Chicago is known as the windy city, Buffalo NY is known for snow. In Chicago, the icy wind comes off of Lake Michigan and is known as the Hawk. In Buffalo, the wind produces what we call Lake Effect and is the force that turns an ordinary storm into a blizzard.
In the week preceding the Schutzhund Club of Buffalo’s overly late fall trial, Lake Effect were the words on everyone’s lips and the worry in the back of everyone’s mind. Lake Effect off of Lake Ontario was piling up snow to the north of us, and Lake Effect off of Lake Erie was dumping several feet of early snow in the ski country to the south. Friday night when we left the training fields, it looked like we were to be spared, but the gods of “ha ha I fooled you” had other plans.
On Saturday morning, Lake Effect was waving her hand over the Buffalo suburb of East Amherst, where the training field is located, turning the club grounds and tracking fields into a winter wonderland. We were to be spared the worst from Lake Effect, but it was her brother, the Hawk, that would blow across the trial grounds, driving temperatures from the low 30s to some unknown point on the wind chill index. Effing cold, as one club member put it.
I was able to warm up a bit as I walked across frozen, snow-covered fields, laying the tracks under the direction of USA Judge Willie Pope, while spectators on the sidelines competed to see who was wearing the most layers of clothing. The dogs seemed undaunted by it all, and Trish Grant put in a respectable showing with her SCH I dog, Emir Van Klipgaarden.
It was Diane Herold who earned the high tracking score of 97 with her SCH II dog “Arlo” (Olympics Emirl). Cindy Gietl and Faro Stalica continued their longtime partnership and were right behind Diane with their TRIII score of 94, as was Lance Zee (aka Zu) and Miero (Teddy OD Telpleho Pramena) with their SCH III tracking score of 93—some solid scores on solidly frozen ground.
Back at the Schutzhund field, the Hawk played havoc with the dogs and handlers alike—or perhaps it was just that the dogs were unused to frozen handlers on the end of their leashes. But it seemed no one was to escape totally unscathed. Still, some good performances were turned in as Mr. Pope stood stoically on the frigid field without regard for wind or cold, with nothing escaping his fine-tuned judge’s eye.
The future of the club was looking bright as eight BH’s took the field, six of them club members. Some, like first-time handlers Kim Russo with Sturgis Vom Russenwald and Saundra Mercado with Chivas Regal Von Jagerstadt, progressed nicely and trialed well under tough conditions. Novice handler Barb Wright formed a classic team picture with female Dora Maria Bohemia, while club veteran Lili Rutecki, working her female “Isa” (N Vom Kraftwerk), began yet another H.O.T. dog on its Schutzhund career.
Club member Carolyn Nervo and her bitch Kaira Connan Bohemia completed their SCH II degree, with the judge praising the classic relationship between dog and handler. Club member Zu put still another SCH III on his dog Merio. The “hit” of the afternoon came when Merio fired out after decoy Marcus Hampton on the escape and defense. Nero hit Marcus hard and high, spinning him around like a top. Marcus once again showed his great athletic abilities, pirouetting around twice on the frozen turf with Nero’s full, deep bite on the sleeve—together performing a Schutzhund ballet, which ended with both the decoy and dog keeping their focus and Merio outing cleanly at the end of a very dramatic catch.
While we were tracking, club training director Richard Smehlic cleaned the snow from around the jumps and the hot blind, and the field was in reasonable shape—well, at least reasonable for a Schutzhund trial in Buffalo, NY, in the middle of a snowstorm. Perhaps this is why the fire Richard built in the fire pit was the most popular place to stand during the several impromptu warm-up sessions throughout the afternoon. More than once, yours truly, the trial secretary, had to gently urge judge and participants alike back to the field to finish before the sun went down.
We did finish, and we met again the next day to run three ADs. The weather had improved a little, and it was a balmy 38 degrees when club member Lili and dog Isa completed their weekend with the AD—only this time, husband Joe pedaled the cold 42 laps needed on our AD track to finish.
The heartbreak of the day came when Diane Herold’s dog “Eros” (Olympics Zorro) had to be pulled with sore feet and only two laps to go. I want to send a special congratulations to Alex Monroe, who was back for a second try after her Rottie (Esmondes ohbygoshbygolly Nordike) was unable to complete the course last summer due to the heat. Heat was not a problem this time—this weather was much more suitable for the Rottweiler, and they finished in fine form.
Thanks to our judge, Willie Pope, and to all those brave and foolish souls who came to watch. This ends our trial season but not our training season. I invite you all to trial with us next year—we have three great events planned:
A Conformation and Breed Survey, May 23/24, with SV Judge and Kormeister Richard Brauch.
A Schutzhund Trial, June 27/28, with USA Judge Frank Phillips.
A Schutzhund Trial, October 17/18, with SV Judge and old friend Uli Rottenberg.
(Uli has also said he would be willing to judge at another club while in the states.)
Good luck to you all—I hope to see you next trial season!