This page
contains stories on the following Staffords, Bertie
& Biggles Biggles Story 23/01/91 - 04/01/01
Rosie (Fromestaff Staff Jet)
Jazz (Boomtown Jazz Ma Tazz) idgie
(Thunderstruck Dark Malice) Biscuit (Camino's Biscotti) Either click on the dog
you'd like to read about or scroll down and read them all, they are all very worthy
'Clever Staffords'.
Bertie,
Biggles & Trilby are owned and loved by Marney & Tim Wells.
Biggles
(Arad Llewelyn Bren of Copyhold) started pet obedience at 6 months old because the
Dangerous Dogs Act made me think that Staffords really did have to behave well. In
the tests at the end of the curse, he came 1st and someone suggested we tried actually
competing at shows, so we started competition obedience training.
Bertie (Cyclone Sweetheart of Copyhold CDex UDex), who came along 5 months after
Biggles also won her end o f course tests and that was it, we were hooked!
Both Biggles & Bertie have been placed in obedience at open shows, Biggles best
result was a second in a Beginners class. At exemption shows, I always like to enter
them in the classes with a scent test as they are so good at them it makes all the Collie
owners green with envy!
The two of them have been involved with several obedience demonstrations, Some at open
breed shows, some at large agricultural shows and even one especially for a local MP in
Sussex.
When the dogs were 2 years old, I heard of Working Trials because of the
trophies left to the Western Staffordshire Bull Terrier Society by Doris Hughs-Williams
for 'Staffords gaining most points in obedience competitions where CD's are no offer'.
I really did not think a Stafford, would ever qualify in open CD never mind become the
exceptional nosework dogs that mine became. Bertie did not even start tracking until
she was over 3 years old, but she has gone on to wind best track awards on several
occasions in UD & WD stakes.
Biggles has never taken to tracking, he soon discovered that wind scenting the end
article was a darned sight earlier than slogging round a half mile track and Ruth Cahill,
my incredibly good trainer and friend, I gave up the unequal struggles of training him and
concentrated on Bertie. Having said that, Biggles has won a best CD nosework trophy.
Both Biggles & Bertie were in the team representing England in the first
International Working Trials match held in Eire in 1995 - We beat the Irish!
Bertie has 6 Open CD's, 2 Open UD's, 6 CDex's one CD only at a Championship trial and 3
UDex's. She has won 3 Open CD's & 1 Championship UK. She was invited to
take part in the BAGSD Annual Nosework Awards and won the Junior Stake!
Biggles has made a career of CD stakes as he does not jump and has competed in 69 of
the things (he's now retired) Even without the jumps he has won 1 Open CD and been placed
in 8 others. Having taken part in 64 ten minute down stays, he has only ever moved
on 1 occasion - pretty impressive!
Because of their trials training, Biggles & Bertie were asked to be extras in the
'crowd scene' in 101 Dalmatians, they behaved impeccably.
We also took up agility when the dogs were 2 years old, Biggles was never over
enthusiastic about jumping but Bertie handled by Marney's husband Tim, has been an amazing
little dog and is still being placed at 9 years old. She has something like 290
places in Agility and has in excess of 385 rosettes for Agility & Obedience..
She won the medal given by Agility Eye magazine for the highest points scored by a mini
dogs at agility shows in 1997. Bertie also appeared briefly on TV in the series on
Longleat called Lion Country, she was filmed demonstrating the weaves during an Agility
round.
In 1995 Trilby arrived on the scene (read Trilby's story!!) Trilby, Bertie &
Biggles were all involved with demonstrations put on by Donyaltt training club, the
biggest one being at the Royal Bath and West Show where we also had Joan Stone handling
her Stafford's Gracie (Trilby's mum) and Twoey (Trilby's sister).
All 3 are registered PAT dogs, visiting hospitals and the elderly.
What a trio!!
Biggles has recently died (4th January 2001)
from Cancer he was 9 years old, he certainly was a great ambassador for the breed.
Read his story below.
Bertie - Unfortunately the sad news that Bertie too has just died,
at just over 10 years of age, she was found to have a tumour and was given sleep. 22 March
2002
Biggles
23rd January 1991 - 4th January 2001
Biggles (Arad Llewely Bren of Copyhold) has recently died just a few days
short of his 10th birthday. His death at a relatively 'spricley' age is a tragedy, Biggles
was a legend, a true gentleman and a great ambassador for the breed, I remember the first
time I met Biggles, I watched spellbound as he executed a perfect scent test during an
Exemption Obedience class, much to the delight of the crowd. He will be missed by
many people, but I will let Marney Wells his doting mum tell his story....
We had to make the sad decision to have Biggles put down when the pain
caused by the Lymphoma he had had for sometime could no longer be controlled.
