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BOUVIER OBEDIENCE TRIAL CHAMPIONS….THE BEGINNING
In
the world of the AKC, the measure of outstanding achievement in
obedience is the Obedience Trial Champion title; the OTCH. To obtain
an OTCH title, a dog and handler team must receive 100 points by
placing first, second, third or fourth in the Open B or Utility B
class and first place in Utility B and/or Open B three times. This
is the ultimate recognition of teamwork and no easy task.
MAX
Since the
inception of the OTCH in 1977, there have been 3 Bouviers who have
obtained this outstanding achievement. The first was Ch OTCH
Susant's Emperor Maximillian UDX 3, TDX, HT, TT, CGC, SchH AD, SchH
BH, a male owned and trained by Erik Hoyer. Max was truly an
outstanding dog. Max completed his first tracking title, on the
first try, by 12 months of age. He later completed his championship
in seven shows and earned his CD, CDX and UD within a 3-month
period. He went from CD to OTCH within the short span of a year,
with his OTCH title being earned in 1994.
Erik started
training Max at a very early age, 7 weeks old. He started teaching
only small things, but steadily built a good obedience foundation.
Max was trained all the way through Utility before entering his 1st
obedience trial. Even though they quickly went from CD to UD; Erik
did not initially think of working toward an OTCH. The turning point
was at an all-breed show and trial in Santa Barbara where Max scored
198.5 from the Utility B class. Not only was the competition stiff,
but there was the added distraction of having 2 bitches in season
crated ringside while Max was performing. Erik said he had never
seen the Max concentrate so hard on doing well, especially when he
noticed Max salivating during the his obedience routine. After that
performance, other exhibitors encouraged him to go for an OTCH and
the rest is history.
Max
accumulated numerous honors during his lifetime. His highest score
was a 199.5 under noted obedience judge, Marilyn Little. He was
also the first dog of any breed to earn an OTCH, UDX (Utility Dog
Excellent title) and breed championship. Erik and Max were invited
to the first 3 AKC National Obedience Invitational trials and won
many High in Trial and High Combined Score honors at all-breed and
specialty trials.
Max also
earned 2 Schutzhund titles during the time he was competing in
obedience. Erik says that at the endurance test, people in the
Schutzhund test said, “This big dog can’t run 12 miles.” Max and his
100 plus pound frame “ran the 12 miles with no fatigue afterwards
and they were amazed”, Erik remembers. When Max earned his SchH AD
title, he started out with a field of 20 competitors during the
test. At the end of the test, he was the only one who finished.
Erik described
Max as laid back, but protective. He had a unique way of figuring
out people. Erik tells a story of his daughter bringing a young man
to their home. Max immediately climbed on the couch next to the
young man and laid his head on the boy’s shoulder; all the while
continually growling. This was quite unnerving for the young man, so
he asked that Max be moved. The daughter took Max’s good advice and
asked the young man to leave. Summing up Max’s personality, Erik
says, “He was the most devoted dog.”
BRONTE
The second
Bouvier to earn an OTCH title was
Max's daughter, Ch OTCH Emperor's
Mistic Bronte, UDX 11, TDX, earning her OTCH in 2001. Bronte was
bred, owned and trained by Erik Hoyer.
Bronte
continued the tradition of excellence in obedience set by her sire.
She completed her CD through UD in 5 months 3 weeks. She passed her
TD and TDX tracking titles on her first attempt. She is the most
successful obedience Bouvier in AKC history with 112 UDX legs.
Bronte earned multiple specialty and all-breed High In Trial and
High Combined honors. She was also invited to the AKC National
Obedience Invitational numerous times.
Erik described
Bronte as a “firecracker.” “She was a Border Collie inside a
Bouvier, too intense and quick.” Up until she was 3 years old, she
would do the “Bouvier Bounce” over his head when they walked. She
loved to work with Erik and was his constant companion from birth
until she passed away in November 2005 at the age of 11 ½.
When asked what
made him believe Max and Bronte were good prospects for an OTCH,
Erik said it was the intensity in their eyes and their total
devotion. Both dogs loved to please.
Both of these
outstanding dogs were excellent examples of the intelligence and
versatility of our breed. I was very fortunate to see both dogs
compete in their prime and it was a true joy to watch. |
