On July 14, 2001, Heike became the first Giant Schnauzer to receive the Utility Dog Excellent title or UDX. Because Ingrid Hamburger from St. Charles, Illinois, is a member of our club we asked her to tell us all about Heike’s career and her achievements!

Heike was whelped April 5, l997. Right from the start she was a very busy puppy. She came to us in July at the age of three months with a clearly visible will to work. For the first two weeks I contemplated what sort of work a young puppy could do and would enjoy doing.

We finally settled on tracking and six weeks later she was certified. In October ’97 she earned her Tracking Dog title (TD) at her very first test. We kept on tracking and six months later, in May ’98, she had passed the Tracking Dog Excellent test and added a TDX to her name.

At the same time we were also enrolled in puppy and beginner obedience classes. Heike was an apt and enthusiastic pupil and earned her Companion Dog Degree (CD) in short order between 5-24-98 and 6-7-98. In October we drove to Canada for a four trial weekend and came home with her Can. CD.

Then it was on to Open. In Feb.’99 we went back to Canada for a four trial weekend and brought home the Can. Companion Dog Excellent degree (CDX). In May ’99 she earned her AKC CDX as well as the very prestigious Dog World Award, because she had qualified in the Open Class at three trials in a row, with scores of l95 or more. Needless to say, I was very happy.

As if that wasn’t enough, in June of the same year she was the Highest Scoring Giant Schnauzer in Trial at the Midwest Specialty from the Open A class. In October we went to Canada again for a four trial weekend. This time we showed both in the Open B and Utility classes, and achieved the Can. Obedience Trial Champion or Canadian Utility Degree (UD) title. What a fun weekend that was! Heike followed that up with the AKC UD in Dec.’99. By the time Heike was 2 1/2 years old she had her TDX, UD and CAN.OTCH.

In June 2000 we were in Houston, TX for the GSCA National Specialty. At both the Southern and Western Specialties Heike was the High Combined Giant Schnauzer in Open B and Utility B.

On July 14, 2001, Heike became the first Giant Schnauzer to receive the Utility Dog Excellent title or UDX. We were bursting our buttons with pride. In April 2003 Heike was the Highest Scoring Giant Schnauzer at the National Specialty in Harrisburg, PA.

Each year the Top Dog Competition is held in conjunction with the Giant Schnauzer Club of America’s National Specialty. Only the Top Ten Giants in obedience are invited to attend. When Heike turned six this past April, she was invited for the fifth time to participate. In 2000 in Houston she won the competition and was selected Top Obedience Dog.

This past May, Heike and I started a new career in Agility. According to Heike, Agility may be the most fun of all. She got her Standard Novice title (NJP) and the Jumpers With Weavers Novice title (NJP) by the end of June and became a Versatile Companion Dog 1 (VCD1), which means she has earned at least a CD, NA, NAJ and a TD. She now needs one more leg in each of the Open Agility classes (three legs are required) to become a VCD2.

We have also returned to our beloved tracking and are working toward a Variable Surface Tracking Title or VST.

People are always asking what it takes to get a Giant Schnauzer to enjoy working as much as Heike. My answer is: A well bred puppy, experience and a good trainer.

• Breeding: Heike’s breeders, Tarja & Jykri Ahlgren, are committed to breeding quality Giant Schnauzers with strong working temperaments. Right from the start it was obvious that my very busy puppy wanted to work and loved to perform.
• Experience: Heike is not my first Giant Schnauzer. Sage, Shari and Blaze preceded her and provided me with plenty of experience. They all earned obedience titles and each one taught me to be a better owner/handler.
• Training: I feel lucky to have a really fine instructor— Ronnie Bizer. Heike and I owe much of our success to Ronnie.

The Heike’s

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