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HALL OF FAME - DOGS THAT DEFINE US |
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SHAKA
Shaka.... First in our hearts forever...he taught us the meaning
of Briard…and forever changed our lives. Our hope is that
everyone can experience that “once in a lifetime Briard”, it
will forever change you.
Shaka was also known as: BIS, BISS Am, PR, Inter, Mex, World Ch
Fracasse de Lindeau,
HOF,ROM, ROMP,HIC,TT,TDI,CGC, RassSelect*
Bred by Rob Ferber and Linda Wells
Ch
Votre Magic Marker de Lindeau x Ch Dakar du Chemin des Rocialles
Shaka finished his AKC Championship owner handled by Rick. It
was an achievement to finish a black Briard in the area at the
time, and it was an indication of things to come. Later, as a
mature Briard, Shaka and his beloved handler Martin Cabral made
Briard history. During his stellar show career, Shaka won 3
National Briard Club of
America
Specialties, retiring the Briard Club of America's Challenge
Trophy from the Veteran Class. He won so many Briard Regional
Specialties we have lost count. With over 150 AKC group
placements, and an FCI Best In Show, Shaka was also the first
black Briard to get an AKC Best In Show. Shaka won the Pedigree
Award in 1996, as the top Briard in the country.
When Shaka and Martin went to the FCI annual World show, taking
the breed, and earned the coveted title, World Champion. As
icing on the cake, he placed 3rd in the Pastoral Group, we
believe this is one of the only times a Briard has placed in
Group in a World show. His quality was recognized around the
world.
During his life. Shaka sired over 25 black champions, as well as
many with obedience and agility titles. His daughter Page is the
second Briard in the history of the Briard to earn a UDX…and is
well on her way to an OTCH.
His children include Specialty winning, Obedience titled, Group
winning/placing Briards. |
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His children include Specialty
winning, Obedience titled, Group winning/placing Briards. His
grandson
Boston
carried on Shaka's tradition by winning the BCA National
Specialty in 2005. His granddaughter Anka won the French
National in 2006, and is well on her way to the coveted title of
French Champion. She is the second American born Briard to win
the French National, and we hope will be the second American
bred to attain the title of French Champion. …what an honor!
Shaka's breeding career is not done, as there will be litters
from frozen semen in the future. Shaka was much more than a show
dog and a sire. Hopefully every dog owner is lucky enough to be
blessed with a “once in a lifetime” dog… this was our Shaka.
This black ball of fur was born in
Michigan during the Gulf war . He came to us, a family
that “would never have a black dog”, and oh how he changed our
lives!
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Shaka was a very active puppy who really believed that now that
he was here, the world was complete. As a puppy he greeted
everything and everyone with a leap and a smile…he would leap in
your arms… give you a very big kiss…and be off to bestow his
presence with someone else. He would pull pots and pans from
cupboards and drop them, he liked the noise. He was not happy
the day we discovered child locks for cupboards! His appetite
was legendary...a trait that he showed very young. I will never
forget the day that I walked into the kitchen and pulled Shaka
out of a puppy food bag. At about 13 weeks old he got into the
food and was determined to “finish the bag"! The 40 pound bag
had been close to full before he started, and by the time I
pulled him out - well, he looked like someone blew him up. The
vet had a very hard time not laughing as he “assisted” in the
removal of the huge quantity of food. Shaka was fed for much of
his life from a muffin tin to slow down his eating, he so loved
his food. In fact, his food ethic was so strong that he once
tried to convince a lady friend that he could complete the
“deed” and have a quick snack, all at the same time. His girl
friend of that exact moment was not amused as she was “escorted”
across the room to the food dish!
Shaka’s temperament test was a wonderful example of his
character. Rick and Shaka went to the testing site.
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Rick had
never seen a temperament test, but it looked like fun. He and Shaka started the course, the wire pen, the gun shot, noise,
hey, this is no big deal. When the aggressive stranger appeared
Shaka positioned himself between the stranger and Rick, at the
same time a dog fight broke out to the side of Rick. Shaka
changed his position to put himself between Rick and the
fighting dogs. The temperament tester later remarked that at
first he did not realize what Shaka was doing, but when he
realized that Shaka assessed the situation and deemed the dog
fight more of a threat to Rick and positioned himself
appropriately. He marveled at what a “magnificent” dog Shaka
truly was. That was our Shaka………..
One of his other great loves was any orange traffic cone. Many
Briarders can tell you stories of Shaka and his parking cones.
Once leaving a benched show, Shaka grabbed a cone…now he did
this in front of the police, who at first were a bit cranky
about a big black dog stealing their cone. They watched as Shaka
gleefully claimed his “prize", Shaka entered the hotel with
that cone.
Shaka had a very strong sense of self. When Shaka walked into a
room, or into a show ring, heads turned…this was a dog that
would not go unnoticed.
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He, together with Martin, made Briard
history…there were so many firsts. First black Briard to go FCI
Best, first black Briard to go AKC Best, and he and Martin won
more Briard specialties than any black Briard before or since.
Shaka passed in Ricks and my arms…Rest in Peace Shaka, you will
be forever missed and remembered.
*What do all the letters mean?
AKC - American Kennel Club, the governing body of dogs shows in
the US
FCI - Federation Cyanologue Internationale, the oversight body
for dogs shows in every other country in the world.
BCA - Briard Club of America, the parent organization for the
Briard in the US
BIS - Best in Show, awarded at an all breed show
BISS - Best in Show Specialty, awarded at shows of Briards only
Am. PR, Int, Mex, World - these are championships awarded in
different countries, and by the AKC and FCI organizations. Shaka
had American (AKC), Puerto Rican, International, Mexican, and
World (FCI) championships.
HOF - member of the BCA Hall of Fame, earned by achievement.
ROM - Registry of Merit of the BCA, earned by siring Champions.
ROMP - Registry of Merit Performance of the BCA, earned by
siring offspring who have earned working titles, such as in
obedience or herding.
HIC - Herding Instinct Certificate
TT - Temperament Tested, a title awarded by the American
Temperament Test Society, following a rigorous test.
TDI - Therapy Dog, indicating Shaka passed a test to determine
if he had the capability to act as a therapy dog.
CGC - Canine Good Citizen, a title awarded by AKC
RassSelect - the highest possible rating, received from two
European judges at the BCA Rassemblement.
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Copyright 2007. Olga Shulman at Briard Breeder.
All rights preserved. |
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