I saw my first DVG trial this weekend. Met board member Michon and Joe. Super nice couple. Michon was going to come down from Iowa by herself, but convinced Joe(with a pair of Blues hocky tickets) to come with her. With his athletic and sporting background, I think he got into it and enjoyed himself. Michon and I talked about things we have learned on the board (different drives, types of bites, etc,) and it was an education seeing these things in person. The most obvious thing I noticed was the difference between the dogs (one in paticular) that were taught by compulsion vs inducive. The one dog was not enjoying himself, and it showed. John and I were doing our own scoring (neither one of us new what we wer doing) but both of us did good. Our guesses consisted of Hig 80's, low 90's, etc. Nothing to on the money, but it was fun. Another thing obvious to us were the true competitors, and the people who were there for a title. Having shown in AKC obd for a number of years,and never scoring out of the 90's, I can't imagine going on the field being happy with some of the scores we saw. The other side of the coin, the true competitors were a true joy to watch. I'm not worth a damn with names, but there was a lady with a mal, Sch 111, that gave a beautiful obd performance, 94 I think, and a 98 In protection. The only mistake (obvious to me) was her dog decided to go over the wall jump, while he was doing the blind search, but she did it without missing a beat. The difference between the two Mals entered, was also very obvious. Both very well handeled, and under control, but the one was clock spring tight, and, I'll bet a monster to live with. The other was the lady I mentioned, and her dog was very smooth, and obviously, not near as wound up as the first. Anyway, I enjoyed putting a face on one of the board members(Michon) and meeting joe also. It was I fun weekend, and got me chomping at the bit for my puppy.

Was the team that won Heather and her mal Nawty? I know she emailed me this morning saying she had won a DVG regionals with a 287

Karmen
That name sounds right. She is a tall, attractive, athletic looking woman. Her female Mal was a fine boned, very composed dog. A very professional looking team.

If we are talking about the same person then Heather Arlinghaus's Mal is a Male. He's not big though. Heather is fairly tall with dark hair. Who were the helpers? I looked at her updated website and saw a picture of James Laney (long blonde hair in a pony tail) working Nawty and was wondering if that picture was from the Regionals...She won the Midwest KG Regionals. Is this the one you saw

Actually on one of her pages it states Southwest Regionals and on anothe Midwest...I'm not sure which one she won....

This was Midwest regional, in St. Peters Mo. It's just out side St. Louis.

This lady had dark hair in a pony tail. What site did you find it on.

I can't find my competitors list. I probably put it in the wrong place and my wife threw it out. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> One helper was a tall African/American, bald/shaved headed man, the other was a shorter,very muscular looking guy, that looked like he could have eaten the dogs if they got out of hand. Wish I wasn't so lousy remembering names.

And yes, the dog was a male. I now remeber the judge saying something, and Heather(I think) correcting him about the dogs sex.

Finally found it. Yes Heather Arlinghaus, with Nawty, from Fort Wayne won the 2002 Midwest KG Championship.
Trial helpers
Clay Meadows..Spirit of St. Louis Schutzhund Club
Tomm Hunn.....Mid-Rivers WDA
James Akin-Otiko..Tulsa Scuhund Club
Sorry if I've confused you. Being my first trial, I was concentrating more on watching the action then learning who's who's.