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Association of Peoria County Veterinarians |
Member Dogs at Work and Play
IVKC member Margot Duval and two of the Forkcreek Search and Rescue
Newfoundlands are shown here on one of their recent educational visits.
Margot began training in 1991, when her and her first certified rescue dog
attended the National Black Paws Search, Rescue and Avalanche training school in
Montana.
The Newfoundland breed has a strong natural instinct for both land and water search and rescue. Margot and her dogs have been called in by fire and police departments from throughout the state to locate missing persons and accident victims. This takes place both on land and from a boat on lakes and rivers. The scent ability of the Newfoundland is so great that they can locate victims below the water from scent pools which humans cannot detect.
Training begins as soon as the puppies are able to walk, and is an ongoing process. Margot has had the help of a number of neighborhood children who are most happy to hide for young dogs in training.
Along with the search and rescue work, the Forkcreek Newfoundlands also
compete in both All Breed Championship Dog Shows and Obedience Trails, and have
earned numerous honors.
Margot and her dogs have been regularly asked to present programs for the area schools, boy scout, and girl scout troops, nursing homes, 4-H and community events. these large and very gentle dogs are always welcomed by children and adults and enjoy these visits with the community.
The Spinone Italiano is not just another pretty face. Spinoni are true versatile hunting dogs. Just how versatile are they? They are methodical, hard working companions when they are not practicing their skills as "couch potatoes", attending dog shows, obedience trials, or visiting a nursing home.
While
this breed is not for everyone, IVKC member Bobbi Benson says they are certainly
the dogs for her. The dogs of Caccia Cane Spinone Italiano allow her to
combine her love of the outdoors with a dog who loves the same things.
Imagine a beautiful dog that can point, track, retrieve both upland game birds and waterfowl, and then go off the next weekend to compete in championship dog shows. This is the versatility of the breed. The Caccia Cane Spinone Italiano have gained numerous breed championships as well as many field awards and titles.
When not on the show
circuit, Bobbi runs her dogs in the North American Hunting Dog Association (NAVHDA)
tests and AKC Hunt Tests. NAVHDA tests the skill of the dogs in the water
in addition to the field. "The first time I saw Alle work a field and
point a bird I got chills. It was a beautiful sight. That was enough
to convince me of the importance of allowing these dogs to do what they were
bred to do."