K9 PRO SPORTS Exotic breed award.

[Butch Cappel]

At K9 PRO SPORTS we are doing all we can to encourage the proper training
of the less well known breeds, we believe that with proper training of the giant breeds, the owners will, hopefully, avoid the stigma of todays APBT. We also hope that this will encourage others to participate in the ownership of these exotic breeds.

We also hope to showcase a dog that will be an ambassador for their breed as well as K9PS. Exemplifying the Personal Protection dog as a member of their family and society.

This year we had nine Corso's compete in K9 PRO SPORTS. Eight competed at trials around the country and one competed at the World Championship. Some, like David Youngblood, with his blue CC Bella, were an excellent
representative of the breeds ability to mingle in any crowd, draw the admiration of adults, as well as children, and act like the dog every one wanted to take home.

Other, more experienced CC owners, exhibited not only the same outstanding personality in their dogs, but also the dedication and effort that comes with hours of training for weight pulling, OB, and all other endeavors the Corso can excell in. Eric Storm was definitely an Ambassador for the CC with his out standing training program and dogs. Like many other competitors Eric was not able to enter the Championships with his dogs.

Bella Rosa Cane Corso, and Viginnia Dunn just couldn't see this much participation by other CC owners go unrecognised at the World Championship.
When she found out that other participants would not be able to make the Championship she stepped up with her young dog Trajen.

Now the fact that Trajen had never been involved in any training didn't deter her. Enrolling Trajen in a crash protection training course twelve days, that's right I said "Twelve", days before the trial she confidantly placed him in the Training div. at the World Championship.

Trajen faced a GSD that was owned by a recent graduate of one the most well known SchH dog trainers schools in this country and an APBT that had won every puppy class in K9PS, and was now moving up to adult Training div.

There was no way to know the winner going through the OB, the Sociability, and the Civil Alert. They were all good and it came down to the Attack on Handler exercise, with internationally renowned military and SchH trainer Thomas Ravn, Denmark, doing the decoy honors.

When attacked all dogs protected their handlers. Trajen, with twelve days of prior training, PROTECTED his handler!! His bite was so intense that Thomas had trouble slipping the sleeve.

When Trajen left the field, to the applause of an approving crowd, he was swarmed by adults and kids alike and accepted his adualtion like any true champion, for he had won his division at his first ever World Championship.

The rules for the Exotic Breed award Silver Buckle require that the dog compete in two K9PS trials, one of which must be the World Championship.

As it played out this year many exceptional Corsos entered one or more trials during the year, but were not able to make the Championship. One CC made no other trials, but was able to make the Championship, but none other.

If any of the participants in this years trials have any thing they would like to discuss on this matter I will be glad to give them the contact info for our Certification director so they may discuss the rules with Ken.

At this moment, from our BOD and myself, I would like to extend our sincere appreciation for the participation of the many CC owners in this years K9PS trials. Your engagement in the PP world has brought recognition to a breed that should lead the way in protection work for dogs. With continued participation in 2007 the CC will eventually take it's place as one of the premier Protection breeds existing today.

On a personal note, as a proud CC owner myself, Thank You!
For showing, not just the world, but the other newcomers to the breed what is possible with a little extra time and attention.

Listen Well, Bite Hard!!!

Butch Cappel
Founder
K9 PRO SPORTS
The Original

[Ron Ackerman]

I am totally overwhelmed at your beguiling and grandiloquent narrative of Cane Corso participation for the Exotic Breed silver buckle.

I think all nine of the Cane Corsos that competed in K9 PRO SPORTS during the 2006 season, along with the Handlers’ names and the trials in which they competed, should be listed so they can receive the recognition they so deserve. Those interested in competing with their CC’s next year could contact them and possibly get some helpful training tips as well as some insight into the inter workings of K9 PRO SPORTS. It seems that for some esoteric reason, the Trial Results on your website, which by the way, haven’t been updated since April 15th, 2006, don’t show a complete list of the competitors entered in any of the trials, as do all other working dog organizations results.

Exactly where in the K9 PRO SPORTS Rulebook or By-Laws does it state, “that the dog compete in two K9PS trials, one of which must be the World Championship.”? Could it be possible that this “rule” interpretation came about either because Roy Rojas declined, in agreement with Tito’s trainer, to utilize your skills and train at your facility or because of Roy’s perceived inequities in the judging at the three trials in which he competed?

I was also unable to find any reference in the K9 PRO SPORTS Rulebook, By-Laws or Trial Results concerning the “puppy class in K9PS” in which the APBT you referred to had won. How many “Divisions” are there for competitors?

Will the Cane Corso be the Exotic Breed again next year or will it possibly be the Airedale? I’m sure you’re a proud owner of one of those as well!

P.S. While I’m sure all the accolades you’ve heaped on Ms. Dunn and her dog have only bolstered her resolve to host a trial next year, it might behoove you to at least get her dog’s name correct, it’s “Trajan”.

[Storm]

Way to go Virginia, I think it's terrific you're involved in working and promoting the breed in such a positive way with your group on the west side and even better to jump out there and just do it as you proved can be done with some will and determination. Congrats on your results!

Hope to meet you there next season, the weight pull Nationals harnessed us this year, keep working and promoting, you guys are doing it right.

[ProDOG]

This post has been edited by the ProDOG editorial and complaint department. We do not condone negativity. We do condone positive feedback and constructive interaction between our training staff and dog owners, everywhere.

