WOW! Stands for?

World Of Working, dogs! and the capitol of that world was definitely Odense, Denmark, European Championship!

This years producer was none other than the original K9 PRO SPORTer in Europe, Carsten Skalls. Carsten teamed up with judge Kim Pedersen to come up with all the usual challenges we expect in a Denmark trial, with all the practical applications of real PP dog work.

As K9PS enjoys the participation of many military and police dog handlers and trainers, we always see some really top dog teams in the Patrol Division, but the training division in Denmark is always a good predictor of future talent, this year was no exception.

Following in the very large footsteps made by 2005 PP Champion team Lisbeth Henson and Gizmo, GSD, another lady from the Danish military dog school stepped in to try her hand. Puk Larsen and her Mal, Mia, were not just the picture of military precision on the field, but also a TEAM in every sense of the word.

Followed by another newcomer from civilian ranks Cristin Olson and her Mal Tasha, they were precision personified, in the Training div. OB. Cristin said her dog was sooo attentive to her because of nerves, hers, not the dogs. She said she was so nervous coming on the field that she was shaking like a leaf in a wind and Tasha, never having seen mommie shake like that, couldn't take her eyes off her. What ever it takes to get the job done it sure made for an impressive OB routine.

In the Patrol div. Klause Jensen, and his MWD Sacko, Mal, showed why even the American Generals in Afghanistan ask for the Danish K9 teams to do their security. The Courage test was designed to really test the dogs athletic ability. If you've seen trials designed by Danes you know they like to see if a dog will work far way from the handler, and I mean Far, Far away.

Stepping it off the end was about sixty five yards. The dog was moving about as fast as it could move. Our decoy was none other than Carsten Skalls and as the dog approached, at full speed ahead, Carsten side stepped behind a huge beach unbrella. Like a thief scared to death of a dog bite, he squatted down and holding his arms around his knees he gave the dog no target. Did Sacko care? H@ll No! As fast as he was going, the dog was able to stop his forward momentum, and not only come back to the target, but come back with so much force, he Flattened Him!!

If you have ever competed in K9PS you'll remember that our judges score the dogs' fighting ability, not just how he "grips" we don't need a dog hanging on like a wet rag on a clothesline, K9PS judges the "Fight", and let me tell you when Sacko flattened Carsten the fight was ON! Carsten is a lean, fit, six foot, three, Sacko is twenty five inches at the shoulder. Sacko drug Carsten around like a rag doll, it was plain, If? Carsten had been able to get to his feet, the dog would have drug him down again anyway.

Now Klause and Sacko are shipping out to Afghanistan soon and I can assure you any Taliban loco that try's to get past Sacko, will see his grandchild with toothmarks, from the bite he gets from Sacko today. This dude is dynamite in a fight!

And don't discount or forget Lucas Amman and Kasha, cause right after Sacko did his thing, Lucas' dog came in and did his imitation of a freight train for Carsten. Lucas who is getting ready to take Kasha to the Mondio World Championship in one week, said that this is all just a warm up for Kasha, and for the K9PS decoys at the World Championship, he would like to bowl a perfect strike and not leave a decoy standing. Volunteers??

As is often the case when he is around the story that will stand out in the minds of many, that watched this trial unfold, was Thomas Ravn and Aaron, that's right I said Aaron, not his K9PS World Champion or Mondio Ring second place champion partner, Unik, but his Wardog Aaron! And how does a military war dog stack up in a K9PS trial? Well, remember this dog is trained by Thomas Ravn! Nuff said??

This is getting a little lengthy so I'll leave everyone to get back to some dog training,and my phone keeps ringing for people wanting to order the "PP without a decoy" DVD (thank goodness) so I will finish this in a day or so.

But I will tell you this, for those of you that remember the really great performances of the past, like Kathy O'Brien and her amazing dog, Bomber Ot Vitosha, or Appie Kamps and Quatro, then you will get an idea of what the crowd got to watch with Thomas & Aaron. I will say that if the great Nerf were alive, he and Darryl Thornton would be worried about a payday and trophy. Stay tuned for part two, I think it will be worth it.

Bite Hard, Listen Well!!!