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CLASSIC LUGAR - DEPUTY SHERIFF by Mary E. Falls
Every breeder hopes to create dogs that will prove his breeding
program by producing animals with the most desirable working Giant
Schnauzer qualities and characteristics. Classic Lugar is certainly an
example of the Working Giant Schnauzer.
Ch. Classic Von Der Allenhof BH, CD (daughter of Ch. Iro V Sandokan
SchH III, IPO III ) was bred to Kelly Fink-Pickarts' Czechoslovakian
import, Ch. Cheeky Ladior SchH III, IPO I and produced a beautiful
litter of ten on December 10, 1995. In answer to an ad for this
litter, Deputy Sheriff Mike Banaszynski came to look for a working dog
prospect for the Walworth County Sheriff's department in Wisconsin.
A K-9 handler for the sheriff's department for 10 years, Mike had
heard about the Giant Schnauzer as a working breed and was curious to
see a litter with imported bloodlines and Schutzhund titled lineage.
He was also interested in temperament testing the litter. His imported
8 yr. old Dutch Shepherd "Andor" was nearing retirement and Mike
needed a replacement.. Andor's stellar six year performance was going
to be difficult to match. Mike drove to Merrimac, WI on a snowy day in
early February 1996 when the puppies were 8 weeks old. Upon arrival,
the matron of the litter (her first) was not pleased to see a strange
man in her residence. "Liebchen' accepted Mike with tail wagging only
after he produced a huge blaze orange 'dummy' from his car. Little did
he know her favorite game is retrieving - anything. Mike was impressed
with her prey drive and retrieve as well as her perseverance to seek
the article when it was buried in 8" of snow!
There were six in the litter that were possible candidates, the two
females however were already sold. Mike focused on the four
hard-coated males. Fortunately the sun was out and the temperature was
in the high 30's as all four puppies went out side after initial
evaluation was done. After four hours with the candidates, information
and instruction on the Giant and his care, an agreement was reached
and Mike drove away with a feisty good looking male.
A telephone call a few days later, Mike exclaimed "Do Giant Schnauzers
watch TV?, this dog actually watches TV! And he is so smart! I put him
out-side and he ran around to the family room and looked in the
window, he's only been here 2 days!" Of course - we all know Giants
watch TV and that they are the smartest dog on earth but, it is nice
to get an objective confirmation of these traits!
Mike named his male 'Classic Lugar' after the German pistol. He felt
this quite appropriate for the Riesenschnauzer preparing for a police
career. Lugar proved to be a very good student. Mike reflects back on
the puppy years: "I had heard about the Giant Schnauzer, but was
skeptical. The coat and grooming were real questions in my mind. I've
worked with the Dutch Shepherd, German Shepherd, Belgian Malinois and
the Rottweiler.
After training Lugar, I love the Giant Schnauzer. I realize all that
goes into a police dog, good breeding, temperament testing in hopes of
choosing the best candidate, months of early training, slow
progression to the ultimate goal - it's a crap shoot that after all is
said and done the one you took home turns out to be everything you
expected. Lugar has a superior nose and superior drives for retrieve
and play - which makes it easier to teach the dog for Narcotics
search. He has a high retrieve instinct with a good balance of prey
and fight drives. I really like his excellent attitude, temperament
and disposition. Lugar is a very well rounded working dog who is
always ready to go and do his job.
The only thing I would change is the 'slow maturity factor' - when we
are in the patrol car and get a call, I turn a switch on my light
panel to start the lights flashing, this creates a faint beep beep
sound. Instantly, Lugar is on his feet in the back, looking around.
Then I have to hit the switch again to get the lights to revolve,
again the faint beep beep sound. Lugar starts to pace and talk -
whine, whine; big yawn with a squeaking whine; pace pace pace, anxious
and verbal.
When the sirens go on Lugar is ready to take on the world! Some times
I feel like I've taken my kids to work .... 'knock it off back there,
settle down'. He is now 3 years old though and I am seeing him settle
in to things, he still knows when we get a call, probably always
will!"
Mike has worked with Lugar since his early puppy days at home in Troy,
Wisconsin. Mike exemplifies a good canine handler when he speaks of
'bringing a dog along'. Taking lots of time with a young dog, not
pressuring him unnecessarily and knowing how to read the dog's needs.
Lugar started frequent visits to the Sheriff's department when he was
about a year old, he accompanied Mike and Andor (who was very tolerant
of a young punk with an attitude) in the patrol car. One day Mike left
Andor in the patrol car and took Lugar into the squad room for a
visit. Mike was doing paperwork and Lugar was on a down-stay next to
the desk. Mike heard the sound of liquid on fabric... Lugar had
decided to mark his territory and urinated on another K-9 deputy's
jacket, which was on the floor! Scolding ensued as well as apologies.
