A WOMAN'S BEST FRIEND
For "The Minnesota Women's Press"
©1994 by Lisa Dietz
The Rottweiler that Angeli Modjeski owns is more than a pet. He's more than a good guard dog protecting her home in South Minneapolis. Angus Vom Schwarzwald is a champion extraordinare.
They don't seem a likely pair--the broad, black dog at 100 lbs., comfortably grinding through large nylon bones, but responding without hesitation to his petite, disciplined young owner. Modjeski, twenty-five, and her three-year-old Rottweiler are one of the youngest competing pair to win prestigious Schutzhund competitions. These tournaments are not like other dog obedience trials performed in an indoor arena. The Schutzhund competition takes place on a football field, requires a full day to complete, and the dog is judged as much on attitude as skill.
Schutzhund competition originated 75 years ago in Germany as a method of selecting the best German shepherds. The sport has expanded over the years and in Minnesota, is inclusive of all dog breeds. There are three parts to the competition. First is an endurance test where the dog not only has to track, but must do so without heavy panting. Next is an obedience test, including a six-foot-high jump. The final competition involves defending against an attacker.
"There's a fine line," said Modjeski, "between control and attitude, speed and correctness. You have to have a happy, fast dog."
Although Modjeski grew up training horses, she always liked dogs. As a teenager, her natural talent with animals led her into helping neighbors to train their pets. She knew about Schutzhund competition, but it wasn't until she got Angus, her first Rottweiler and the last male of his litter, that she began to consider attempting the intensive training program. Impressed by the work of other trainers, she petitioned to become part of their club, called the Minnesota Valley Schutzhund Verein, where she is now Vice President. Between her natural ability and the advice of seasoned trainers, Modjeski was able to learn how to take advantage of Angus' temperament and become a national champion.
Since 1993, Modjeski and Angus have been winning national and regional championships in Schutzhund competitions. They have been chosen to represent the USA next year in the American Working Dog Federation Team Championships. In this competition Modjeski and Angus will compete as a part of a team with two other handlers and their Rottweilers against teams with other breeds.
"The fact that we win has been beyond any comprehension of mine," said Modjeski.
She admits that it was luck that brought her such a happy, willing dog. It's not uncommon for Schutzhund trainers to go through six puppies in search of a champion. They look for a spirited puppy who will tug hard at a rag. Good blood-lines are a must and usually it is the smaller, less dominant dogs who will train the best. There is a trial period of six-months to one year that trainers spend with their potential competitive dogs. If the dog is not performing up to Schutzhund standards, it may be sent back to the breeder to be given to pet owners.
Some of the dogs that begin training are donated to the police force and have become successful K-9 dogs. "Schutzhund dogs make good cop dogs," said Modjeski. She knows of two dogs who began training for Schutzhund competition and one ended up as a narcotics dog and the other as a bomb squad K-9.
Modjeski said she didn't think Angus was defensive enough to do well in police work. "To him, it's a sport," she said. Angus likes his helpers and only attacks when commanded to do so for competition.
Modjeski gets angry at people who misinterpret the aggressive nature of dogs.
"All dogs need rules, guidance and discipline," said Modjeski. "Too many people think of dogs as children."
But all dogs will bite, she said, and has the scars to prove it. Modjeski is emphatic that a dog should never be left alone with a child. She said that the negative press that dogs receive because they attack children may be unjustified. It's only part of the story, and she wonders what the child might have done to provoke the dog. Angus, she said, loves children, but hasn't had much exposure to them.
"If you run," she said, "you become prey. It's play to him. He'll even come after me. But he could hurt a kid."
Modjeski said that protectiveness is inherent in the nature of a dog. The loyalty a dog feels for its owner is a direct result of the training a dog receives as a puppy. She admits, however, that some breeds are naturally more loyal to their owners than others. Rottweilers are basically indifferent to humans.
Despite the loving glances and extreme attentiveness that Angus shows towards her, she said, "His loyalties would change in four days if I stopped feeding him."
Modjeski is not going to stop feeding Angus, but by this spring, she may be getting a new puppy to start training. She said Angus probably has another two good years as a champion (although he'll probably live for seven more) and she will need to start the process of finding a replacement.
She definitely will not be breeding him. The popularity of Rottweilers have already caused them to suffer consequences such as hip problems from over-breeding.
The greatest current challenge for Modjeski as a dog trainer is money. Her job as Assistant Manager at a dog boarding kennel in Orono doesn't cover the travel expenses and vet bills incurred during competition. It may cost $600 in airfare and hotel costs to enter one tournament. She is currently looking for sponsors. Anyone who might be interested should contact Mary E. Gallagher and Partner & Star Productions at (703) 578-4475.
In the meantime, Modjeski would like to get Angus into advertising. She said he will eat almost anything, which could be a sure way to sell dog food. But she also wants to convince others that Rottweilers are not vicious, but beautiful dogs.
It's not that she's partial. It's just that she's got a champion.