Workingdogs & Dogsport -  26 - Interview with Guy Verschatse
Interview with Guy Verschatse

 

Earlier this year, I visited the Invictus Event, about which I also wrote an article: https://www.workingdogsanddogsport.com/nl/artikel-18/invictus-rottweiler-combi-event. This event was organized by the club of Guy Verschatse. My very first visit to that club was also for an event, which must have been over 15 years ago. At the time, they showcased the various sports in which the Rottweiler was actively involved. I remember Dutch participants presenting the KNPV program with their Rottweilers, as well as demonstrations by Rottweilers performing in Belgian Ring and Mondioring. A rare occurrence in the land of the Malinois!

Since then, we often encounter the ever-friendly couple Guy and Katrien at competitions or events, usually at their stand showcasing their products. In the meantime, the couple has become well-known not only in Belgium but also abroad. They are no longer just passionate Rottweiler enthusiasts—they now run a beautifully designed and welcoming store in the Flemish Ardennes. It’s a unique shop catering to dog sport enthusiasts, professionals, and everyday dog lovers alike. Everyone can find something of interest there.
Katrien and Guy can rightly speak of having their own Rottweiler bloodline. As entrepreneurs, they’ve also developed their own line of dog equipment.
The interview took place in the cozy chairs of their store. Amid the bustling atmosphere of customers coming and going, Guy answered our questions in his characteristic style: enthusiastic, open, and honest. He’s not afraid to look back, acknowledge mistakes, and reflect on them. This honesty led to a very candid interview.

Passion for the Rottweiler

Axel: Where does your great passion for the Rottweiler come from?
Guy: I’ve always had more sympathy for the underdog—what’s in a name, hahaha—than for the favorite. That applies to pretty much everything in my life. For example, I’m always inclined to root for the less obvious choice in sports competitions.

Axel: Which came first, the Rottweiler or dog sports?
Guy: Actually, the Dobermann. In my early years in dog sports, the Rottweiler was almost unknown in Belgium. We’re talking about the 1980s. I still remember very clearly the first time I encountered a Rottweiler. It was in a local DIY store, where I saw a Rottweiler for the first time. That dog made a huge impression on me, and I still remember him vividly, as if it were yesterday. His name was Igor. Igor was a guard dog, but a very nasty one!
Since then, I’ve had a soft spot for this special breed.

Axel: Why would someone choose a Rottweiler?
Guy: For the love of the breed. If you’re a trainer with big ambitions in competition, then a Malinois or German Shepherd is, of course, a more obvious choice.

Axel: In Belgium, the Rottweiler struggles with a bad reputation.
Guy: That’s true. And it probably won’t surprise you that I find this incredibly unfortunate because it’s completely untrue. It’s undeserved. There’s a misconception about the breed, partly fueled by the Hollywood film industry. In movies, a Rottweiler is always portrayed as vicious or as the villain’s dog. You’ll never see a Rottweiler on screen as a police patrol dog or a lifesaver—essentially, as the “good guy’s” dog. It’s a stigma that’s hard to shake off.
The media in Belgium is also largely to blame for this negative image. When articles about bite incidents appear in the press, the Rottweiler is invariably mentioned, along with its strong bite force, even if it had nothing to do with the incident. They also lump Rottweilers together with Pit Bulls, which attracted the wrong kind of people who got Rottweilers for the wrong reasons.
Don’t get me wrong, though—a Rottweiler is not a dog for everyone. It remains a guard and protection dog, and we shouldn’t try to turn them into lambs. But I’ll stay loyal to the breed until the day I die!
I’ve always been an ambassador for the breed—and never to make money. We only bred one, at most two, litters a year. Our goal was always to promote the breed, whether people liked it or not.

Axel: In Belgium, the Rottweiler is not allowed to be used as a patrol dog in security. Personally, I find that to be a strange rule.
Guy: It is indeed strange. The reason lies in the "Tobback Law," which was based on an Israeli study at the time. This law stipulates that only "herding dogs" may be used as service dogs. While this is quite restrictive, it’s also open to broad interpretation. If someone really wanted to push the issue and work with their Rottweiler in security, they could argue that the Rottweiler is a cattle driver, and "cattle driver" is essentially the same as "herding dog." In any case, everyone seems to leave it at that, and it’s not my battle anymore.
What’s particularly interesting is the approach taken by the Austrian government, which has been breeding its own service dogs since 1964 (incidentally, my birth year :) ). Initially, these dogs were bred under the name “von der Karl-Adolf Ranch” and later as “von Kaisersteinbruch.”
Think about it: a service dog is used 99% of the time for preventive purposes (meaning they very rarely need to take action). So, which is more intimidating: a herding dog or a Rottweiler? With pride, I can say that 85% of their service dog population consists of Rottweilers! Unfortunately, this is a unique situation worldwide.
I’m also proud to say that, since the early 2000s, I’ve had an excellent relationship with them. My kennel has been lucky enough to use several of their special stud dogs—though it wasn’t easy to gain access! We’ve even been able to place two of our puppies with them.
To this day, my kennel still has a lot of Kaisersteinbruch blood, which is part of what makes our bloodline so unique.

