Send Templar To The DPCA Nationals
Donation protected
Hello, please let me introduce myself to you, my name is Mark D. Ronnfeldt and I live in Phoenix Arizona. I am a professional dog trainer and AKC competition obedience handler. I have been doing business under the name of Paws Dog Training Academy since 1985.
In my 30 year career I have been blessed with many accomplishments. Over the past 30 years I have served the public in several positions. I was elected, and served, as the President and Vice President of the Arizona Dog Council for over 10 years. I was elected president of Canyon State Doberman Club, (the 1st United Doberman Club chapter organization in Arizona), a position I held for 3 years and Vice President for 1 year. And I was head of the NPOA, National Pet Owners Association for 3 years. I was also appointed to the Maricopa County Rabies and Animal Control Advisory Council and the Maricopa County Pet Overpopulation Task Force in the 1990's.
When it comes to handling dogs, few can compete with my training record. I currently hold several AKC obedience records. I hold the record for the youngest Doberman titled with a CD, Companion Dog, at 6 months and 5 days of age. I hold the record for the youngest Doberman titled with a CDX, Companion Dog Excellent, at 7 1/2 months of age, and I hold the record for the youngest Doberman titled with a UD, Utility Degree at 13 months of age. These accomplishments and records may never be beat. I was also blessed to have owned, trained, and handled the 1st UDX, Utility Dog Excellent, male Doberman in the history of the breed with Talon of Eagles von Paws UDX WAC. I have also trained and handled 3 seperate intact male Dobermans, in the past consecutive 6 years, to the DPCA, Doberman Pinscher Club of America, Obedience Top 20.
Every year the top scoring Dobermans in Confirmation, Obedience, and Agility are invited to the DPCA National Organizations Specialty Show to compete for the # 1 Doberman in the Nation in each category. In 2012, I competed in the Top 20 Obedience competitions at the Nationals in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky with Paws Vladimere McGhee Metzger CD. We tied for 1st creating a runoff situation for the 1st time in over 15 years. I lost the runoff due to a slow sit. To me it felt like being at the Super Bowl on the 1 yard line, ready to score, and having the time run out on the clock. What I wanted to win the most, the crown jewel I wanted on my resume, was to have the #1 Obedience Doberman in the Nation, and it would have to wait.
They say that all good things must come to an end, and it holds true for me as well. In 2006 at the age of 49, all the years of dog training and hard physical work finally caught up with me. In the short period of just a few months, I found myself under doctor's care for completely collapsed arches, in both feet. During preoperative tests, it was discovered I was diabetic. After surgery, even with a major nerve removed from my foot and specially designed orthotics, it became difficult to walk or stand for any length of time. With every step my feet would splay out and pinch nerves. (In 2006 I wore a size 10 shoe. I bought new shoes last week they were size 13. And to complcate things even more, severe diabetic neuropathy has now set into both feet). Even with my physical difficulties I managed to maintain a full time work schedule and in 2009 for the 1st time in my career I made it to the DPCA Obedience Top 20 with Paws Black Onyx Tower CDX WAC.
On November 5, 2012, Paws Knights Templer Deus Vult was born in our house. He was a very special puppy that I felt was perhaps the "best" I had ever owned. God had blessed me with "the one" ( Deus Vult is Latin for "God Wills It").
I knew my health was deteriorating and this would be my last competition Doberman. I also knew I needed to train Templer to be my future service dog as my mobility left me. I also had one goal left in life, to win the DPCA Obedience Top 20. To win, I first had to qualify and get the invitation. The accumulation of points begins every year at May 1 and ends April 30. The top 20 Dobermans accumulating the most points are notified in June to prepare for the Nationals Competition, usually held the 1st week of October.
To earn points one must enter, compete, and qualify at an AKC Authorized Obedience Trial and receive a minimum of 195, out of a possible 200 points. 194 1/2 points gets you nothing. It must be a 195 or better. The year for Templer and I started May 1, 2014 and ended April 30, 2015. My health, and finances, only permitted us to enter 9 shows, but Templer met and exceeded all expectations and we were notified the first week of June 2015 that we had succeeded. We were invited. We were ranked 14th in the country. By default, since no other Arizona Dobermans made the list, we were the #1 obedience Doberman in Arizona.
