UKC Elite Shed Dog Series First Event Is In The Books!
May 4, 2017
Source: Todd Kellam, UKC
Phone: 269.343.9020
Email: tkellam@ukcdogs.com
The forecast leading up to our first shed dog event scheduled for the last Saturday in April 2017 was not looking good. Each day throughout the week the forecast for steady rain was getting pushed back for later in the day, which was encouraging. At check-in time on event day, the rain was slated to arrive about 2 p.m. With 26 entries at deadline, I was hopeful we would get done without getting soaked.
To start the event day, the weather was ideal for running dogs. We had cool and overcast conditions with a slight, steady breeze. I don’t know who was more nervous, handlers who had never participated in this new format or myself hoping this new format would even work! We were happy to see a great representation of dogs from around the country including such states as Mississippi, North Carolina, Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois, Wisconsin, Arkansas and Michigan. The entry included 22 Labs, 2 Chessies, a Dutch Shepherd, and a German Shepherd. With opening introductions and handler’s meeting under our belt, it was time to run some dogs.
UKC Senior Vice President Todd Kellam and Judge Joe Johnson discussing the zone and shed placements on the course.
We were lucky that our entry for both the Champion class and Working Shed Dog class were nearly the same. This allowed us to put all Champions on one course and Working Shed Dogs on the other. Judging duties were capably led by Joe Johnson and Clint Post. Shed planting duties fell in the hands of myself and Kevin Ralston. The courses were outstanding. I would describe them as wooded with plenty of options for planting sheds in cover, yet easy to navigate for handlers and judges.
As you would expect, we experienced runs in both divisions ranging from blistering to timing out. It took us right up until lunch time to get all runs on each of the first courses completed. The Michigan Shed Hunting Dog Association provided an excellent lunch, and we swapped courses for each division and were underway with our second round. This is where it got interesting. With the weather looking more threatening, the average times for our completed runs seem to be lengthening. We also experienced an increased number of dogs timing out and not completing their course? Then the rain started. Not a heavy rain but steady enough that rain gear was a welcome addition. And then the times on the courses started to improve! Weather is obviously out of our control, but it was very interesting to experience first-hand the change it had on scenting conditions. It was a noticeable improvement and we finished the day with some smoking runs.
Judge Joe John, Shed Planter Kevin Ralson, and Edward Norys with Dallas.
We learned a lot along the way. I had, earlier in the day, encouraged handlers to please provide us with feedback on how to improve this format. Throughout the day and in the days that followed, we received some genuine and well thought out suggestions for improvement. I’m happy to report that we are already working on slight changes that I believe will be very well received by participants in this exciting new venue for shed dogs.
Jordan Gust with Jax.
First of all, we would like to congratulate our three entries in the Youth Division as each of them passed their course with flying colors and were very, very close in time to boot! Jaylin Rezin handling Rannie, Joey Johnson handling Denver, and Cadence Johnson handling Cider all received awards for their successful efforts.
Betsy Bernock with Goose.
A hotly contested Champion division saw top honors awarded to: First, Antler Ridges Denver, Joe Johnson; Second, Hunters Little Ann, Nate VanSchyndel; Third, Scuba Steve, Jason Rezin; Fourth, Blue Clay’s Blue Chip, Amy Kuchenbecker.
Brian Schlomann with Ali.
The Working Shed Dog class had an impressive pass rate that included: AR Sweet Autumn Apple Cider, Joe Johnson; Jetta, Scott Goff; Reive, Dawn Parry; Goose, Betsy Bernock; Antler Ridge Dallas, Joe Johnson; Blue Clay’s Rarin’ To Go, Amie Kuchenbecker; Fletcher, John Ballard; Guage, Brian Schlomann; Ali, Brian Schlomann; and Jax, Jordan Gust.
Beautiful rosettes for qualifying runs and first through fourth Champion; along with medals for the youth winners.
United Kennel Club would like to thank our host for this inaugural event, the Michigan Shed Hunting Dog Association. They did an outstanding job in all respects. We would also like to thank all owners, handlers and spectators that took a leap of faith to come out and enjoy a morning in the Michigan woods with their four-legged shed hunting partners. The future looks bright for the UKC Elite Shed Dog Series.
A Kalamazoo, Michigan-based company founded in 1898, United Kennel Club is the largest all-breed performance-dog registry in the world, registering dogs from all 50 states and 25 foreign countries. Celebrating the unique Total Dog philosophy, UKC events highlight the instincts and heritage of dogs that look and perform equally well, as more than 60 percent of its annually licensed events are tests of hunting ability, training, and instinct. United Kennel Club prides itself on its family-oriented, friendly, educational events, welcoming both purebred dogs and dogs of unknown ancestry.