A/C Ch. Bastion’s Ruff Rider O’Waters
OA, CD, TDI, CGC, NAC, WD, RS-1, O-NAC, NJC, JS-1, S-NAC, HIC
That big brindle male arrived on our doorstep at 7 months of age - wild as the wind! I was accustomed to slow-moving, stereotypical "couch potato" Bullmastiffs who couldn't get in and out of the car unassisted. Who could have imagined that there was such a thing as a Bullmastiff who could flatfoot it up onto a kitchen counter, or spring up effortlessly onto a pool table, or run through the house at the speed of light, leaving the rest of us to stand there, mouths agape, in awe. Or horror - I'm not entirely sure which!
Our first "assignment" from Lynn was to put "some sort of a title on him". So, off we went to agility class - a huge room filled with Shelties, Border Collies, Goldens, and a brindle Bullmastiff. Ted's intelligence, grace and skill soon put all the wagging tongues to rest as he flew through the beginner classes and graduated to intermediate after just 6 quick sessions. With Ted streaking through life (dragging me kicking and screaming behind him) we made breed history - he became the first male Bullmastiff to earn the AKC title of Open Agility, and he was also the first Bullmastiff ever to attend a national agility competition!
In between all of that, we managed to get his conformation championships in the US and Canada, and also put a CD on him. In all, he earned over 20 titles in many different venues and disciplines (including sheepherding), while working tirelessly as a therapy dog, helping us evaluate various foster Bullmastiffs through the rescue program, and siring the first Bullmastiff to win our national specialty three consecutive years, Liam. WOW!
So, here we are, fourteen years later, and I am surrounded by his children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren, each and every one of them an amazing working dog with multiple working titles in various disciplines, and all but one with a breed CH as well. There's little left to do, except look back and marvel at the impact that this great dog had on the breed.
In terms of our training philosophy, I have to advocate for the "less is more" approach. In fact, my trainers often speculate as to just what these guys could accomplish if only I bothered to train them a little bit! We use strictly positive training methods, with short sessions and NO correction/punishment techniques at all. We don't use choke collars, we don't use pinch collars, head collars or haltis. They're all on plain buckle collars, and work because they WANT to, not because they have to, and that's what makes all the difference.
I owe everything to Ted, his breeders, and my super trainers. A dog who learns early on to experiment, to interact with his environment, to try new things, is a joy to work with - for the rest of his life. There's nothing sadder than seeing a dog who's never learned to learn, or even had the opportunity to TRY to learn, who is expected to perform something beyond his ken and labeled as "stupid" or "stubborn" for failing to deliver. If I've learned anything in all these years, it's that Bullmastiffs are neither stupid nor stubborn - actually, the fact that they don't slavishly repeat tasks, or run endlessly after that tennis ball, is proof that they're anything but stupid. Who in their right mind will repeat something endlessly for no reason? Not a Bullmastiff, and not me either! With this training philosophy, I've managed to put agility, obedience,
Ch Bastion’s Dream Girl UD VCD-2 TD MXP AXJ NF RAE WDV-4 WDP-O3 WDP-A4 HIT CGC
I had no idea when I brought Savanna home at 7 weeks that her registered name “Dream Girl” would have been so true. She has taken me on a journey I would have never dreamed of 6 short years ago. In that time she has gone from my Novice-A obedience dog to a Utility Dog (UD) currently working on her UDX. As well as being only the second bullmastiff to win HIGH COMBINED in obedience at the ABA National Specialty. Savanna was the number 1 agility bullmastiff in 2009, has been invited to the AKC/Eukanuba Agility Invitational twice, & is currently finishing up her Master Agility titles. In 2010 she earned her Tracking Dog (TD) title. By finishing this title she completed her Versatile Companion Dog Level-2 (VCD-2) title, becoming only the second bullmastiff in history to achieve this. She has been the ABA Triathlon winner 3 times & has been High Scoring Champion in Obedience 3 times at the National Specialty.
Before Savanna came into my life I had absolutely no dog training experience. She has taught me so much and has been & continues to be an amazing partner. I am so blessed to have her in my life.
Owned By: Kim Cook Solo-K Bullmastiffs
For anyone who may be interested in doing some type of performance here are some recommended books.
Obedience
Puppy Obedience: Building Blocks To Performance
Beginners Obedience:
So Your Dogs Not Lassie By: Betty Fisher & Suzanne Delzio
Competition Obedience:
Dogs Are Problem Solvers Handlers Should Be Too By Connie Cleveland
Agility: Agility Start To Finish By Diane Bauman
Tracking: Novice Nosework By Ed Presnall & Lois Ballard
Waters Tornatic Action MACH-2
Tori is the first and only MACH bullmastiff. MACH stands for Master Agility Champion Title. a dog must exhibit superior performance on the agility corse. Speed and consistency are the two major qualities denoting “superior performance” and therefore are the basis of the qualifications
Here is a discripton of what a MACH entails. To acquire this title you must achieve at least 750 championship points and twenty double Q’s. That means qualifing in both Excellent B Standard Agility and excellent B jumpers with weaves. In a arena dominated by the sleak and lean machines of dogdom, a dog of substance and density is like a bull in a group of gazelle’s.
Tori was owned and trained by Jack McMillin. Sire is Ch. Wild Hearts Home Brew. Ch. Dam is Waters Bastion Lady Ashlock. Tori was bred by Lee and Cindie Waters, Renee Aldrich and Lynn Spohr. Regretfully I have lost my pictures of Tori due to computer crashes but Dawn Hamilton sent me this one
