(from the Rottweiler Magazine nr 2, year 2000)
We would
like to thank Liv M. Ramsjø for passing on the stick to us.
We have decided to use some pictures in the interview, when many of these dogs never
has been shown in "the Rottweiler post" before.
I think it will be more fun if you can see some of the dogs we are talking about!
1. How and when did your interest for Rottweilers begin?
I,
Rune
was raised with Boxers in the family, and got the interest for dogs as a
kid. It was a collegue of mine with a male Rottweiler that got me
interested in this breed,-witch has carisma, power and with a selfconfident
personality. A real dog.
In February 1988, I bought my first Rottweiler, from Einerstad Kennel. When
Farah Diba
was a puppy, I met
Gudbrand Skiaker
in a workrelated purpose, he had
Olea
Bærskvett, who also was a puppy. Already then our ambitions were set,
we wanted to be the biggest and best on Rottweilers in Norway....
In the fall 1990, I met Heidi, she had no experience with dogs, so it was thru
me that she got the interest. Together we bought
Kimura's Iri-Raska
Kimura's High Preformence,
and
Bærskvett's All-Right.
Now we had the foundation, and since then one thing has led to another...!!
2.
Tell us a little about your kennelname, and why you chose it?
The property we live in, is called
Jeppekroken,
and as simple as that, is why it is
Jeppekroken.
3.
How do you train your dogs? (Both for shows and generally)
The nature in Hurdal is beautiful with large
areas of forest, many small lakes and small roads going into the forest that can
be used all year around. The training contains a lot of walking in the forest, and also som
bicycle-riding when the dogs run free. In the summer my dogs swim alot, wich is
good exercise for young dogs that shouldn't have too much work load on their
legs. (Swimming is also very good when you have dogs that are recovering from
injuries.)
It is no use in having "kennel-secrets", so I might as well throw myself into
telling how we always have so well trained dogs! The dogs that's going to the
shows, are being trained 4-5 times a week. This training is only with cars, so
it is effective. The training is on a desert road under very controlled
circumstances. The dogs run two or three at a time, in leashes next to the car. (All my dogs are trained to do this. They run with experienced dogs
at first, and are of
course gradually built up.) The route is uphills only, and the dogs only use
trotting the whole way. First about 2 km light warmup, then about 4 km with
pulling chains. At the end we turn around, take off the chains, and drive for about
2-3 km so they can stretch out and loosen up. Well trained dogs keep a
speed at 20-25km/h. I want to mension that
Farah Diba
and
Joy Ride
has trotted in 30km/h up this road, while pulling chains. I couldn't have done
this if I was riding a bike next to them!! Females that is breeding is also
being built up after a litter with this method, it is very important that they
recover their muscles, and firm up their bodies after each litter.
This exercise is late in the evening and at night, so the dogs have more to
give. At very hot summernights, the dogs actually gets a swim to
coolen off before training. At night there is also more smells from animals in the
forest, wich make the dogs push to their max.
This winter it hasn't been much training because it hasn't been that much snow,
and the roads has been too icy.
If the dog needs any working-titles, they get sent away for others to train them,
but Rune has gotten the interest for
IPO,
so there is a chance that there will be more working in the future. Anyway,
it is very fun to train this sport!
4.
What dogs have had the biggest influence to you in your breeding, and why?
NUCH Kimura's Iri Raska
is the female that has produced the best out of our females, this far. She has
25 offsprings, 36% of these are champions!!! (+ 2 with 2 cac) Further 92% are HD free and 56% AA free. All these dogs are dogs we like very much, both in type
and character.
Our two best females after
NUCH Kimura's Iri Raska
is INT. N.UCH KBHV –98
Jeppekroken's Cheebas Lizzie
who has 2 litters, where 100% is HD free, and 93% is AA free. And if she gets
one more champion offspring, she will have 30% champions after her.
NUCH Jeppekroken's Castilla
also produces very well, over 30% champions after her!! (and 1 with 2 cac)
These results is after combinations with
Faunus Phyton
and
Einerstads Femus,
sons of
Hauberks Juri.
We have been linebreeding both hard and soft to get these results.
Today, we have 6 females at home, which all descend from NUCH Kimura's Iri Raska; Anitra, Castilla, Jessie, Juliet Just In Case, Madonna, and Nanna.
5. Can you remember any episodes from your breeding that is nice and worth to remember?
Well, about 902 of them, wich is split up with; 260 Best of Breed's, 177 Best of Opposite Sex's, 50 Cacib's, 29 Norwegian Champions (10 of these in 1999), and 3 international champions, 33 Prices of Honour in the breeders class, 120 Group placements and 50 Best in Show placements!!!!