Axel: Has your perspective on the breed changed after all these years?
Guy: Absolutely, largely because society and the way the breed is used have changed so much. What I had envisioned when I started simply wasn’t achievable—I couldn’t find enough like-minded people who were capable of handling all the puppies from every litter.
For about 15 years, we deliberately bred very challenging dogs, and fortunately, none of our dogs were ever involved in an accident. However, during the mid-90s, Rottweiler breeding as a whole boomed, and, inevitably, accidents started happening. The tragic incident in Begijnendijk, among others, comes to mind.
I can honestly say that, as Rottweiler owners, we were targeted by society after that. It was a very bitter period in my career as both a Rottweiler owner and breeder.
On a personal level, I had also hoped—and expected—that the breed’s overall health would improve rather than decline. Especially since health screenings became more rigorous and both nutrition and dietary supplements advanced. But none of this seemed to help. What should be a working dog has instead become a fragile one.

Axel: What impact has the ban on docking had on the Rottweiler? And on you personally?
Guy: In the very beginning (in Germany, which introduced the ban a few years before Belgium), we thought it was unfortunate. But after seeing the German dogs for a while, it actually started to feel like an honor to have a Rottie with a natural tail.
All in all, it has had little to no impact on the number of enthusiasts. So the overall impact is negligible. The dog looks more beautiful and friendly, has better balance, and its posture and body language are easier to read. Nothing but praise from me.

Axel: Is it true that Rottweilers tend to become overweight easily? Or is that a misconception?
Guy: That depends on the bloodline and the individual dog. The so-called show lines are much heavier built than the working lines. A working male will typically weigh between 40-45 kg, whereas a show male will weigh between 50-55 kg (or even more). The bones (legs) of the working lines are noticeably lighter, allowing them to react more quickly.
A sport dog should always be kept lean, just like an athlete. With proper physical activity, they’re also less likely to become overweight. Another thing to note is that those super-heavy dogs no longer exist. In the past, they were bulkier and slower.

Axel: What do you do to keep your dogs in top physical shape?
Guy: First and foremost, all our dogs live outside, freely in an enclosed forest (always nice and fresh). I feel sorry for dogs that always have to stay in a kennel; that’s basically a prison for them. Some people are even proud of their “beautiful” kennels, but their dogs are still “birds in golden cages.” Right now, we have four dogs (two separate pairs), and they live as freely as birds in their own domains. They’re never sick or unhappy.
The overall well-being of the dog is crucial. If a dog is frustrated or poorly housed, it can never perform optimally in teamwork. In the past, many sport dogs were kept in very small spaces because it was believed they would perform better on the field that way. Of course, the stress and frustration that came with that were overlooked… Training became more of an “escape” from the prison.
Another very important factor is nutrition. “You are what you eat” applies here too. Many dog sports enthusiasts feed their animals cheap food and regularly change brands when a sales rep offers better conditions. For over 15 years, we’ve been feeding our dogs Magnusson’s dog food from Sweden. This food is made with fresh ingredients from the Stockholm region (not made from all sorts of "flour" like traditional dry food). Magnusson’s is baked in large bakery ovens and then packed in paper bags. The result is a much tastier (and healthier) dry food that doesn’t swell in the stomach and isn’t greasy. As I mentioned, our dogs are never sick, overweight, or anything like that.
When it comes to vaccinations, I’m not so strict, except for Leptospirosis (rat disease). Personally, I believe annual vaccinations are a bit of commercial nonsense, with the exception of Leptospirosis. We do deworm the younger dogs regularly, but much less so with the older ones.
Just like an athlete in top-level sports, the right nutrition is a key factor, as well as necessary supplements. My dogs mostly get salmon oil on their daily meals in the winter. If they’re feeling a bit off, I give them a temporary mix of MSM, Glucosamine, and Chondroitin (which we developed ourselves and have produced).

