January 2012 was a very special month for Kanzu. He earned his Grand Championship on January 15 and just 2 weeks later on January 27 he finished up his Master Agility Championship (MACH). With these new titles he has earned a place in history by becoming the first RR and the first dog in the 27 breeds of the Hound Group to become a Grand Champion-Triple Champion (GCH-TC).

These two small sets of initials are made up of a large number of accomplishments and represent the culmination of several years of hard work. The GCH is a conformation title and means that Kanzu had to first earn his conformation championship and then grand championship. The TC denotes that he has three championships, in his case: Conformation, Lure Coursing and Agility.

Until now, there has been only one Rhodesian Ridgeback with a Triple Championship. Kanzu now joins his Aunt Laea (A Kobe daughter pictured below with Kanzu) keeping it all in the family and becoming the first male TC Ridgeback. With the addition of his Grand Championship he has become not only the first and only RR to hold the title of GCH-TC but also the first and only dog in the entire hound group (27 breeds) to have earned this title.

Of course, Kanzu did not achieve any of these accomplishments alone. He was handled in conformation to his championship by his breeder/co-owner Mike Patterson and to his grand Championship again by Mike and also by Curtis Freeling. In lure coursing he was handled by his mom and very special friend, Justin Dannenbring. His MACH was completed with Vicki LePenske and Tracy Tennison. Along the way Kanzu had many supporters and boosters who encouraged and helped in a variety of ways to make this amazing series of titles possible. Special thanks to them all!

CLick Here for the story of Kanzu’s Champion Title
CLick Here for the story of Kanzu’s Field Champion Title
CLick Here for the story of Kanzu’s Grand Champion Title
CLick Here for the story of Kanzu’s MACH Title
 
 
 
 
The following photos show the Steps to Kanzu’s GCH TC title: Champion, Field Champion, Grand Champion and Master Agility Champion

 
 
 

In July 2011 the AKC announced the creation of the Preferred Agility Championship (PACH) title. The requirements for this championship are the same as for the MACH (20 double qualifying scores and 750 points/seconds under course time for qualifying runs). The difference between the regular class leading toward the MACH and the preferred class that would earn the PACH is that in the preferred class, the dog jumps one jump height under his measured jump height.

 

After earning his agility championship (MACH) in January 2012 we made the decision for Kanzu to continue in agility at the preferred height moving from the 24 inch jumps to 20 inch jumps. In the preferred class, dogs are also given a time advantage with slightly greater time to qualify on the course. Kanzu is a big boy and all the jumping can eventually take a toll on a dog’s body. Jumping at 20 inches instead of 24 takes stress off of his back and joints and extends the length of time he can enjoy running and jumping with his friend Vicki.

 

Following a couple months of rest after receiving his MACH, Kanzu restarted his agility career in March 2012. He was visibly happy to get back into the ring with Vicki. It took Kanzu and Vicki only 3 trials to earn his Novice Preferred Standard (NAP) and Preferred Jumpers (NJP) titles. Three trials later they earned his Open Standard title (OAP) along with another High Scoring Ridgeback Open Dog in Trial at the San Diego Rhodesian Ridgeback Club trial on March 24, 2012. He earned his Preferred Open Jumpers title at his next trial. And after 4 more trials Kanzu completed his Excellent A titles (AXP) and (AJP). He has now moved back into Excellent B Preferred where he has started accumulating the 20 double Qs and 750 points needed for his Preferred Agility Championship. Along the way, AKC also awards a PAX suffix title when the 20 double Qs are earned. Meanwhile, Kanzu and Vicki are having lots of fun running together. The titles will be ‘icing on the cake’ and additional rewards for the fun he is having being able to continue to run and play in the agility ring.

 
 
Click here for more information on the AKC Preferred Agility Championship Title

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Kuyu and his littermate Bomani, (Kanzu x Kayta son, Bakari’s African Draak Soldier) have been busy working on their bunny chasing skills at local sprint race meets. The brothers have been showing off their intensity for the lure, running individually and together. The boys will be eligible to begin competing officially in straight racing when they turn one year old. For now, they are taking every opportunity to do a few short practice runs whenever the big dogs have official competition days. Both boys appear to have their mother’s and father’s passion for the lure. Kuyu entertains observers and draws laughter by refusing to abandon the lure and insists on proudly carrying his catch( for all to see) back to the start line after his runs.

 
Click here for more photos of Kuyu at race practice – Photos by Gary Claggett
 
Click here for more information about straight racing
 
 

The Ridgeback 2011 RRCUS Top Performers Issue
Issue 2 2012

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Kanzu and Kayta’s daughter Kaia, (Bakari’s Fabled Treasure Kaia) made a huge splash in her debut in the conformation show ring. At just 5 months old, Kaia showed like a little pro in her first weekend of showing. She won amazing back-to-back Best Bred By Puppy in Show at the Enumclaw, WA International All Breed Canine Show on April 7 and April 8, 2012. She also won Reserve Best in Show Puppy on April 8. Kaia lives with her mother Kayta and her breeder-owners Julie and Sheri Eschilling in Oregon. Julie was handling Kaia in the ring for her big wins and says that Kaia was remarkably focused. Julie was amused that while Kaia was exceptionally patient in the ring and well behaved in general she showed frustration only when she seemed to want to get back into the ring. Huge congratulations to Kaia, Julie and Sheri. Kaia has made Daddy Kanzu very proud and brother Kuyu has his work cut out for him to follow in his sister’s pawprints.