Also it
is always a joy having puppies in the house, and getting feedback from buyers
telling us about their experiences with their dogs.
6.
Do you have any fun stories to tell?
Well, yes, of course there are many funny
stories to tell. We have chosen to tell a story that might be more "tragic-comic":
Some years ago, we were on our way to Tromsø, with 3 dogs in a small Volvo.
Allready a bad startingpoint for this memorable trip, that wasn't funny until we
came home again... The first part of the trip up north was fine, until we came
to Steinkjer, it was a flat tire. The sparetire was for summer, but we had to
use what we had, even though the snowblizard was hard and tough in the mountains.
We managed to get to Narvik before we once more got an unwilling stop,
the car in front of us hit a dog. We had to help, and with this injured dog, we
went from door to door. When we finally tracked down the owner and sent them to
the vet, our trip continued to Tromsø. We used 36 hours. We managed to get 2 hours
of sleep before we had to start the preparations for the day. We
hadn't gotten out of the car before we heard somebody screaming for someone
who knew first-aid. Of course, Heidi knew, and rushed over. A man had collapsed with heartfailure, and with the help of heart-compressions and another girl
giving mouth to mouth, he gained his pulse back. Before the ambulance came, he
lost his pulse again, and they drove off while giving him electro-schocks. We
don't know how it turned out...!! The rest of the trip to Tromsø was ok, except
for our two females that started a fight in the hotelroom. They were ok, but now
we had a new problem - our females didn't go together anymore. The result was
Heidi driving with one female in the passenger seat, me and the male in the
backseats, and after removing the shelf in the back of the car, the last female
could be placed there. It was quite a sight!!! The trip home was a little easier,
we only had one unwilling stop, it lasted for 6 hours. There was a storm on
Saltfjellet. But there was a long way home, and it was nice to get some sleep.
In Østerdalen the car ahead of us, once again managed to hit an animal, but this
time it was a moose. The driver fixed everything himself and we could continue
our trip home without any more episodes. First safe at home we had the energy to
be happy about doing well at the show.
7. What is your wish for your breeding?
Of course,
we wish to breed the best rottweilers, no matter what it is being used for.
To breed dogs that we ourselves and our buyers can be pleased with, either they
want a working dogs, show dog, or just a a friend.
8. How does your dream-rottweiler look like?
We choose to put in some pictures and a writing about Amboss. There should be no doubt that this dogs mentality, apperance, workingresults and the ability to produce offsprings is close to perfect?
9. Can you mention any dogs from your own breeding as a favourite?
If we have to choose one favourite, it has to be Jeppekroken's Ca Stilla. She is a beutiful femail, powerful, but at the same time elegant. She is short and compact, with a strong back, good movement, good chest, and she also has a very powerful head with a lovely excpression.
She has also produced well, she is the mother of NUCH Jeppekroken's Joy Ride, NUCH Jeppekroken's Jessie, NUCH Jeppekrokens Juliet Just in Case, NUCH Jeppekrokens Jassamine Jumps for Joy, NUCH Jeppekrokens Nick no Fair, and Jeppekrokens Nanna.
10. Outside your own breeding,
do you want to mention any other rottweilers?
There are many worth mentioning,
NUCH Kimura's Iri Raska
we can't dodge here either. A beautiful female, with a lovely character.
Hauberks Juri
has to be mentioned for his good breedingresults. One of the best breedingmales
here in Scandinavia, we think. One of his sons,
Faunus Phyton,
was a very good dog, with a very ood head, and was short and compact. He is by
the way the father of our C-litter. We also can't dogde
Int. N.uch Einerstads Fara Diba,
and
NUCH Kimuras High Preformence,
two dogs we were so lucky to own.Int. N.uch Einerstads Fara Diba,
was a very special female, a complete female of the highest quality, with an
exceptional good front, and fantastic movement. She took 62 BOB, and was Norways
most-winning Rottweiler thru all times!!
NUCH Kimuras High Preformence
was a very powerful and compact dog (also known as the 4-wheel-drive) with a
very confident character.
Further we want to mention
Tyson van het Polderbos,
a unique working-dog. He is Belgian Champion (of all breeds) in IPO, and did
also win the Belgian qualification to the World Championship in IPO. Highest
score so far is an amazing 293,5 pionts.!!!Tyson
is also a well proportioned dog, who is the father of our import,
-Xato van het Polderbos.
He has definetively gotten his fathers workingabilities, and it looks like he
will get an even better exterior.
Xato
is being represented in full later in the Rottweiler post.
