On November 14, 2014 Kanzu and his special friend Vicki LePenske earned his second agility championship. After earning his MACH in January 2012 we made the decision for Kanzu to continue his agility career in the preferred jump height moving from 24 inch jumps to 20 inch. In the preferred class, dogs are also given a time advantage with slightly greater time to qualify on the course. The requirements for the Preferred Master Agility Championship or (PACH) are the same as for the MACH. The dog has to earn 20 Double qualifying scores and 750 points. A double Q is obtained when the dog has perfect runs and is under course time in the Jumpers and the Standard course on the same day. This is a “Double Q”. He must also have 750 points (a point is earned for each full second under course time). Kanzu and  Vicki competed together earning Kanzu’s PACH title at the Samoyed Club of LA trial in Chino. Kuyu earned a Double Q with a first place in Jumpers with Weaves and a first place and his final points in the Standard Run under judge Donna Gommer. We are so grateful to Vicki for running Kanzu to this championship and making it so much fun for him.

On July 17, 2014 Kanzu and Vicki earned his PAX2 (Preferred Agility Excellent) and MXPS (Master Excellent Preferred Silver) agility titles. The PAX is earned when a dog has earned 20 double qualify scores on the same day on the Jumpers with Weaves and the Standard courses. The PAX2 is the second time Kanzu has reached the 20 Double Q level. The MXPS represents 50 qualifying scores on Masters Preferred Standard courses. Kanzu and Vicki are now under 100 points toward his Preferred Height Agility Championship. As always, Kanzu loves running with Vicki and never misses an opportunity to give her big kisses and let her know how much fun he has running with her.

Click Here to see Kanzu’s PAX2 runs

Each year the American Kennel Club (AKC) honors the top 5 ranked agility dogs in each breed. These top 5 scoring dogs are invited to compete at the AKC Agility Invitational in Orlando Florida in December. This year, for the first time the AKC is also honoring the top 5 dogs of each breed competing at the preferred jump height. While the Preferred Jump Height dogs are not invited to compete, their names are entered into the program along with a photo and they are recognized at the annual banquet. This year Kanzu was the #1 Preferred Rhodesian Ridgeback. Kanzu’s handler Vicki LePenske will be competing at this year’s invitational with Kanzu’s gal pals Echo and Scarlett who are the #1 and #2 ranked agility Weimaraner’s in the country. Vicki will be at the banquet to accept Kanzu’s award and to celebrate their partnership and achievement.

On March 22, 2013 Kanzu earned his PAX (Preferred Agility Excellent) title. In March 2012 in order to extend Kanzu’s agility career with less wear and tear on his body, he began competing at the preferred jump height of 20 inches rather than the 24 inches he was jumping during his MACH career. He continues to love to run with Vicki and enjoys being at agility trials with all of his friends. One year after he began jumping at the preferred height he earned his PAX. This title is earned when a dog has earned 20 double qualifying scores on the same day on the Jumpers with Weaves and the Standard courses. This new title was especially enjoyable because it was at our favorite location, the Navy Training Center in Point Loma CA and with one of our very favorite judges, Beverly Morgan-Lewis. Thank you Vicki LePenske for your excellent handling of Kanzu and for loving him every step around each and every course.

Recently the AKC added new agility titles to recognize consistency and longevity. They began recording levels to the Master Agility Excellent (MX) and Master Excellent Jumpers With Weaves (MXJ) titles. For each 25 qualifying runs in each class a new level is awarded; Bronze, Silver, Gold. When the dog reaches 100 qualifying runs a century title is awarded. Since receiving his MACH in January, 2012 Kanzu has been competing less frequently and now in the Preferred jump height. The weekend of May 18 and 19, 2013 Kanzu gave a special gift to Linda and agility handler and special friend Vicki. Linda and Vicki not only share a love of Kanzu but they share the same birthday. This year they celebrated their shared B-day at the San Diego Rhodesian Ridgeback Club 2-day trial at Navy Training Center in San Diego. On Saturday Kanzu earned his 30^th qualifying score in the Standard class earning his MXP3 title and on Sunday he earned his 30^th qualifying score in Jumpers with Weaves for his MJP3 title. And to make the weekend even more special he earned a beautiful rosette from the San Diego Rhodesian Ridgeback Club for being the High Scoring Rhodesian Ridgeback in the Trial. It was a very special birthday for Linda and Vicki.

In agility the first 3 titles require 3 qualifying legs in order to advance to the next title level. Kanzu advanced through the typical order of Novice, Open and Excellent titles in both Jumpers and Standard classes on his way toward his MACH. Then in order to advance to next level, the Master agility titles, the MX and MXJ require 10 perfect runs at the excellent level. Until recently the only title possible after the MX and MXJ was the MACH.

In July 2012, in order to recognize consistency and longevity, the AKC added Lifetime Achievement titles and began recording ‘metal levels’ to the Master Agility Excellent (MX) and Master Excellent Jumpers With Weaves (MXJ)) classes. For each 25 qualifying runs in each class a new level can be awarded; Bronze, Silver, Gold. When the dog reaches 100 qualifying runs a century title is awarded.

On July 1, Kanzu was awarded the MXG and MJG titles indicating that he had more than 75 qualifying runs in standard and jumpers at the excellent level.

Since receiving his MACH in January, 2012 Kanzu has been competing in the Preferred jump height and had to return to the novice level and has had to traverse all of the new title levels. On July 29, he received his Master Excellent Preferred Title (MXP) and is now eligible to begin work toward his bronze level in the preferred class.