Because I was no longer able to keep a full work schedule, I was forced to quit full-time training and working with clients in July of 2014. As of Thanksgiving, 2014, I found myself borrowing a wheelchair. In March 2015, I received my 1st power wheelchair. My mobility is unfortunately departing from me very quickly and I find myself left with an unfulfilled legacy. I want to compete at the 2015 Doberman Pinscher Club of America Nationals with Templar and have one last opportunity to win it all before I am forced to retire permantly. My fantasy is to win the top 20 and retire the same night. Would you please help me fulfill that fantasy?
Being self-employed for 30 years, and not paying into the system, I am unable to collect disability Social Security. Also due to my health, I am unemployable. My love and my passion for dogs have taken its toll on my body to where I am no longer able to sustain employment capable of supplying the necessary financing for Templar and I to attend, and compete at the Top 20, 2015 DPCA Nationals.
The nationals this year are held in Lancaster Pennsylvania and will run from September 26 through October 3, 2015. Because I need to take ring equipment and jumps, it is not practical for me to fly. I also don't have a vehicle capable of carrying my wheelchair to Pennsylvania. Therefore, it wil be necessary for me to drive, and to rent a van to transport myself, Templar, and equipment. From Phoenix Az, to Lancaster, Pa. is approximately a 4800 mile round-trip. Taking driving time into consideration, as well as the length of the Nationals, I need to depart on Wednesday, September 23 and I plan to arrive back in Phoenix on Tuesday, October 6. That is 14 day trip.
I have come up with this approximate budget:
Van vehicle rental $750.00 (Internet average for 2 weeks with unlimited miles)
Gasoline $1120.00 (4800 miles at 15 miles per gallon equals 320 gallons/ 320 gallons x $3.50 gal avg)
Hotel $1650.00 (5 nights at Nationals $150 a night / 9 nights travel at $100 a night)
Formal Ware $300.00 (approximate, this is a formal affair, men wear tuxedos)
Training $600.00 (it's 110 degrees in Phoenix, to properly prepare I need to rent indoor training space at $50 an hour, once a week x 12 weeks)
Daily expenses $700.00 ($50 a day for food and all other expenses, expected and unexpected)
TOTAL $5120.00
This is literally the last chance I have to fulfill my dream and complete my legacy. I ask you please, if you can find it in your heart, please donate whatever you can. Any amount will help. Please help Templar gain the recognition he deserves, and allow me to retire a happy man with my goals fulfilled.
Thank you,
Mark D Ronnfeldt
&
Paws Knights Templer Deus Vult CD WAC
2015 DPCA Obedience Top 20
In my 30 year career I have been blessed with many accomplishments. Over the past 30 years I have served the public in several positions. I was elected, and served, as the President and Vice President of the Arizona Dog Council for over 10 years. I was elected president of Canyon State Doberman Club, (the 1st United Doberman Club chapter organization in Arizona), a position I held for 3 years and Vice President for 1 year. And I was head of the NPOA, National Pet Owners Association for 3 years. I was also appointed to the Maricopa County Rabies and Animal Control Advisory Council and the Maricopa County Pet Overpopulation Task Force in the 1990's.
When it comes to handling dogs, few can compete with my training record. I currently hold several AKC obedience records. I hold the record for the youngest Doberman titled with a CD, Companion Dog, at 6 months and 5 days of age. I hold the record for the youngest Doberman titled with a CDX, Companion Dog Excellent, at 7 1/2 months of age, and I hold the record for the youngest Doberman titled with a UD, Utility Degree at 13 months of age. These accomplishments and records may never be beat. I was also blessed to have owned, trained, and handled the 1st UDX, Utility Dog Excellent, male Doberman in the history of the breed with Talon of Eagles von Paws UDX WAC. I have also trained and handled 3 seperate intact male Dobermans, in the past consecutive 6 years, to the DPCA, Doberman Pinscher Club of America, Obedience Top 20.
Every year the top scoring Dobermans in Confirmation, Obedience, and Agility are invited to the DPCA National Organizations Specialty Show to compete for the # 1 Doberman in the Nation in each category. In 2012, I competed in the Top 20 Obedience competitions at the Nationals in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky with Paws Vladimere McGhee Metzger CD. We tied for 1st creating a runoff situation for the 1st time in over 15 years. I lost the runoff due to a slow sit. To me it felt like being at the Super Bowl on the 1 yard line, ready to score, and having the time run out on the clock. What I wanted to win the most, the crown jewel I wanted on my resume, was to have the #1 Obedience Doberman in the Nation, and it would have to wait.
