News & Highlights

Congratulations to Jerry Kellogg for successfully campaigning his Deutsch Kurzhaar, Orna (Oreo) vom Riverwoods, in the German testing system. Oreo has earned her KS. She is a daughter of CH Graf KS vom Vehner Moor CD CGC and Bonny KS vom Bonrechtern.

A Goal Achieved
by Jerry Kellogg

Roughly seven years ago, I joined NADKC with a future goal of running my dog in the Kleemann (KS). The first couple of years were rough. Echo, my first dog, and I had our ups and downs together as a team. I was learning the system, and he was willing to play the game, all too well. After a Prize III in the VGP, I saw my trip to Germany vanish. Together though, we did pass the VGP, so I started to apprentice to become a judge (still pending). I still had a great dog and I was going to just hunt and judge. I wasn’t even ready to think about handling another dog.

Orna KS vom Riverwoods D1, SI, IKP1, VGP1, Formwert: V, HD0

Oreo was going to be my last chance to make it to Germany to run in the KS. We started off right away training, and to my surprise she was a tough bitch that wanted things her way. I remember asking myself, “Why am I doing this again?” She took the training well, and even though it was rough on her at times, Oreo just kept coming back for more. Her desire was something to dream for. We passed the Derby test with a Prize I, Solms test with a Prize I and got her ready for a VGP and IKP in Germany. The Engelking’s lined up Heinz Sprock to handle her for those two tests. With Heinz getting to know and train her, Oreo received a Prize I in both the VGP and IKP. Thank you, Mr. Sprock, for a job well done. My goal to run my dog in the KS was still alive.

The summer flew by with October fast approaching. Not only was I trying to get ready for the Kleemann, I was rebuilding our house and working. The day finally came. After kissing my wife good-bye, Oreo and I were off to Germany on October 5, 2000. My wife was really looking forward to going, but unfortunately her mother had a stroke.So my wife was out and then the other ladies started to take a pass on the Germany trip. Once again, it was a boy’s trip (vacation). Thanks, Eugenia, and the rest of the fine ladies for putting up with us over the last few years.

The flight was long with all of my emotions built up and not knowing what to expect. I landed in Breman, Germany, got my luggage, picked up Oreo, and proceeded to the curb to wait for my ride. After a 45 minute wait, Hermann-Josef Schomakers tapped me on the shoulder and welcomed me to Germany. The 45 minutes seemed like hours. To see a friendly, familar face is a great relief!

Now, the fun begins; I’m safe and we are off to train for a week and a half before the Kleemann. My first day of training was unexpected water work at Sprock’s Jager Haut. Oreo had to retrieve two drake mallards out of his marsh (two for two). Thank you Heinz for letting Oreo do the water work that day. The next day I was off to Holland in the Netherlands with Hermann to experience sugar beets for the first time. Hermann and I trained at Gines Gangelhof’s revere. Thank you, Gines and Seene for your hospitality that day. My ankle will always remember those sugar beets. Next stop was Gunther Christe’s to use his fields to experience hasen (hare). We all were given different fields and told to have fun. Thank you, Mr. Christe, and your wine was also outstanding. The sweet wines were the best by far.

Finally we trained at Mr. Kauther’s revere in Lingenfeld for a couple of days. What a beautiful place! Field after field with all wild game. We couldn’t ask for anything better to train in. Thanks again to Mr. Kauther for his hospitality and the nice gift of the roe buck trophy and to all those who helped us in our training on the way to the Kleemann.

Test day is upon us. We wait for the start of the Zuchtschau. The judges talk in German, and I have no idea what they are saying, but I keep going with Oreo, looking at them and following their hand commands. Around and around, in and out, anything to keep the judges interested in my dog. After it was over the judges said what they needed to say about the dog. Oreo and I left the ring and headed back to the trailer so I could put her away. That’s when Rob and Willy informed me not to put her away and congratulated me on Oreo receiving a V (Excellent) in conformation. I was due back in the show ring for V1, V2, etc.. Oreo didn’t make the next cut, but I was still happy as hell. It was a great experience. Day one down and waiting for day two.

On day two we were lucky to do both field and water work in the same day. Fine with me because I was getting way to nervous to go another day. Rich Dobey woke me up and announced, “Get up or we’ll sleep through our KS.” Thanks, Rich! Rich was my alarm clock on the trip. Once you’re a member of the AARP Club, you just always get up early. The field work came and went. The judges just wanted to see multiple searches out of the dogs. They are use to seeing the dogs go back and forth like machines. So I guess they were satisfied and Oreo passed the field work. I thought “two-thirds of the way to a KS dog.” The drive to the water was about an hour and a half away. It seemed to take forever in anticipation of what the water will look like. The water was fine and plenty of cover to search. After two good searches in the water plus a duck retrieve, it was over. Standing at the water’s edge is a very lonely feeling. Thoughts of knowing what it takes to get here slip away, because it’s all up to the dog now. During the “search behind the live duck” , I almost threw-up because I was so nervous. Then finally a judge came over and congratulated me on my KS. I finally knew it was over and that my goal of achieving a KS dog was complete. The feeling was outstanding and hopefully we will continue to have future NADKC members experience the same joy and exhilaration that I did on my trip to Germany.

Now I would like to thank all those individuals who helped Oreo and I achieve a KS title. A big thank you Rob and Willy Engelking for all they have done for my family and me. I have a nice check cord for Willy. You both have brought me a long way from the fields of Iowa and Illinois, and I thank you both from the bottom of my heart. You trusted me with Oreo, and I thank you both for letting me achieve a goal I almost dismissed as unobtainable. THANKS!!!