Ringo van de Bollobossen
is another "belgian" that has very good working- abilities aswell as
doing it exceptionally good in the showring. He
has a very good character, and produces good offsprings. Our other import,
That old Black Magic,
is Irelands mostwinning Rottweiler in 1996 and in 1997. He is correct in every
detail. In chatacter he is as a rottweiler should be, no stress, and not afraid
of anything, confident and calm. Always trustworhty.
Amboss vom Konigssiek
you have already seen pictures of, a complete and amazing dog in every way. Amboss is
by the way the grandfather of our J-litter!
Other
dogs worth mentioning because of their breeding is
Matcho v. Burgthann,
Doc v.d. Teufelsbruce,
Dingo v.d. Schwaiger wappen,
Benno v.d. Schwarzen Heide,
Chris
and
Irk v. Obergrom bacher schloss. These
are dogs that also has a very good exterior. A kennel in Germany, Fusse der
Eifel, has 6 Klubsiegerwinners from 2 different litters;
Ingo,
Iwan, Ilco, Astor, Axel, og Andra.
This is very good considering several of these has produced good
offsprings.
Falco v.d.Teufelbrucke
is a powerful and elegant dog with good movement. Another one with
excellent
movement is
Furst v. Wolfert Turm
that also has the best head anyone can think of!
Othello v.h. Neubrand
is simply an amazing dog with outstanding movement. Finally,
we want to mention a great female;
Aika v. D. Mandelburg,
that also has won the Klubsiegershow in Germany twice.
These are some of the dogs we would like to mention...!!
11. Have you had any role models for your breeding?
Yes, we have!
In the
beginning of our show-career, when we were travelling around with
Farah Diba,
there was one kennel we specially noticed. They always did good in shows, had great dogs and a big network of buyers and people around them
at all times. That
is Grethe and Terje Lindstrøm, from Kimura Kennel we are referring to, they had
the dogs we liked the most. This were also where we bought our two next dogs,
something we haven't regretted.
Faunus Kennel, with Gun Bergqvist, in Sweden we also had a big amount of respect
for. She also had many great dogs. Besides, Gun has always been nice, giving us
advice when we have asked, alltough we don't know her that well. Very kindly done!!
12.
How do you think the Rottweiler is today?
We think it was generally better Rottweilers in the late 80's and early
90s, and more dogs doing good. (Mentioning Zarstøs Bunny,
Kimuras High Preformence,
Kimuras Akita,
Kimuras Fam,
Valheims Ikaros
Flatbakkens Herman quistberg,
Kimuras Iri Raska,
Flatbakkens Olea Bærskvett,
Valheims Irmelin,
Stilichos Master General Seraf,
Einerstads Farah Diba,
Arita av Famax,
Flatbakkens Tobias,
amongst others.)
Today, it
seems like the Rottweiler is supposed to be as active as possible, many of them I think is "overavailable",
and is almost attacking people out of joy . Considering the rest of
Europe, banning of the Rottweiler is getting more and more serious thought. This because the breed is being referred to as dangerous.
I think it might be an advantage to take care of the
availebility and the happiness in our dogs. I am sure this will be a hot
topic in the future.
When you look at the dog as a whole, the goal is to make it is as stylish as
possible to look at. It is elegant, often with a wrong topline. (A
topline is supposed to be straight from the shoulder to the croup, and the
croup are supposed to be slightly steep.) Many have too much
angles in
their back legs. It might look nice and elegant, but the rottweiler should be
short, powerful and compact, and also nobel, and there is a certain difference!!!
Also, there are many bad fronts, I am especially thinking of lack of angles in
the front, short upper arm and the lack of frontchest. The heads often have a
bad stop, and is not enough filled under the eyes. It is a lack of mouth-pigment,
and it is normal that there is not a clear definition between the black & tan on
the backlegs. A bit warmer tan colours,
and longer coat with more underwool, could also be appreciated.
This might seem as much negativity, and I of course take self critque, but I
look
bright at the future. After all, it is now a new generation of breeders.
13. Have you made an opinion on how we can breed the most healthy breed? (Especially thinking of HD/AA and character
Well,
isn't there only one way to do that - breed on free females, who come from
litters where the HD and AA statistics are belove the average of the breed. It is
important to x-ray whole litters!! When you choose a breedingdog, you have to
check the siblings and if you can, what they have produced in the past. Parents,
parents siblings and so on...
To mental test whole litters is a right way to go to keep or and improve the mentality
aswell. Unfortunately, this is not possible for whole litters in Norway today. But
as the material of the testresults gets bigger, you can check parents, siblings
and so on. Using the results against what you want to keep/improve into your
lines. We all know this, and it will be more important in the future to keep our
beloved breed.