Other deputies in the department nick-named Lugar - "Fee-Fee'" because
of his hair coat. Everyone was used to a dog that required little or
no grooming, aside from being a puppy that impressed everyone with the
territory stunt! We all know it's difficult being the new kid on the
block, imagine being the new breed on the K-9 unit! Lugar had Andor's
big paw prints to fill and many tough deputies to impress before he
would gain respect.
Lugar began his serious training in Narcotics search. It is easiest to
begin a young dog with training that involves positive motivation
using his natural talent. A dog with high play and retrieve drives is
motivated using toys. A small amount of the drug is placed into the
toy and the toy is hidden. When given the command to find the drugs,
the dog is rewarded when he finds the drug scented toy. Lugar excelled
in his training for narcotic search. He is now proofed on marijuana,
cocaine and heroin. In his first year as a deputy sheriff, Lugar has
made marijuana finds resulting in convictions. Lugar also honed his
tracking talent under Mike's direction. He has also been involved in
burglar apprehensions since joining the force.
'LUGAR' BECOMES LOCAL HERO
In October 1998, a 74 yr. old Alzheimer's patient disappeared from
a nursing home in Lake Geneva, WI. According to newspapers the search
began about 1 PM Wednesday October 14 with several county sheriff's
departments involved. The search was aided by a Milwaukee Fight for
Life helicopter, two TV station helicopters, an airplane from Civil
Air Patrol, as well as seven ATV's, two all terrain motorcycles, an
air boat, search and rescue bloodhounds, volunteers on horses and up
to 300 other volunteers. Thermal imaging cameras which detect body
heat were also used. The woman had spent one night out in 42 degree
cold and it was questionable whether she would survive another night
where the temperature was expected to fall below freezing.
Deputy Sheriff Mike Banaszynski and Deputy Lugar were on to the scene
Thursday morning performing building searches. Mike had his radio on,
listening to the days events.
As Mike related the story:
"Lugar and I were doing building searches and I listened to the
proceedings most of the morning on my radio. A lot of false alarms of
possible clues to finding the lady were voiced. I decided to approach
the men in charge to give Lugar a chance to make the find. They agreed
and we started at the nursing home. There had been so many people all
around the building I wondered if Lugar would pick up a scent. I did
take him inside into her room and let him rummage around, I really
don't believe you give a dog a piece of clothing and tell the dog to
'go find it' but I figured it couldn't hurt. We then went outside and
Lugar just acted uninterested, sniffing around but not really finding
anything. We were told that someone found a pair of socks on the road
in front of the home so I walked Lugar up the road to see if he could
pick up a scent anywhere. All of the sudden Lugar hit on a scent and
away we went, working a track. I let out the line and he was
definitely on to something. Reserve officer Bob Meyerhofer accompanied
me and followed close behind. Lugar turned off the road through a low
area of high grass and weeds still on track. He came into a large
subdivision where he homes each had about 3 acre lots. I looked up and
Lugar was tracking right towards the front door of a home. Anyone who
has ever held the end of the line of a dog on a track knows the
feeling of 'oh no-what are you doing!?' No sooner had I thought the
dog was way off when Lugar turned an abrupt right and then another
abrupt left around this home and into the back yard. I figured - well
he's working so hard and hasn't raised his head for about 150 yards...
lets go boy. Lugar then tracked to the edge of this property and again
turned when he reached the property line where the owner had mowed up
to tall grass, he moved along the mowed yard and all of the sudden his
head came up and he started quartering like a bird dog. He was
smelling the air and moving to the left and right still on this guy's
mowed yard. The owner of the property came out on his deck and I asked
him if he had seen anything back in the area where Lugar was so
interested? He replied that he had taken his night scope out last
night to look for the woman but hadn't seen anything. Lugar is still
moving along and quartering and smelling the air when he put his nose
back on the ground and seemed hot on the track again. We moved about
another 50 yards and Lugar leaped into the tall grass and started
barking like he does when he has a find. I looked at Bob and said if
this dog has a rabbit... well there lay this 74 yr. old woman curled
up in a fetal position. Bob checked her and told me "She's alive call
'em in!" I called in our location and that we had found the lady. I
felt great pride in my heart that Lugar had proven himself a true K-9
professional."
Walworth County Under-sheriff David Graves is quoted as saying "my
feelings about K-9s went up about 100 percent today".
Lugar is filling the big paw prints Andor left when he retired and has
gained the respect of all the officers in the Walworth County
Sheriff's department. I doubt if any one will ever call him 'Fee-Fee'
again!
Mike reports that Lugar has been involved in K-9 competitions in the
state of Wisconsin.
Lugar has received the Award for Meritorious Track of the Year by the
Wisconsin Law Enforcement Canine Handlers Association.
Lugar and Mike were awarded Officer of the Year, 1999 for their heroic
rescue.
Mike knows the dog is an excellent ambassador to the breed and has
all of the qualities an officer hopes for in a K-9 deputy.
This breeder would like to thank Mike Banaszynski for his expertise
in handling Lugar and developing him to his fullest potential. We hope
you have many years of excellent service from your working Giant
Schnauzer.
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