Biggles had, by any standards, led a remarkable life. It all started
when we decided to go to pet obedience classes at the DDA was causing so many problems and
we were determined that our new Staffords should be well behave. Biggles proved to
be the star of the class and he and Tim (Marney's husband) won 1st prize in the end of
course tests. With our first trophy clutched proudly in our hands, it was easy for
our obedience trainer to persuade us to enter an exemption show. It was held of one
of the wettest days imaginable and Biggles had to leave the shelter of the table beside
the ring to work his round. He did so well that he came 2nd! After that, there was
no stopping us and we were soon entering open obedience shows - and being placed!
Not that it was all plain sailing, Biggles had no intention that either
Tim or I should start taking his work for granted and he would often do something totally
unexpected. At one show, Tim smartly executed a right turn when told to by the
steward, only to realised that Biggles was o longer with him - he had stopped to have a
widdle, much to the judges' amusement! Once comfortable, he caught up with Tim and
completed the round.
We all really enjoyed the obedience training so when trophies were left to
the WSBTS (Western SBT Society) for 'Staffords gaining point in obedience where CD's were
on offer' I decided I would find out what these CD things were and have a go.
That's how I discovered Working Trials, because it is only in trials that
there are CD's, Biggles became an expert on CD's. They are the lowest stake in
Trials and once a dog has a certain number of prizes, they are no longer allowed to enter
CD, but as dear Biggles chose not to do the agility section, he never qualified out of the
stake - we just did it over and over again as it was so much fun!!
Biggles became extremely well known to judges and competitors and there
are several stories told about him inn trialling circles. The sit stay (2 minutes
out of sight) as one trial was being done by each dog individually, with the judge
remaining alone in the filed while the handler hid behind a hedge. It had been a
long day out in the fields and the judge was bursting so while Biggles was 'staying' she
decided to have a quick wee. Apparently, not only did Biggles not mind, he turned
his head and averted his gaze as the true gentleman that he was!
Although Biggles didn't qualify , he did win several prizes, beating
'Working' dogs who could do the jumps. He was even in the England team that
went to Eire for an international trials match and there are stories of biggles told all
over Ireland!!
Because of his trails work, he was asked, with Bertie (Cyclone Sweetheart
of Copyhold CDex UDex) to be an extra in '101 Dalmatians' which was quite an experience,
and most exciting to see them on the big screen.
Biggles did Agility training as well, although he never really liked
jumping, having said that, at 9 years of age, I entered him in a 'Vintage Dog' class and
he won the trophy for the best vintage dog, he took part in many agility demonstrations,
which he enjoyed as he loved to show off to a crowd. Over the years, we did
obedience, agility and trails work in demonstrations for schools, fetes, agricultural
shows, breed shows and once for a MP at a show for Joanna Mason. Sometimes as part
of a club team or as just myself and the Staffords. Biggles always attracted a group
of admirers who all want to make a fuss of him.
His love for people (and theirs for him) made him an ideal PAT dog, he
regularly visited an elderly lady who adored him. He was particularly keen if she
had had to go into hospital and he could visit her in a ward full of other elderly ladies
who all seemed to have an endless supply of biscuits!
Apart from the exciting things that Biggles did, he was just the most
wonderful dog to have as a friend. Always ready for a game with one of his huge
collection of toys and always ready for a cuddle.
We do miss him, but he gave so much whilst he was here.
Marney Wells
Rosie
17th March 1990 - 17 May 2002
Rosie (Fromestaff Staff Jet) is owned and loved by Erika Schmuki from
Switzerland, she was born on 17th March 1990 and is out of Billy Ruffian of Wyerfare and
Black Mash of Frome (she is the litter sister of Ch. Fromestaff Abracadabra of Wyerfare).
Her breeder is Carolyn and Mike Green, England.
She is still very fit and likes to go to shows, recently on the 21/ 22 October 2000 she
was awarded Best Staffordshire Bull Terrier Veteran at the International Championship show
at Lausanne (Switzerland), then on Saturday she made BOS (the judge liked Rosie more than
the Champion bitch!) Last year Rosie was placed second in veteran at the show out of all
breed veteran winners, at the same show - on Saturday too. Saturday is our day!!
At the age of seven Rosie made the BEGLEITHUND I four times. Thats a
Switzerland speciality. It's something between Obedience and Schutzhund (without
Schutzdienst). Rosie was awarded 2nd place out of 14 teams, the rest were German
Shephards, Malinois (Belguim Shepherds) and other working breeds.
She still likes to work at
BEGLEITHUND as you can see on the picture taken recently (02/09/2000) at the age of 10 and
a half years. We have started to take it easy now, we have stopped taking lessons twice a
week. Rosie has now retired from the shows. Now it's just for fun.
