In May 2024 we were happy to welcome Nathaniel Roque at our trial event. Nataniel has been a licensed USCA (United Schutzhund Club of America) judge since 2002 and an SV judge since 2010. His current position is Director of Judges for the USCA.
In addition to being invited to judge at championship events, including the WUSV 2014 World Championship (discipline protection), Nathaniel has a deep understanding of the hard work, dedication, and love required to participate in competitions. He competed in many trials, from club competitions to regional and national championships. His achievements include being a two-time Southwest Regional SchH3 Champion and the 2002 USCA Universal Sieger. Notably, he holds the distinction of earning the first perfect score “V” 100-point FH2 title in USCA history.
We were thrilled to have Nathaniel overseeing our event. After the trial, we asked him for his feedback.
Nathaniel Roque:
What impressed you the most about this event?
The camaraderie amongst the competitors stood out for me. The club members work well together as a group. It reminds me of how clubs were structured 30 years ago. In Europe, you all eat together, show up at the beginning, and stay until the end unless there was an emergency. Nowadays, in the United States, that level of commitment is rare. Some people only want to train their own dog and don’t want to sit around watching others. While I understand that everyone has lives outside of training, consistent commitment is key to your own and the club’s success.
What do you think of the organization of the Trial? One of the best events that I have had the opportunity to judge yet, and this includes national and regional events. The trial was well organized, on time, I knew what to expect ahead of time and the facilities are outstanding.
What did you think about the helper work? Juraj, the K9Force helper, applied the right amount of pressure on the dogs; he was consistent with every dog and ensured they were worked safely, fairly, and consistently. Juraj was able to test the dogs at a high club level.
Which dog impressed you the most? All dogs training at the club showed a high level of drive on the field while being relaxed off the field. If you ask me for a dog that stood out to me most, that would be Cobra. He demonstrated a natural ability to be a world-class dog. His grips are fantastic, and his overall confidence and demeanor are impressive. He is an open, powerful, physical dog that is happy, eager to please, and wants to work. When we were getting ready for the awards, I was impressed by how social and stable the dogs were. To be able to just get out on the field loose leash and go to work at the snap of a finger is outstanding.
What is the potential of dog handlers at K9Force? From my observations today, I would think that all of the club member teams have the potential, with the right training and the right dog, to compete in national championships. There are obviously different levels of handler skills, but everyone was open to critiques and very much in tune with their dogs. It is just a matter of bringing up the level of training for the dog and the handlers. In the next few years, providing the right focus and that is what the goals and dreams are, I don’t see any reason why club members would not be able to qualify at national level. It was a real pleasure to be part of the K9Force Trial.
K9Force (2024, June). In the Judge’s Seat: Exclusive Interview with Nathaniel Roque.
© K9Force WDC 2024. For permission to reproduce any article in this blog, contact info@k9force.ca
Images courtesy of Sable Fox Photography
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