Newt

AT a glance

Athletic, driven, biddable, worker

highest Achievement: dock Elite
Favorite Sport: Bitework
#superNoodles

DOB: 7/10/2018
WEight: 66lbs
Height: 26”

About Newt

For my second Groenedael, I wanted something a bit different than Zelly, and Lorra Acord Miller of Isengard Belgians was planning a litter with great potential. After years of breeding show line Belgians, Newt is from her first working line litter and Lorra nailed it! Newt is everything I had hoped for in my next dog. He is social, smart, a little pushy, and incredibly biddable. This dog lives to WORK! Although Newt enjoys meeting new people, he would much rather work than socialize, and is a little more reserved than Zelly.

Although he is still young, he has excellent prey and hunt drive with a good deep grip. He shows a lot of promise in bite work!

I entered Newt in his first Rally-O trial in August 2019, just after he turned one year old. We passed every run we did earning Newt his Novice Rally title and moving into Advanced for our last run of the trial. I hope to continue our Rally streak and move up steadily through the levels.

Since Zelly is such a natural water dog, I wanted to compete in dock diving with Newt, as well. However, Newt wanted nothing to with water. He did want his toy VERY BADLY. He would pace, wade in, whine and bark at any toy in the water. There was no convincing him that swimming wasn’t going to kill him so…I pulled him in. There was lots of flailing but he didn’t forget about his toy! Despite the slight panic, he retrieved it. We rinsed and repeated until he was jumping off the ramp on his own. Off the dock took even less convincing. Now he competes in the Elite division with his personal best distance jump of 28’6” and Air Retrieve 22’.

The Groenendael’s original purpose as a herding dog is important to me, so when I had the chance to enter the dogs in a Herding Instinct Test, I jumped at it. During our short opportunity, Newt showed that he has good natural herding talent. He started moving in wide arcs around the pen and was willing to switch directions when asked. At this point, he hadn’t been taught how to loose leash walk or stay with distractions, nor had he ever seen livestock before. He didn’t pull me over, he focused even with all the tasty smells and the whole thing never phased him! He also earned his Farm Dog Certificate with flying colors, and even picked up his own prize.

Newt is excelling at Mondio and bitework training, with plans to compete this fall. He has a good, deep grip, and an unrivaled enthusiasm for the sport! He always impresses trainers and decoys at all the bitework seminars we attend with his level headedness and natural ability.

Newt is a tall, well-structured, athletic male. Currently, Newt weighs 65lbs and is 26.5” tall.