Erika goes on to say that "It's a lot of fun to live with a Staffordshire Bull
Terrier. I think it's easier to train a German Shephard for BEGLEITHUND. but first of all
who wants it easy? and second - what is more fun?
The most important thing is, Rosie is not just a dog, she is my friend and a
great ambassador of the breed in Switzerland!"
I'm afraid that Erika has just let me know that she has lost her Rosie at a little over
12 years of age, our thoughts are with Erika at this sad time xx
Jazz
Jazz (Boomtown Jazz Ma Tazz) is out of Champion Yankeestaff Feisty Britches
by Champion Trugrip Palatine and is owned and loved by Alisa, origionally her husbands
first Stafford, but Alisa was immediately impressed with how smart she was. Jazz
earned her American Kennel Club canine 'Good Citizen' title before her 1st birthday!
Jazz was competing in her first Flyball competition at only 10 months old,
she is now a Flyball master (5000 points) and totally nuts about anything that involves
tennis balls.
Jazz is responsible for Alisa's addiction to the breed.
Alisa has had quite a number of 'other' breeds, such as Rotties, Gordon Setters and Jack
Russells but she says that she has never had a more versatile dog.
Jazz has been shown is AKC and UKC conformation and dabbled in
Agility and could well do so much more had Alisa more time to devote to her hobbies!
Visit Alisa
& The Tempest Gang at their own website
Idgie
idgie (Thunderstruck Dark Malice) is owned and loved by Karen Lau, she is out
of Thunderstruck Wicked Tempest by Am. Champion Kesumic Dynamite.
idgie is 2 years old and has been raised by Karen since she was 7 1/2 weeks old.
Idgie has shown from puppyhood, that she had an
incredibe ability to focus and to be a sensible stafford that is full of life and vigour.
She has a complete love for the outdoors and loves Agility just b/c she does that with me.
My method of training for Idgie has been the strict
use of motivational methods, with no force or negative reinforcement ever used. Staffords
do not do well in an environment that uses force or even strong verbal commands as they
are very handler soft, most are that I have seen or raised personally.
Recently on September 30, Idgie obtained her Agility Dog of
Canada title (ADC), we will now be competing in the Advanced level of the Agility sport.
Idgie is 14 1/2 inches, B/Brindle with white markings and packs a lot of speed and
power for her age & size. I am very proud of her and look forward to many more
years of fun and excitment while loving her for what she is- a terrific example of a SBT
bitch!
Idgie certainly deserves her place on Clever Staffords and is a
super ambassador for the breed, and I agree totally with Karen's comments about training.
Update of Idgie (12 March 2003)
What a mixed weekend of emotions this was for us!
Idgie has earned the title of Masters Agility Dog of Canada in her final run of today! She
qualified with a time of 48.82 secs (Standard Course time was 61 secs)with a second place
behind Carson Kong's Kelsey who is a fast sheltie with a body weight half that of Idgie's!
Our judge was Joanie Leigh Elliot and she was truly excited for us, as was all our friends
and Coaches Dee Gleed and Bev Johnson. Friday evening, our good friend Diana Quan and
pretty Chanel the Sheltie partnered up with us sucessfully in a Masters Team run where we
qualified and placed first with a super fast time of 49.66 secs (SCT= 69 secs)
The story behind this weekend is that Idgie was due to come into her heatcycle at any
time and she held out this weekend for Dee's trial! I was glad for the reprieve and Idgie
had very good energy and speed both days, much to our delight :-) Idgie now needs one more
"Q" in Masters Team and two more "Q"'s in Master's Gamblers to become
the first Staffordshire Bull Terrier in Canada to get an Agility Trial Champion title. We
are thrilled at our results and plan to work harder at improving our distance work and
obstacle discrimination in order to excel in our games abilities!
Thank you for all your encouragement and support, we plan to continue to
improve & have tons of fun while at it! Hugs & lots of licks from Miss Idgie,
Karen & Idgie-MSDC,MJDC,AD& New MADC!
Best Mini Novice-Northwest Cup 2003
Idgie's Website
Biscuit
Biscuit
(Camino's Biscotti) is owned and adored by Kris English from California, USA.
Biscuit was born in 1997 and was bred by Steve Eltinge she is out of Caminos
Ink Spot by Eng/Am Ch Rellim Task Force of Nozac[he's out of Eng Ch Eastaff Guardian &
Rellim Deed I Do]
Biscuit is one very happy dog. She lives on a
Avocado/Horse Ranch in the foothills of Santa Barbara, CA. Although she does well at
Agility & Flyball, she only plays for fun now & then, preferring running on the
beach, mountain hikes & long strolls. She has a SBT "brother" named Elvis.
Together they hunt lizards in the yard & race around the house!
Biscuit is a Stafford of many talents aside herding
sheep she also has time to compete in Flyball
Life is certainly good for Biscuit!.
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August 13, 2003