VOM PALADIN MALINOIS

NEWSFLASH! Ch. Oaktreegardens Anushka of vom Paladin passes IPO1! Click this link to read all about it and see the photos!

Click here to see photos of some of our dogs in action!

Click here to see how we did at The Highveld Belgian Shepherd Dog Club’s specialist Championship show on 19th June 2011.

Maxine Quinton and “Dika” (Ch. Oaktreegardens Anushka of vom Paladin)
IPO1 : 19 February 2011

I qualified my first dog in IPO on the 1st March 1992. This was with my German Shepherd Dog, “Kenzo” (Tanglewood Spitfire). The last time I entered IPO (Internationale Profungs Ordnung or International Working Trials) was with my Malinois “Tineke” (Ch. Toscan van de Haantjeshoek of vom Paladin) back on the 11th July 1999. The rules have changed quite a bit in the last decade, so when I decided to enter again, I had to do a bit of studying, as well as familiarise “Dika” (Ch. Oaktreegardens Anushka of vom Paladin) with the various exercises. IPO has 3 disciplines – tracking, control and agility and defense work. The dog must get a qualifying mark in each section to gain an IPO qualification.

Discipline 1: Tracking
In this component, the handler walks a prescribed box of 300 paces, placing an article in the middle of the second leg and then another at the end of the track. The dog has to work on a 10 metre line ahead of the handler.

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Reporting on to the Judge (Mrs Mary Charity). This is compulsory and is a requirement before each of the three disciplines starts.

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Waiting to begin the heel free (the next dog needs to be placed in a down stay before I can begin the heel pattern)

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Heel free (it has now started to rain). Note the dog doing its down stay.

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Going through the group

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The retrieve on flat

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Phase 3: Defense Work
In this section, the dog is required to run around a hide and then confront an assailant in a second hide. The dog must stay in front of this assailant and bark whilst the handler walks up to the dog. The dog is then recalled to heel, and the assailant ordered out of the hide, to take up a position ready for the escape. The dog is then heeled to a predetermined spot, some 5 paces from the assailant and placed in a down position. The handler then returns to the hide, leaving the dog in a down stay. Upon instruction from the judge, the assailant then “escapes” or attempts to run away, at which time the dog must give chase and bite the arm guard. A re-attack follows which is accompanied by two stick blows to the dog. A test of courage or “long bite” follows, where the dog is sent into an assailant who is running towards the dog in a threatening manner. Once the dog has bitten the assailant, the handler commands the dog to leave, and then moves up to them. The handler disarms the assailant of his stick and handler and dog perform a side escort back to the judge.

Dika has completed the hides and is now doing a bark confrontation

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The escape

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Got him!

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Re-attack (with stick blows)

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Hold and Bark

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Test of courage: Long bite

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Got him again! - this is such fun!!

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Control prior to disarming the assailant and side escort to judge

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Happy me receiving Qualifying Certificate

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Photos of some of our dogs in action.

Dika taking mid-air stick blows from Nick Vannerom, a Belgian FCI recognised instructor and tracklayer, as well as a licensed IPO helper. Nick and his Malinois, Doc van het Dreiland, became Vice Belgian Champion FCI All-Breeds in 2009 and Belgian Champion for Belgian Shepherds in 2008. In 2009, Nick was awarded best IPO Sportsman of the Year (All Breeds). Nick visited South Africa in April 2011 to give an IPO seminar, which I attended with 2 of my Malinois.

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Barron Africa working with Koki (note the depth of bite).

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Nick ensuring that Dika bites the sleeve firmly by keeping all her legs off the ground.

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Dika biting Shane Goncalves during the escape section of IPO 1.

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Koki getting cross because Barron is trying to take his sleeve.

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Dika taking stick blows from Shane during IPO1.

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BEAUTY AND BRAINS COMBINED or FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION
The Highveld Belgian Shepherd Dog Club’s specialist Championship show on 19th June 2011

I have always believed that dogs that were designed to work should do so. The emphasis in our breeding kennel is that all dogs used for breeding must be breed champions and have a working qualification. Our current brood bitch, Ch. Oaktreegardens Anushka of vom Paladin recently proved that dogs can excel in both the working and beauty arenas. Earlier this year she qualified BWT (scoring 100% for her manwork) and IPO1. She also has qualifications in Working Trials Classic and International Tracking Trials.

The Highveld Belgian Shepherd Dog Club’s specialist Championship show on 19th June 2011, was judged by Mrs Addy Smits, who is a highly respected and well-known judge. Under her, Dika won the Champions class.

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She then went on to win Best of Breed (Malinois).

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This show had the highest entry of Malinois in the club's history, with a 2 point c.c. being awarded for the first time. Dika's son from her last litter, vom Paladin Gregor, owned and handled by Yolan Friedman won the male 2 point c.c., showing that it is in the genes. Gregor gained his Canine Good Citizen award on the same day.

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Dika then went on to win Reserve Best in Show, coming second to a Terveuren.

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Dika with her trophies.

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