ProDOG

[Virginia Dunn]

Thank you, Storm, for your words of praise. You are always positive and very encouraging to those of us wanting to learn to work our dogs!

As for Mr. Ackerman, let's get a few things straight. First, it is blatently obvious that the only reason you want the CC participants names listed is so you can continue your campaign of hate against Mr. Cappel by contacting them individually, such as you sending me that unwanted video. I don't think the corso community needs any more of your negativity. Thankfully, Mr. Cappel is not going to give you that. Ron, Corso people are smart folks. They have read your posts and can make up their own minds, just as my crew and Mr. Storm has. We all understand your disdain for Butch Cappel and K9 ProSports. You do not need to repeat yourself over and over again.

Second, Mr. Cappel does not need to butter me up in order to entice me to hold a trial in 2007. In fact, you may be surprised to learn that we already have a trial planned for the Pacific Northwest - we've been working on this since the fiasco with your buddy, Thad Stacy. Our event is called the NW Working Dogs Expo, will be held in Yakima Washington on May 18 - 20th, and will encompass the K9ProSports NW Regionals, as well as CGC and ATTS Testing, Fila Temperament Testing, herding and tracking seminars and demonstrations, youth obedience exercises, a weight pull, etc. Too many events to mention here. This event has been in the works since last summer and our goal is to provide opportunities for the public to see what a working dog can do. Here's a link if you are interested:

http://www.workingdogexpo.com

Finally, regarding the exotic breed buckle, I will say this. I was disappointed at not having the opportunity to meet Roy and Lilly Rojas and Tito. I have heard much about them and was looking forward to seeing them there in Texas. Unfortunately they choose to go to the conformation show instead. I did not write the rule book but according to Mr. Cappel and other board members, one must compete in at least 2 trials and one of them must be the finals in order to be eligible for the exotic breed award. Mr. Rojas did not attend the finals and therefore did not meet the requirements for earning that buckle. (It's quite beautiful, by the way.) At the celebration dinner, Mr. Cappel recognized Roy and Tito, but acknowledged that the buckle would not be presented to anyone because the requirements simply were not met. Ron, you can call it whatever you like. People came to this trial from all over the world, including Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. We came all the way from Oregon (I personally drove 3 days to get there), there were people there from California, Florida and all across the country. Roy lives right in Texas, so the trip would have been easiest for him. That he choose not to appear and compete is unfortunate, but that is on him, not Butch.

Will the Cane Corso be the Exotic Breed again in 2007? I have no idea. There are a number of breeds vieing for that distinction, including the Fila folks and the Presa people. But I will say this - If Butch and the K9 ProSports Board chooses to give us another shot at it, the corso community will most certainly make a good showing! After all, third times a charm!

[Butch Cappel]

Thanks Virginia and Storm for all ya'll do to keep people learning and and trying.

Nick? or would that be Thad Stacy? Wouldn't it? Try reading before crying, that was the "Training" division he won, and WIN it he did!

As to your thirty years of training I didn't think you had been out of prison that long? Time spent running from the bloodhounds don't count as you training.

[CarlosK9.com]

Hey Ron? how are you doing my friend? long time without seeing? how is everyting going my friend? any news?

take care

Carlos A Gomez
www.carlosk9.com

[Virginia Dunn]

Hey Butch! You crack me up. OF COURSE that is Thad. We met both Nicks at the ProDog event last summer, remember? They were decoying Thad's customers. Really nice guys with some impressive skills, and both were around 20 years of age, so the 'training dogs for over 30 years' was a dead giveaway. Thad, you're a funny guy!

I do want to set the record straight though, Butch. You said Trajan had no training. It would be better if you let people know that you meant no sleeve training. I'm sure most people knew what you meant, but for those who might have been confused, it would be ludicrous for anyone to think that a Cane Corso could be raised without any training.

HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING AND THANKS FOR THE GREAT TIME IN TEXAS!

[Butch Cappel]

Virginia,

I stand corrected, on the "sleeve training" terminology,
thankful for your kind words,
happy that you had a good time at the Championship, and
hopeful, of gaining at least eight more pounds before the end of the day.

Hope we all give thanks, for the chances we all have to do our thing, with our dogs, in this great country. That's why this is an American holiday, Isn't it?

SEE YA'LL in 2007

Butch Cappel

[Thad Stacy]

Hello Butch and Virginia. Actually, I have only been training protection and patrol dogs for twenty-five years (see www.prodogtrainers.org/about.htm). I didn't even know this board existed until I got an email from a friend this evening about the posts.

You poor people must be seeing ghosts of me everywhere there is something critical said about your training. Too funny.

WRT the bloodhounds comment. That was good, Butch. Actually, I do consider running from bloodhounds as experience, though I don't usually count that time in prison as formal experience. I guess one mans "running from bloodhounds" is another mans, practical decoy experience...with real bites. Maybe I should.

Virginia, I wanted to say thanks for the nice phone call to Rita about our video. Even though I got the message third hand, it was still nice of you to do. Also, I will pass along your comments regarding our decoys, to our decoys next week. I'm sure they will really appreciate your kind words as well. You know how much your opinion and validation means to them.

WRT the earlier Prodog post, I guess I agree with the general concern voiced in that post. I would not have said it like that. I am really quite okay letting sleeping corsos stay asleep. As a matter of fact, I hate these boards and have not visited any boards since all that misunderstanding took place in July, or whenever.

My wishes for all a happy holiday season.

TAS