Axel: What achievement in dog sports are you most proud of?
Guy: Oh, I’ve always bet on too many horses. To truly excel in top-level sports, you need to focus on just one dog and be a bit "selfish" in a way. What I mean is, those who have achieved top performances (and continue to do so) focused solely on their dog and didn’t get distracted by other "obligations." I can give you dozens of examples of this.
The "mistake" I made was that I wanted everything: to breed, be an instructor, decoy, board member, judge, and still deliver top performances in one lifetime... LOL. So, it was always "close but no cigar."
Another big factor was that I wanted to achieve everything without engaging in any form of politics (I can’t stand injustice or "cronyism"), which is doubly difficult in dog sports. My colleagues played the game a little better, and doors opened more easily for them. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not blaming others for my unmet ambitions, but I always had to swim against the current, and that’s tough…
Actually, I’m proud of several achievements. As a breeder, I always trained and titled my own stud dogs. Most of my fellow breeders didn’t even have a male dog and just picked one from someone else—nothing hard about that. With pride, I can say that I brought several males to IPO3, and they consistently performed highly in beauty shows and were active in other sports besides IPO. With Magnus vom Glucksstern I took part in the 1995 IFR World Championship in Kaisersteinbruch, Austria. Later in 1997 I selected myself with Igor von Muthmannsdorf, this time for the French team (due to the political games of the then Belgian Rottweiler Club in Diest, I did not even want to try for the Belgian team anymore).
The most impressive achievement might be with Bodo vom Schloss Hexental, who was titled in IPO, SchH, and Mondioring. As far as I know, he was the only Rottweiler worldwide to combine these diverse sports. Bodo was a very special dog—actually, the prototype of what a male dog should be, at least in my opinion.

As for "achievements in dog sports," I should also mention that I became known for writing the book 30 Years of European Rottweiler Breeding 1970-2000, which led to worldwide invitations to give seminars. I’m sure few Belgians can claim to have accomplished something similar. My wife and I enjoyed "sweet trips" to places like Malaysia, China, the USA, Mexico, Russia, Finland, Norway, Bulgaria, Syria, England, Greece, Portugal, etc., in exchange for workshops "a la Belgium." During that period, Flanders was at the top of the world, and I speak four languages, which contributed to the popularity of Flemish people abroad. I always did this for free, and in return, we were treated like royalty. It was an amazing time I’ll never forget!
I can also say that I’m the founder of the BRSDC (British Rottweiler Working Dog Club), of which I was briefly the president. Until then, it was forbidden in England to train IPO, so there was no opportunity for Rottweiler enthusiasts to practice this German sport. Together with John Becker, we founded the BRSDC, which is still the only working Rottweiler club in the UK.






Axel: Which Rottweiler do you consider the best ambassador for the breed?
Guy: That’s a very difficult question, as it can be viewed in different ways. An ambassador according to the breed standard? Or an ambassador based on athletic performance? Different dogs would be selected depending on the perspective. For me, health is the top priority. What’s the use of beauty or work performance if the dog isn’t healthy (and stays healthy)? Especially for a working breed!
In any case, I prefer a large, fit, muscular sport dog with a beautiful head. I don’t like overweight dogs, and especially not the overly extreme head types of the former Eastern European dogs.
Well, perfection doesn’t exist… But for me, it should have "beauty & brains." For example, Boss vom Kriegsdamm was a stunning dog with world-class training skills. I can't name many like him directly, though there are definitely more beautiful dogs out there, but they didn’t have the same working qualities, and vice versa. Personally, I used Boss twice, and one son from his second litter, Mauser vom Schloss Hexental, was among the top trainers in Belgium, trained by Pascal Dehaene.

