
Our first
interview is with the world renowned breeder/Schutzhund trainer Eckart Salquist. His
breeding program speaks for itself and his knowledge and expertise in Schutzhund
is
legendary. I had the opportunity of speaking with him just before he left to go to the
Club Sieger and then onto the IFR 2000, which he is the captain of the team representing
the United States!
TRC: Where in Germany
were you born? How old were you when you came to the United States?
ES: Butzbach, a town
near Frankfort, I was 7 years old when I came to America and lived in California.
TRC: Did you have dogs
growing up? What type?
ES: Yes, a mutt, he
was my dog.
TRC: When did you
first get involved with Rottweilers?
ES: In the early
70s, I first saw them in books, then at a dog show. They were considered a rare
breed back then, and to see 20 of them at a show was alot.
TRC: Was there any one
person who helped you personally or got you started with this breed?
ES: No, I began on my
own. I liked the breed, originally started with the AKC ...like everybody else.
TRC: When did you
first get involved with Schutzhund?
ES: Again the early
70s. Guys I knew were in police training with their dogs, in a club called Nasda
which had just got started. DVG was just getting started too. It was a place were a
civilian could go and train. You did all that work and had no place to compete or title
your dog. Schutzhund was a way to title your dog in the early 70s.
TRC: Everyone is well
aware of your dogs of the past 10 years, but is there a dog in your past that you
particularly liked as per temperament, working ability, etc..why?
ES: In the 80s is when I bought Oleo &
Timm, but before them was Brutus Von Hennekemp (Luxembourg-youth sieger). He was a real
good dog, but died young. He had a small rupture in the lung, which slowly leaked into the
lung, and built up fluid. By the time he showed signs that he was sick it was to late. I
was just about to trial him. I only had him since he was 2, he was only 3 1/2 when he
died.
TRC: When Wotan was born,I believe he was the only
one in his litter. What did you think as day after day you saw him develop...did you ever
consider selling him?.....or did you know he was the "one"?
ES: Wotan was out of a 2 puppy litter. I had just
moved to Washington from California. I had only been there for 5 days, it was early May
and it was still cool outside. I just let the bitch out and thats where she had her
pups, the "bigger" one got a chill in him and didnt make it. (TRC...Wotan
had a "bigger brother"!). Yes, Wotan was originally sold, but I changed my mind.
He was out of a repeat breeding and the other litters were very successful.. (TRC: Can
you imagine how this guy must feel right now.....boy Id love to interview him!!, but
I guess it wouldnt take much imagination to what his thoughts are on this matter!)
You could see right away....his working attitude was like an adult, @ 10 months old he was
knocking the helper down, @12 months he won a big show down in California overall, over
some top adults and dogs that had just won at that years Klubsieger!
TRC: When you came up with the name
"Jenecks" what did you have in mind?
ES: What does anyone have in mind?, I knew what I
wanted, I kind of went against the grain, especially in those days to be showing in the
AKC and doing Schutzhund. No one did Schutzhund, you were looked on as a "bad
person". I would be at a show (AKC), that if trouble started they would immediately
say it was my dogs, but mine were well behaved at the show, I made sure of that. If
something ever happened it "had" to be one of my dogs!... I was the only one who
did Schutzhund. From the start I always believed that the dog should be able to do what it
was bred to do, not just Rottweilers, any breed. I felt the same way about other breeds I
owned.
TRC: Do you feel you have met or exceeded your
goals in your breeding program and Schutzhund program.. Do you feel there are more things
to accomplish?
ES: Do you ever meet your goals?. I have a lot more
things to do, I have no complaints. If I accomplished everything I set out to do Id
quit. I have some new dogs that Im growing out. (TRC: They are called Rhonda and
Rhino..yes thats right Rhino!.. Hell have to live up to that name!) He
does, he looked like a baby Rhino, very powerful, as wide as he is tall, hes 4
months old now.
TRC:You recently imported a dog from Germany to
breed to all of your Wotan daughters..is he all you had hoped for and what did you like
about him that you felt he was good enough to incorporate into your breeding program?
ES: Hes really good type, real old blood, the
dog has a great attitude, lots of energy, compact, calm, loves to work, hes the
father of Rhino to a Wotan daughter, Im just about to trial him.
TRC: Which Wotan son do you feel is the most like
his father? Or do you feel theres more than one?
ES: More than one?. I havent seen them all
either, most powerful is Uno, very powerful dog. Hes not exactly his father,
hes a cross between the both of them. Wotan is known for throwing substance, size
and head. Uno has a head bigger than his father, more compact. The best working out of
Wotan is Flash, but he really doesnt look like his father. Darren is doing really
well with him.(Flash is currently the highest scoring dog in the county). Its hard
to say if one is better than the other. I can only speak about the dogs I have here, but I
feel that Uno might be as good and possibly, if not even better than his father. I bred
Uno to some of the same bitches I bred Wotan to and I think the Uno puppies are better.
Uno puppies are winning in Italy and in other parts of Europe. I have an exceptional
daughter out of him, I think better than Gitta, her name is Yonka, and she just won
overall at the Canadian Nationals from the 18-24 class ...and no one complained!
TRC: So in ten years from now were will we find
you?...still showing and training?
ES: 10 years, training yes, I hate showing.
Its a lot of traveling to get to shows, and the prices for flying now ....youd
better book in advance its about $300.00 one way. The dogs we are taking to Belgium
is $600.00 one way and its more than the price of the ticket. We are flying to
Seattle and straight onto Amsterdam, 16 hour flight, well 18 total.
Eckart is the captain of the team representing the US at the
IFR 2000 The team consists of Darren Salquist, Steve Gregalunas, Amanda Hoskinson, and
Paul Davis. 3 out of the 4 dogs are Jenecks ......never before has one team had dogs from
the same kennel!
Interview by Linda Berberich
Past Interviews
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by Cindy
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