Sky von Moosbach-Zuzelek becomes a new Field Champion and goes Best in Zuchtschau on the same weekend

It does not get any better! On Thursday, November 1, our 15-month-old Sky von Moosbach-Zuzelek passed a gun-shyness and NATC Small Game Hunting tests. On Friday his conformation was rated "excellent" by a German judge Monika Wittkamp. He was also her pick as Best in Zuchtschau. On Saturday he was 1st in an OAAD stake of 14, went Best of Open, and became a new Field Champion.

At the conclusion of Zuchtschau on November 2: Sky was selected Best in Show by Judge Monika Wittkamp

Sky with his ribbons for 1st in OAAD stake, Best in Open and new Field Champion

Sky is a very charming and full of character dog.

Mielikki Raptor becomes a new Field Champion and passes a Small Game Hunt Test

A wirehaired dachshund Mielikki Raptor was born on December 10, 2011, in the Czech Republic. She was bred by Gabriela Skruzna, and our friend Lenka Faraislova brought Mielikki and her sister Macaria to this country at the end of February 2012. 

She went to her first field trial on October 27, and 8 days later she finished her Field Championship with three 1st places and one Absolute win. She also passed a gun steadiness test and North American Teckel Small Game Hunting Test. At a NATC Zuchtschau she got a "very good" rating with a comment that in 3-4 months she will be "excellent" when she matures more. BTW, she weighs 7.9 kg (17.5 lbs).  

Patience gets rewarded! At one point we had some doubts about Mielikki, especially when her second teeth erupted and they all looked out of place. But some friends, especially Patricia Nance, advised us to wait. We are glad that we followed the advice. Her teeth are OK now, and she proved to be a very talented versatile hunter.

On Sunday, November 4, Mielikki won her stake of OAAB, then was Best of Open and Absolute Winner of the trial

 

Paika running rabbits - spurlaut in dachshunds

Yesterday John and I went to the beagle club, something we have not done for many months. My knee is getting better; MRI showed that it is a ligament injury and it does not require a surgery. Actually feeling better I am planning to go to a field trial in Maryland this coming weekend.

John and I wanted to know how Paika would run rabbits now, after such a long winter break. We have very few rabbits around our place, and it has been a while since she had a good workout. John was working with Joeri at another part of the grounds, and I handled Paika. Right now she is just one year old, but she showed a lot of interest in rabbits at an early age. She did well last fall so I was curious how she would do this spring.

Overall I was very impressed. She is a dog with a lot of hunt and excellent mouth. Her conformation right now is not what it used to be but let's hope that it will improve. She is going through a severe false pregnacy and her mammary glands are really enlarged. Yet, she ran rabbits very hard and in a good style.

The first video clip shows Paika working the brush pile. She detects rabbit scent and is trying to find the rabbit. She works around the brush pile, then goes in. It is a huge and dense brush and I try to shake it. She works the rabbit in the brush, flushes it (we did not see it on the video) but cannot follow it through the brush so she makes exit and follows the rabbit on the grassy path, tonguing nicely. She overshoots a check and corrects herself almost immediately. All in all a nice job, which shows Paika's drive and intelligence.



The second video shows Paika trailing a rabbit. This rabbit ran in front of me (I did not catch it on video) and I heard Paika following so I just waited to see whether she is going to come my way. She did and took the rabbit a long way. She works fast, but so far her line control is very good so the speed is not a problem. In my opinion she is showing a lot of promise.



To see these videos in other resolutions click here.

To read about the voice in dachshunds go to http://www.born-to-track.com/our-writing/jola/spurlaut1.htm

Small Game Hunting Test for Dachshunds

In Europe the dachshund is valued for its hunting versatility, and is considered the smallest versatile hunting dog. In his psychological makeup the dachshund combines traits of a hound and terrier. He has an excellent nose and a strong drive to work the scent line. He is game aggressive, goes to the ground and is a superb choice for hunting foxes, badgers and, here in the States, woodchucks. Unlike the terrier though, the dachshund is supposed to open on the scent of live game, and open trailing is one of the hunting dachshund’s quintessential traits. Because of his small size the can penetrate brush and can be used for flushing. Of course, the dachshund can be also a very good tracker of wounded big game. And some dachshunds are competent waterfowl retrievers.

In the USA there is only one club that promotes dachshund’s hunting versatility according to the European tradition, and it is the North American Teckel Club. On September 26, the club held a Small Game Hunter Test at the Pocono Beagle Club in Leesport, PA. First the participating dogs were tested for gun-steadiness. A dog is supposed to hunt away from the handler and when the distance between the handler and dog is around 50 yards, two shots are fired. Judges observe the dog’s reaction. If a dog is sensitive to the gun sound, he will get another chance to take the test 30 minutes later. According to club regulations, a dog has to pass this test to be eligible to enter any other NATC field test. On September 26, almost all tested dachshunds passed the test, including our 7.5 moth old Joeri.

Cheri Faust shown here while firing the gun.

Susie Gardner with Greta and John with Joeri are waiting for their turn at the site of the gun-steadiness test.

The Small Game Test has two levels and this time only the first level test was conducted. It requires that the dog trails the rabbit flushed for him by the beaters for at least 50 yards. The dog is expected to give voice on a scent line, and the dog must be obedient to his handler. Basically the dog’s performance should be on the level that would be useful in the real hunting of small game. It is a pass/fail test, and dogs that pass it get the title of “Novice Hunter”.

John and I enetered three dachhunds and they all passed – Joeri vom Nonnenschlag, Asta von Moosbach-Zuzelek (“Emma”) and Darin von Moosbach-Zuzelek (“Bernie”). Greta (Melodie von Moosbach-Zuzelek) owned by Susie Gardner passed the test with flying colors as well. To hear dachshunds open on rabbits has always been a thrill for me. You can read more about voicing dachshunds at http://www.born-to-track.com/our-writing/jola/spurlaut1.htm

Our 7.5 moth old Joeri passed successfuly the Small Game Hunting Test and received the Novice Hunter title.

Cheri Faust's Danika vom Nordlicht passed the Small Game Hunting Test as well.