dogsport

Axel: When did you start in the dog sport?
Guy: I started in dog sports with the then IPO. At that time, the sport was dominated by German Shepherds. There was no talk of Belgian Malinois in the sport yet. The general idea back then was that a Malinois was only suited for ring sports, because they couldn’t track. At least, that’s what people thought about them in the IPO.
The club members often made fun of me and my Rottweiler. I was laughed at. I had two choices: either I eventually switched to a German Shepherd or I stuck with the Rottweiler. There was no doubt I chose the latter.
I wasn’t really supported with my Rottweiler, and it was probably intentional because they thought I’d switch to a German Shepherd. At that time, the Rottweiler wasn’t at a high enough level to compete with the German Shepherds in IPO (then called IWR).
That was my motivation to not give up and to do thorough research to gain more knowledge. I also wanted to learn more about the history of the breed to better understand it. Don’t forget, this was a time before computers were in every household, and there was no Workingdog website. It wasn’t easy to gather that knowledge.
I followed results and bloodlines as best I could. I made photocopies of pedigrees and ZTP results. I also learned a lot from the German ADRK breeding books (Zuchtbuch), where all the ZTPs (Zucht Tauglichkeits Prüfung or breeding suitability tests) are listed. In Germany, breeding records are issued by breed clubs, not the VDH (Federation of German Dog Breeders). This is quite different from Belgium, where the national body, Sint-Hubertus, issues the pedigrees.
Because of this, German breed clubs have much more authority and can set very high breeding standards. In Germany, both the sire and dam must have a ZTP to breed. A ZTP is similar to a small IGP1 in bite work and basic obedience. They are measured, weighed, and thoroughly described. The ZTP results are published in annual breeding books, along with litter checks. This means you can gather a lot of information from these books, such as dental issues, white chest spots, long coats, temperament, hip dysplasia, and so on.
I gained a lot from the breeding books of the German Rottweiler club. A Dutch woman who had bought a puppy from me gave me the books as a gift. I have all the breeding books from 1928 to the 1980s, and I continued collecting them up until the 2000s. These are the ADRK breeding books, focusing on German Rottweilers. I’m quite proud of that unique collection.
But that’s not all. I could even give a presentation on the history of the Rottweiler with my own collection. For instance, I have original and unique photos of the first registered Rottweilers. But collecting wasn’t my primary goal. The main purpose was to acquire knowledge. Over time, you start seeing patterns.

Axel: You also became a decoy?
Guy: Yes, and I had to stop after 25 years due to health issues, but I really loved doing it. I started as a decoy at the same club, Onze Hond in De Pinte, under the guidance of Luc Declercq, who is still the chairman there and also still an official judge. Luc taught me the basics of the craft. However, even at that club, the Rottweiler wasn’t truly appreciated, which motivated me to start my own club.
In 1997, the VLPV club was founded. I can confidently say that this club became a leading force for Rottweilers in IWR/IPO/IGP. At its peak, we had about 40 members.
One of our members, Dieter Blancke, even became world champion with Rottweilers (IFR 2004). Additionally, other VLPV members participated multiple times in the World Championship for Rottweilers, including Bart Temmerman, Jos Desmedt, and Jacques Dupas.

Axel: Why did you become a helper (decoy)?
Guy: To better understand the character of working dogs. As a helper, you're literally in the front row and gain unique insights into the dogs. Through that experience, I can quickly distinguish between temperament and nervousness.
Thanks to positive training methods, dog training has improved significantly. Skilled trainers can now make even less strong dogs appear better than they actually are. However, as an experienced helper, you can see through that.
Almost never are the highest-scoring dogs also truly hard dogs, although there are exceptions, of course. That’s why I prefer to choose the rebels for breeding. They are often the hardest.
To be clear, I’m always referring to IGP. But what often happens is that champions are used for breeding.

Axel: I’m also a helper, but I have little experience with Rottweilers. I do know it’s different. You’re a helper too and obviously have a lot of experience with Rottweilers. What differences do you feel as a helper between Rottweilers and other working breeds like Malinois and German Shepherds?
Guy: There are many differences, although the pure working lines of today are closer to the shepherd dogs. Over the years, training methods have evolved, and as a result, so has the type of Rottweiler. The current working type is more lightly built, has quicker reflexes, more prey drive, and is less stubborn. These are traits that align more with shepherd dogs. Another reason for this shift is that we compete in the same sport and therefore have similar requirements.
On the other hand, we are moving further away from the breed standard. The Rottweiler standard describes a confident, rather calm, and heavier dog compared to what is needed for IGP. A still significant difference is that Rottweilers are less inclined to run around the blinds, bark less during the search (revieren), and are not purely prey-driven.
They also tend to be less cooperative during the drive work. As a helper, they’re much more “annoying” to drive, and most helpers who aren’t used to Rottweilers don’t get very far with them… LOL. Because of this, they aren’t particularly popular among most helpers.