14. Is it any dogs from your
kennel that has "stood out" in any way, and in that case, how?
We want to mention our C.litter, where more than one has "stood out".
NUCH Jeppekrokens Citichen Chon
has a number of BOB, and more BIG and BIS placements.
Jeppekroken's Cheebas Lizzie
is both Norwegian and International Champion, and Copenhagen winner of 1998. Her
son,
Jeppekroken's Ozzy,
is Norwegian Champion, and got the title Copenhagen Winner in 1999.
Jeppekroken's Cheebas Lizzie
is producing very well, both exterior, HD/AA and eyes.
NUCH Jeppekrokens Ca Stilla is
to us, the ultimate Rottweiler, and her son
NUCH Jeppekrokens Joy Ride
won the Special Show, already as a young dog, he also achieved SG at the
Klubsieger in Germany.
NUCH Jeppekrokens Dustin was the first Norwegian Rottweiler to win an international show in Denmark after the boarders opened, and he has many BOB, BIG and BIS placements here at home. NUCH Jeppekrokens Abu Mashar took 13 Cac, NUCH Jeppekrokens Anitra tok 12 Cac, Jeppekroken's East o`the Sun is Norwegian and an international champion, has many BOB and BOS. Hirvia Painajanen took Cacib and was BOS at an international show in Spain, as the only Rottlweiler with a long tail, amongst 100 other females!! She has 4th best female as her "worst" show result in Spain. Finally we mention Jeppekroken's Teska, who at the age of 5 months, got the title Nordic winner puppy 1999, she was BOB of 85 puppies in Sweden.
The once not mentioned, you are not forgotten! Without you that keeps it going with your dogs, this wouldn't have been possible. We therefore want to thank you all!!!
15. What do you think about
the demands for a passed Functionalitytest on dogs/females that are being bred
on? Why/why not?
Just a couple of years ago, we didn't test our dogs at all. When the
Characters test came we had this a few years, before it was switched to the
functionalitytest wich we now have had for a period of time. We got the results of the
tests presented on the last breeders seminar the
day before the Yearly gathering. It wasn't as bad as we might have feared when we chose the
functionalitytest.
But, it can, and has to be better in some areas. These results are results from
how our dogs was/is mentally from past generations.
Today, you have to have passed the functionalitytest to breed your dag, but what
those results show doesn't mean anything, as long as they pass. Then you have an approved litter, if the
other criterias are met. We think that many of these
combinations can have bad outcomings. The results of the tests on both parents
can be weak on many of the same points. You risk to breed two dogs that have the
same weaknesses, but both passed. Our opinion is that you can have better
outcomings if you breed a dog that has not passed (you know its weaknesses) with
a dog that has a very good test result, and very good results on the pionts wich
your own dog was weak.
We think a hasty desicion was made when we approved to take in the functionalitytest as a criteria for breeding. The most important is to do some research first, to see if there are problems with the breed. Then you can do the necessary adjustments later, if needed.
Our leading experts in Norway, say we must be careful putting too many criterias in our breeding. We get a very narrow genetic-pole, and this increases the danger of other diseases that we don't have, and the extent of the ones we havegets bigger. I'm thinking about cancer, epileptical diseases amongst others, not to mention the exterior of the breed. The last mentioned is vey important, not just to have a good looking dog, but to have a functional dog. We have to think about the dog as a whole, not only the little details that consum our minds. It is important to have as many breeding animals as possible.
16. In Sweden, they have to have amongst other things, obedience results or such to be a champion. Should it be harder to get a champion in Norway too? Why/why not?
In Sweden it takes a number of hours with working/obedience training to be a champion, and from experience you see that in the big shows, only a few dogs are competing to get the Cac, - that means that only dogs with owners interested in working/obedience, or owners that can send away their dogs to be trained.
Since it now it is getting fewer dogs to compete for the Cac, and maybe also many of the best constructed dogs is not competing, is our claim that the champion quality will be lower. We also think that working ability/obedience has nothing to do with the show, since the dog is being critueqed on the construction - and being priced after that.
17. What is your ambitions and wishes for the future?
We wish
to still have a good range in our breeding, and to continue to breed dogs that
do well.
In the long run we might be to see more in the workingarena.
Another wish is to win the "Bamsestatuetten" at home-field, and to win the
Klubsieger in Germany. The last one, I guess, is more a dream...!
18. Whom do you wish to pass
the stick to?
We wish to send it forward to Jon and Signhild Svendsen at Kedi's
Kennel. They have many years of experience with the Rottweiler, so it will be
interesting to have their opinions.
Best regards
JEPPEKROKEN KENNEL