They say that all good things must come to an end, and it holds true for me as well. In 2006 at the age of 49, all the years of dog training and hard physical work finally caught up with me. In the short period of just a few months, I found myself under doctor's care for completely collapsed arches, in both feet. During preoperative tests, it was discovered I was diabetic. After surgery, even with a major nerve removed from my foot and specially designed orthotics, it became difficult to walk or stand for any length of time. With every step my feet would splay out and pinch nerves. (In 2006 I wore a size 10 shoe. I bought new shoes last week they were size 13. And to complcate things even more, severe diabetic neuropathy has now set into both feet). Even with my physical difficulties I managed to maintain a full time work schedule and in 2009 for the 1st time in my career I made it to the DPCA Obedience Top 20 with Paws Black Onyx Tower CDX WAC.
On November 5, 2012, Paws Knights Templer Deus Vult was born in our house. He was a very special puppy that I felt was perhaps the "best" I had ever owned. God had blessed me with "the one" ( Deus Vult is Latin for "God Wills It").
I knew my health was deteriorating and this would be my last competition Doberman. I also knew I needed to train Templer to be my future service dog as my mobility left me. I also had one goal left in life, to win the DPCA Obedience Top 20. To win, I first had to qualify and get the invitation. The accumulation of points begins every year at May 1 and ends April 30. The top 20 Dobermans accumulating the most points are notified in June to prepare for the Nationals Competition, usually held the 1st week of October.
To earn points one must enter, compete, and qualify at an AKC Authorized Obedience Trial and receive a minimum of 195, out of a possible 200 points. 194 1/2 points gets you nothing. It must be a 195 or better. The year for Templer and I started May 1, 2014 and ended April 30, 2015. My health, and finances, only permitted us to enter 9 shows, but Templer met and exceeded all expectations and we were notified the first week of June 2015 that we had succeeded. We were invited. We were ranked 14th in the country. By default, since no other Arizona Dobermans made the list, we were the #1 obedience Doberman in Arizona.
Because I was no longer able to keep a full work schedule, I was forced to quit full-time training and working with clients in July of 2014. As of Thanksgiving, 2014, I found myself borrowing a wheelchair. In March 2015, I received my 1st power wheelchair. My mobility is unfortunately departing from me very quickly and I find myself left with an unfulfilled legacy. I want to compete at the 2015 Doberman Pinscher Club of America Nationals with Templar and have one last opportunity to win it all before I am forced to retire permantly. My fantasy is to win the top 20 and retire the same night. Would you please help me fulfill that fantasy?
Being self-employed for 30 years, and not paying into the system, I am unable to collect disability Social Security. Also due to my health, I am unemployable. My love and my passion for dogs have taken its toll on my body to where I am no longer able to sustain employment capable of supplying the necessary financing for Templar and I to attend, and compete at the Top 20, 2015 DPCA Nationals.
The nationals this year are held in Lancaster Pennsylvania and will run from September 26 through October 3, 2015. Because I need to take ring equipment and jumps, it is not practical for me to fly. I also don't have a vehicle capable of carrying my wheelchair to Pennsylvania. Therefore, it wil be necessary for me to drive, and to rent a van to transport myself, Templar, and equipment. From Phoenix Az, to Lancaster, Pa. is approximately a 4800 mile round-trip. Taking driving time into consideration, as well as the length of the Nationals, I need to depart on Wednesday, September 23 and I plan to arrive back in Phoenix on Tuesday, October 6. That is 14 day trip.
I have come up with this approximate budget:
Van vehicle rental $750.00 (Internet average for 2 weeks with unlimited miles)
Gasoline $1120.00 (4800 miles at 15 miles per gallon equals 320 gallons/ 320 gallons x $3.50 gal avg)
Hotel $1650.00 (5 nights at Nationals $150 a night / 9 nights travel at $100 a night)
Formal Ware $300.00 (approximate, this is a formal affair, men wear tuxedos)
Training $600.00 (it's 110 degrees in Phoenix, to properly prepare I need to rent indoor training space at $50 an hour, once a week x 12 weeks)
Daily expenses $700.00 ($50 a day for food and all other expenses, expected and unexpected)
TOTAL $5120.00
This is literally the last chance I have to fulfill my dream and complete my legacy. I ask you please, if you can find it in your heart, please donate whatever you can. Any amount will help. Please help Templar gain the recognition he deserves, and allow me to retire a happy man with my goals fulfilled.
Thank you,
Mark D Ronnfeldt
&
Paws Knights Templer Deus Vult CD WAC
2015 DPCA Obedience Top 20
Organizer
Mark Ronnfeldt
Organizer
Phoenix, AZ
