his father Damon, Junior World Winner 2001

Rocket at 7 weeks

his mother Ivy, World Winner 2001 and Bundessieger 2001

Rocket(aka Roxy) had a great year over all.  He finished his Utility title, the highest level of competition in obedience , in January, unfortunately he was diagnosed with Cutaneous Lymphoma, a relatively rare form of skin cancer the same month.  We continued to trial him in agility until July when his energy was just not there, partly due to the Chemo treatments that we did.  He initially went into remission with the chemo, but the sores began to reappear in July so we stopped the chemo, which he hated anyway.  We had started doing supportive care through a local holistic vet in March and tried various supplements to boost his auto immune system.  He did quite well.  Still very willing to play and we continued to do tracking in part cuz he loved it and he just needed his 2nd level tracking title to earn a VCD3(Versatility Companion Dog) title.  A relatively new AKC title that requires titles in obedience, agility and tracking.  We entered a couple tracking tests in October and passed on the 2nd try which gave Rocket that VCD3 and made him the first ever Bouvier to earn one.  He was such a good boy.  By late October the sores covered just about every inch of his body, but were just starting to both him enough for us to start him on Prednisone, the drug of last resort, as once it looses its effectiveness in 6 to 8 weeks, the cancer comes back with a vengeance.  The pred did give him some relief, but the sores got much worse by mid December.  We still managed to track once a week and play, but by Christmas he got very bad. stopped eating, had difficulty walking, so it was time.   We miss him very much, he was such a wonderful dog.  I have a DVD and some other things, pictures and stuff for you that I hope to have ready to send in the next couple of weeks. I will try to email some of his tracking pic, but they are pretty big files so not sure how that will work.  

Here is the Obit my husband wrote:

Thank you Lynn and Carl, for everything you did for Rocket. Ria

Dirty Beards Article about Rocket

Lynn and Rocket’s Excellent Adventure

Another Milestone in Bouvier History - Versatile Companion Dog 3 Title

 Some of you may remember the 1989 film Bill and Ted’s Excellent  Adventure. Like in the movie, training and competing in companion/performance sports can be a little bit likescience fiction and a whole lot like a comedy. I am sure this is true especially for those who have earned all of the titles required to obtain a VersatileCompanion Dog title.

The Versatile Companion Dog titles were created by AKC to reward owners of all breeds who compete in Obedience, Agility, and Tracking events. Since the inception of the program in 2001, six Bouviers have earned VCD1 or VCD2 titles. Only one has earned a VCD3; Briarlea Roxy V. Bouvier Topline VCD3 UD MX MXJ TDX AD. On October 5, 2008, Lynn Beihl of St. Louis Park, MN and her male Bouvier earned their TDX and completed their requirements for this prestigious title. A VCD3 title holder must have earned at least a Utility Dog (UD) obedience title, Tracking Dog Excellent (TDX) title and Excellent Standard and Jumpers (AX/AXJ) agility titles. Competing at such an advanced level can be quite an adventure.  

I recently heard from Lynn and she told me the following about their Excellent Adventure to a VCD3 title:

“Rocket was bred by Ria van Elven of Bouvier Topline Kennels and imported from Holland in the spring of 2002 by Sunny DeYoung and Penelope Ogden. He came to live with us later that summer. We started obedience classes that fall when he was 6 months old and agility classes when he was a year old. We also started tracking the spring of his first year. Rocket loved it all. He enjoyed working; it was all play to him. He'd retrieve anything. Retrieving his "toys" became a powerful training reward and motivator.

 We are very fortunate to live in the Minneapolis area as we have access to very accomplished obedience, agility and tracking instructors as well as active clubs that hold numerous obedience and agility trials and tracking tests throughout the year. I had trained and trialed in obedience before and had gotten CDX titles on two previous Bouviers. I also trained in Utility but never completed the title until Rocket. He is my first agility dog, so all of his agilitytitles are firsts for me as well, as was the UD and TDX.  

Rocket has had other major accomplishments during his performance career. At age 3, in 2005, Rocket earned his CDX and was ranked the number 1 Bouvier in Open A by Front and Finish trainer’s magazine and tied for 9th place in the Herding Group.

We also started to compete in the USDAA agility venue where he earned his AD (Agility Dog) title. The rest is Bouvier history.

Rocket’s Title History:

2003: CGC

2004: CD, NAP

2005: CDX, NJP, NA, NAJ, OA  

2006: OAJ, AX, AXJ, MX, MXJ, TD, VCD1, VCD2, USDAA AD  

2007: UD

2008: TDX, VCD3  

All of us can take great pride in this historical accomplishment. Lynn and Rocket are excellent examples of what our Bouviers 

are capable of attaining. They are truly an exceptional pair. Congratulation!

 Other Bouvier VCD title holders

The AKC permits the use of the letters following the name of each 

registered dog that completes titles as follows:  

Versatile Companion Dog 1 (VCD1) - CD, NA, NAJ, TD

Versatile Companion Dog 2 (VCD2) - CDX, OA, OAJ, TD

Versatile Companion Dog 3 (VCD3) - UD, AX, AXJ, TDX

Versatile Companion Dog 4 (VCD4) - UDX, MX, MXJ, VST

Versatile Companion Dog Champion (VCCH) - OTCH, MACH, CT  

VCD1--09/01/02. CH Ursus Borealis Denali VCD1 OA OAJ, owned by: Mary & Kevin Dougherty of Soldotna, AK

VCD2--11/14/2004. CH Vallihi Yo-Tusk VCD2 AX AXJ, owned by: Lynn Brimmer & Janet Snazuk of Monroe, WA

VCD1--7/3/2005. CH Susant's St Louis Legend VCD1 CDX, owned by Jean R. Chambers & Sue Digorno of Northfield, OH

VCD1--8/28/2005. Valkyrie-Cacharel V Rovika VCD1 RA OAP OJP, owned by: Mary & Kevin Dougherty of Soldotna, AK

VCD1--9/1/2007. CH Sleeping Lady's Sassy Lassy VCD1 RA MXJ, owned by: Vineta F. Hesson of Wasilla, AK

  back