Click here to see Kanzu’s runs from the MXP weekend

The 2012 Top Performers issue of The Ridgeback Magazine includes a beautiful 3 page article on Kanzu and his history- making Grand Champion-Triple Championships. The issue also contains an ad honoring Kanzu’s accomplishments including his three 2011 top 10 rankings in; RRCUS agility, AKC agility and LGRA (Straight Racing).

 
Click Here for the story
 
Click Here for the full ad
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The Spring Issue of The Ridgeback Register (April 2012) prominently features Kanzu on the cover as “America’s first and only Grand Champion Triple Champion Rhodesian Ridgeback. The Ridgeback Register is known primarily for promoting show dogs and this issue marks the first time the magazine editors have chosen to feature a performance dog on the cover. The issue includes a two page article by Theresa Lyons, the publisher of the magazine entitled “Shaking up the Stereotype”. Theresa chronicles Kanzu’s career and concludes that “Kanzu proves that form really does follow function”.
 
Shaking Up The Stereotype
Ridgeback Register Spring Issue, April 2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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

Photo by Mary Fish Arango

On January 27, 2012 Kanzu earned his Master Agility Championship (MACH). There are few Rhodesian Ridgebacks who have earned this title. In order to earn a MACH, a dog must have advanced to the excellent class by achieving Novice, Open and Excellent B titles. He must then have 20 Double Qs and 750 points. A double Q is obtained when the dog has perfect runs and is under course time in the Jumpers and the Standard course on the same day. This is a “Double Q”. He must also have 750 points (a point is earned for each full second under course time).

Kanzu’s MACH journey began 13 months prior to his MACH with his trainer/handler Tracy Tennison of Citrus Hill Canine Center who earned more than 40 QQs and 540 points with Kanzu. He finished up his MACH with his special friend and handler Vicki LePenske and together they earned another 11 QQs and the final necessary 210 points.

Below are pictures of Kanzu’s agility feats as well as the videos of the run where he earned his title and his victory romp.

Video courtesy of Carie Krumme and Matt Geer

In 2011 Kanzu was ranked #2 in the national agility rankings for the Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of the US (RRCUS). There are several national agility ranking systems. The RRCUS system calculates points during the calendar year for all Ridgebacks who compete in agility from the onset of their participation in the sport.

Click here to see the 2011 RRCUS Top Twenty in Agility
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

In March 2010, Kanzu debuted in his first agility trial at the Belgian Tervuren Club trial in Orange County where he earned his Novice Jumpers title in his first 4 days of agility. This year, exactly one year later and at the same show he debuted at last year, Kanzu earned 3 double qualifying scores in a row to reach a very important milestone of 20 Double Qs.

In order to earn a Master Agility Championship (MACH), a dog must have perfect runs and be under course time to qualify in the Jumpers and the Standard course on the same day. This is a “Double Q”. He must also have 750 points (a point is earned for each full second under course time). Kanzu now has his 20 Double Qs. He still has to complete the other part of the MACH requirement and reach the goal of 750 points. While this is still a lot of work, the great news is, Kanzu can earn these points by qualifying in either the Jumpers or Standard course at a trial , and no longer has to have perfect runs in both on the same day. (See Kanzu’s progress toward the 750 points on the home page under MACH Progress).

Huge congratulations to Kanzu and his handler Tracy Tennison of Citrus Hill Canine Center for reaching the 20 Double Qs. It is an accomplishment and makes the MACH a real possibility. This awesome accomplishment was made even more special by having occurred on the exact anniversary of Kanzu’s one year agility anniversary and on the exact date of his first agility title one year ago.

Click here to see Kanzu’s 20th QQ runs

Kanzu finished up 2010 ranked #5 in national agility rankings for the Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of the US (RRCUS). There are several national agility ranking systems. The RRCUS system calculates points during the calendar year for all Ridgebacks who compete in agility from the onset of their participation in the sport. Kanzu began his agility career in March 2010 so he had just 10 months of competition contributing to his ranking.

The DVD from the National Ridgeback Specialty Agility Trial held in September has just been released. It was produced by Michelle Michael of Angel Dawg Productions. Michelle has graciously allowed us to post Kanzu’s runs on the African Treasure Site. The full DVD shows all of the ridgebacks who competed and provides a great opportunity to see the variety of running and handling styles in the breed. DVDs are still available from Michelle at www.angeldawg.com

Thank you Michelle for taking this great footage of our agile Ridgebacks and thanks especially for allowing us to share Kanzu’s runs.

Click Here to see Kanu’s runs.

The Rhodesian Ridgeback Club (RRCUS) held the National Specialty Agility Trial on September 19, 2010 in Ventura CA. 43 Ridgebacks were entered in the trial. Most of the top ranked agility ridgebacks were present. Kanzu was one of three ridgebacks and the only boy to double Q (Qualify with perfect scores in Standard (STD) and Jumpers with Weaves (JWW). He earned a third place in STD and a forth place in JWW.

Kanzu had a new experience at the trial. He was quite chagrined when he realized taht he had to share his handler Tracy with other Ridgebacks. He cried and carried on whenever she took another Ridgeback to the ring. But it appeared the competition for Tracy’s attention was a positive motivator as he was crazed to finally get to the ring and get to run with her.

Special thanks to Jennifer Gysler who was the trial chair. It was a wonderful event.