One of Canungra’s top dogs is officially a national champion with Vomambach Cracker, known as Izzy, taking out a national title at the 2023 Working German Shepherd & Dogsport Clubs of Australasia (WGSDCA) National Championship in Wagga Wagga last month.
Izzy achieved her IGP2 National Champion qualification with Best in Obedience, Best in Protection and Best in Tracking.
Bred by Peter and Julie Ulbrich of Vomambach Kennels, four year old Izzy has been competing since she was 15 months old.
The IGP2 is the highest title she has achieved, with IGP3 the highest level the dogs can achieve.
Owner Julie said she is super proud of ‘busy Izzy’.
The pair train twice a week with the Scenic Rim Sportsdog Club at Moriarty Park, Canungra but lessons continue at home every day.
“Every night we do something, even if it’s just 15 or 20 minutes.”
Leading up to the competition they were also practising tracking twice a week – with early morning starts essential to ensure the tracking grounds were not contaminated by other people or animals.
Protection training involves the dog barking and attacking the sleeve of a person in a hide (called a helper).
Julie said protection training only comes once obedience has been established at a high level.
“We don’t let the dogs do protection until their obedience is 100 per cent because you have to have full control of your dog to call it out and tell it to ‘stop’ or ‘here’.
“When they are in high drive barking at the bad guy and you tell them ‘here’, their obedience has to be really really good.”
“And she is spot on.”
The next title Izzy and Julie will compete for will be IGP3 in September. This is the highest grading the dogs can achieve.
Izzy has previously had a litter of puppies and will probably be bred again after the September competition.
Following the September competition, Julie is aiming for the 2024 Nationals to be held in Queensland.
