Gambit was a big black dog, son of the famous Dutch Working Champion, Ria Klep's Donar and our foundation bitch Leah (Ch.Centauri's Fleur de Lis.) He easily finished his AKC Conformation Championship and went on to become Schutzhund III and twice North American Working Champion and an influential sire. ( Although we had the dogs that could win in conformation in that era, we early on quit playing the game, ceasing to take any of it seriously.)
This was a handsome dog with an especially smooth and fluid gait and a strong but social character. He could be precocious; the conventional wisdom of the era was not to introduce the young dog to protection work until a year of age, in order to have a level of maturity and confidence. When Gambit was a year or so old we made the introduction to the protection work in the normal, for that time, way with a group of young dogs in a circle around a training helper who would challenge each dog in turn, the idea being that the general excitement would overcome inhibitions. Gambit was not supposed to get an actual bite, but the helper, with a puppy sleeve, was a bit careless and came in range. Gambit took a full, proper forearm grip and began to crush. This was a problem. The puppy or young dog sleeve was entirely inadequate and the helper was in serious pain. The other part of the problem was that the dog knew nothing about the release; the purpose of the exercise had been to build aggression and confidence. Today the dogs learn the out from the very beginning in order to create a quick release without the need for strong pressure or severe correction, thus effectively avoiding situations such as this. We eventually got Gambit to let go, but the helper was never quite the same. Gambit was always ready for the protection work, on one occasion when we were standing around talking he picked up a sleeve and slammed it into the helpers legs as a subtle reminder of what we were all there for.
Gambit was NAWBA working champion twice, in Redlands, California in 1987 and in Michigan in 1989.
Wodan '70 NHSB.501692 Barrie '72 NHSB.616808 Roza '69 NHSB.476964 Donar SchH III, FH, NAWC'82 NHSB.1075650 Bica v d Rozenheerd HD- '70 NHSB.512062 Tusor van de Overheide '77 NHSB.964040 Anouschka '74 NHSB.729886 Centauri's Gambit SchH III,NAWC'87,CD,OFA/Ex AKC.DO88848 Zadi du Posty Arlequin B.Sel HD+- LOSH.364303 Bavard du Posty Arlequin OFA LOSH.401907 Yole du Posty Arlequin LOSH.347250 Ch & W Ch Centauri's Fleur de Lis SchH III,CD,TD,OFA AKC.WE875909 Ch Dax du Clos des Cerberes '70 April du Clos des Cerberes OFA,TT '76 Ch Ishtar du Clos des Cerberes '73 Ch & W.Ch Centauri's Gambit SchH III,NAWC'87,CD,OFA/Ex Sire: Donar SchH III, FH, NAWC'82 NHSB.1075650 Dam: Ch & W Ch Centauri's Fleur de Lis SchH III,CD,TD,OFA AKC.WE875909 Regst: AKC.DO88848 Born: Dec 23,1982 Brdr: Dr. Erik Houttuin Ownr: J.R.Engel Hips: OFA Excellent # BF-823-T Color: Black NAWBA Championship Winner 1987 & 1989