town”. The L. A. Times wasted no time in doing a story on Bomber and his heroics, in a story titled “Dog Trainer Bites Back”.
It is with high regard for a great American breed, that the first inductee into the K9 PRO SPORTS Hall Of Fame, is one of the best good will ambassadors that breed or K9 PRO SPORTS and Personal Protection dogs have ever had.
The Bomb, BOMBER HAIRSTON!
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