AngLair jpg

Ch. Centauri's Gambit SchH III

GambitHead950 Photo
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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.)

Gambit_1986_Stand_1400 Photo
Clk for large view

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




May 1,2017