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YouTube video of Solo's first day of training for tracking. 'The Scentpad.'
More about Banjo from The NAWBA Journal, Fall
1990:
"Cover Dog" Ch. Banjo v. Schwarzen Baeren,
SchH3, angekoert
By Martha Sadler Hochstein
'Banjo was born in Germany on June 6. 1984.
His dam was a Belgian import who had been trained to SchH3 by his owner, Iris
Haas. Edel v Baronen became the foundation bitch for the vom schwarzen
Berren kennel. Banjo's sire was Marschel v.d. Stadt Homberg SchH3
IPO3 FH angekoert, from the famous German Bouvier breeder Willy Reisloh.
Marschel was working champion of Germany, and all of his littermates became
SchH3 or IPO3. Banjo, named for a popular German candy bar, arrived in San
Francisco when he was seven weeks old - a tiny puppy in a 500 crate. He
stepped out like he owned the world, and his attitude never changed. He
loved to play with his toys and even now when someone visits he will bring out
his old rubber ring to play tug-of-war. As soon as he was old enough, we
worked with the South County Schutzhund Club. When we first visited the
Club, none of the members believed that a Bouvier could actually do the
protection work to obtain a Schutzhund title. Now they expect just the
opposite - that every Bouvier is extremely hard in the protection phase.
By the time Banjo was three years old, he was an
American Champion, "V" rated in conformation in Germany, SchH3 and angekoert
(passed the German Bouvier Club's Recommended for Breeding Test.) Six
weeks before the 1989 DVG Nationals, Joanne Plumb began to handle Banjo.
The first trial they competed in together they won with a score of 286.
This was the first time the SV Judge Harold Hansch had given a dog of any breed
a 99 in obedience. In 1989 they placed second in the DVG Nationals with a
289 and, in 1990, third place with a 289, also a first for a Bouvier.
In November Banjo competed in the German
International Trial for Bouviers and pass the Koerung for life. He has a
son and daughter with SchH titles, and soon others will be added to the list.
Although I had owned 4 Bouviers before Banjo, he was my first true Bouvier.
Now as I watch his 4 week old grandchildren I look for the little "Banjo," the
one with the proud swagger, the twinkle in the eye, the self-confidence and who
is the 'king of the food dish."
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Una comes in season September 10. First progesterone assay September 17
reading is 3.28 - vet also reports cell cornification.
September 17 - the 20 year old frozen semen is sent
via overnight FEDEX from Canine Cyobank in California and arrives in Minnesota
at Inver Grove Animal Hospital on September 18. Second progesterone assay
September 19 reading is 5.9. September 21 reading is 15 ~ implantation
planned for September 22! Saturday, Sept 22, it's back to Inver Grove and
a successful implantation! Here's what happens~ A mask is put over Una's
face so that she breathes in a relaxant; she's put up on the operating table and
her legs are secured in position, a tube is inserted to keep her breathing and
she's given an anesthetic. Her belly is shaved clean and antiseptic is
scrubbed into the area where the incision will be made. A drape is put
over her body, an oval hole is cut in the drape to expose the incision area.
A 3" long incision is made and her uterus is pulled up and out of her body with
a stainless steel instrument. The vet examines the uterus to be sure there
aren't any abnormalities to be seen. In the meanwhile, another vet is
taking the straws of semen out of the liquid nitrogen tank, quickly thawing them
and then warming them in warm water. The ends of the straws are snipped
off, the sperm-rich semen is drained into test tubes and immediately drawn up
into a syringe and, with a very fine needle, injected slowly into each horn of
the uterus. 8 straws of semen were used for this implantation; 4 on each
horn of the uterus (perhaps a teaspoon per side.) A tiny fraction of semen
remaining in the syringe is used to examine it for quality.
Banjo's 20 year old frozen semen thaws well,
with good motility, forward movement and quantity.
October 17 ultrasound shows 2 puppies. Will there be more??
Solo is born November 21, 2007.
