Reflections on the 51st German Shepherd National
Last week we headed north to Queensland for the 51st German Shepherd National. The weather wasn’t exactly on our side — more rain than sunshine — but that didn’t dampen the spirits of our small team. We travelled with just three dogs this year: Vinnie, Tani, and baby Noelle (on loan especially for the show). Together they stepped into the rings and arenas across tricks, rally, obedience, scent work, and specialty showing, and they exceeded every expectation.
Vinnie – Ch. Morekos Kraken AZ ZAP JC SWA TK.S RN ET WPD CAA WWPD FS.S HTM.N SPD.N
Vinnie showed his trademark focus and enthusiasm, proving once again how versatile he is. Over the course of the week he picked up:
1st Place — Rally Advanced
1st Place — Novice Tricks
5th Place — CCD
Qualified — Advanced Exteriors Scent Work
Qualified — Advanced Vehicles Scent Work
Tani – Ch. Cinderhof Chaanel AZ ZAP HIT JC ET WPD TK.S
Tani had a brilliant week, shining especially in scent work. In Novice Vehicles she cleared her search in just seven seconds to take 1st place. She followed that with:
3rd Place — Novice Exteriors
4th — Cinderhof LSC Breeders Team
8th — LSC Open Female
And most exciting of all, she earned her Scent Work Novice Title.
Noelle – Cinderhof Noelle
Our baby of the team, Noelle, also had her moment in the spotlight. Entered in the Baby LSC Female class, she placed 2nd in a beautiful and competitive line-up — a great sign of things to come for this young girl.
Looking back, it was a week full of milestones. Each dog gave their absolute best and we couldn’t have asked for more. What makes Nationals so special, though, is not just the results but the sense of community. We’re grateful for the help, encouragement, and camaraderie from so many people throughout the week, and it was wonderful to catch up with friends from across the country.
We came home tired, a little muddy, but incredibly proud of our team. 🖤🐾