Axel: What should a helper pay attention to when working with a Rottweiler if they have no experience with the breed?
Guy: As a helper, you must continuously adapt to the type (character) of each dog, regardless of the breed. A nervous dog needs to be handled calmly, a calm dog needs to be brought into higher drive, an insecure dog must be made more confident, and a dog with a lot of stamina and eagerness can be trained longer than one with less energy, and so on.
The main difference between a Rottie and shepherd dogs is that the training should be less repetitive; they lose interest more quickly (and tire faster due to their heavier build). However, this is also something that can occur with any breed and must always be approached in a tailored way, independent of the breed.
The biggest difference? The strain on the helper’s back… hahaha.

Axel: And is there also a difference in tracking?
Guy: They would give their life for food! This makes them very well-suited for tracking, and their noses are just as good as any other working dog breed. However, they can pull a bit harder during tracking because they are more strongly built than shepherd dogs.






Axel: I read on your website that you passed the official CFR (France) Ringsport/Selection Helper certification as the first foreigner to achieve this. Can you tell us more about that? It’s quite unique, especially for someone focused on Rottweilers.
Guy: To clarify, this was for the French Rottweiler Club at the time, not the all-breeds club. I still remember the written exam vividly—being the only non-native French speaker, I ended up scoring the highest marks! (laughs). I had taken studying for this very seriously, while my French friends apparently not so much...Their working tests are based on the French Ringsport suit (similar to a Mondioring suit) and Ringsport exercises there. I did face some challenges with the leg-biting exercises, although luckily, most of the dogs bite on the arms.Their TAN.TC.TU test was something we adopted in our organization, and to this day, we are the only ones in Belgium conducting this test.

Axel: The sport has evolved significantly over the past few decades. The level of training has changed drastically, and there’s a lot of debate about it. We often hear people say that dogs aren’t as strong as they used to be. Is this true for the Rottweiler as well?
Guy: The level of training has certainly improved, and the methods have changed considerably. Positive training methods (think: clicker training) started to emerge in the early ’90s. I clearly remember Geert Debolster being the first to advocate for this method, much to the confusion of most of us at the time. We laughed at this ‘softie,’ but we were completely wrong! This method was soon perfected at OC Vlaanderen, and many world champions came out of this era.
Positive reinforcement gradually became the norm in Belgium, and Rottweilers notably performed better with this approach. However, I want to debunk the myth that this method is only suitable for ‘soft’ dogs! In fact, it works exceptionally well with very strong-willed dogs. The idea that ‘clicker dogs’ are only mild-mannered dogs is an outright lie.
Due to societal pressure, our sport has been increasingly demonized because of the misconception that we make dogs aggressive through protection work. To counter this misunderstanding, socialization tests were introduced by dog sport organizations. These tests made it more difficult for one-person dogs to succeed, and they were subsequently excluded from competitions. As a result, these dogs were less frequently used in breeding, leading to a decline in certain traits.
I think it’s fair to say that today’s dogs are indeed not as strong as they used to be. Strong character is no longer rewarded with points; in fact, it’s the opposite.
Another important factor is the weakening of protection sports over time. Dog training is gradually becoming a dying culture. Interest among the younger generation is decreasing, and policymakers believed (and still believe) that by removing or softening certain aspects, interest from new participants would increase. Additionally, animal rights lobbyists mistakenly think we engage in practices that harm dogs.
Due to these factors, the sport has been made ‘easier’—examples include lowering the jumps in Ringsport, removing gunfire tests in BH, and eliminating stick hits during IGP. These changes will inevitably impact the toughness (and even health) of future generations. Keep in mind that all service dogs come from the same pool as those in dog sports, so their working qualities will undoubtedly diminish. What we stop testing, we will eventually lose!

Axel: Is there still room for the Rottweiler at the absolute top of IGP?
Guy: It will be difficult to reach the absolute top, but in regular competitions, a good Rottie can definitely hold their own. I think it’s more realistic to aim for the absolute top within the Rottweiler community itself. I don’t need to explain that a 25kg Malinois will naturally be faster and more agile than a 45kg Rottweiler.
In championships, faster dogs tend to achieve higher scores. Combine that with the "robot-like precision work" (meant in a positive way) of Malinois, and being a realist, I know that the absolute top won’t often be reached with a Rottie.
If you look at the current IGP population, you’ll observe that about 60% consists of Malinois, 30% of German Shepherds, and only 10% of all other permitted breeds combined. Statistically speaking, it’s much more likely that the breeds with the most participants will have the greatest chance of winning… Right?

Axel: You’re also a judge. In your opinion, what should a Rottweiler look like?
Guy: Simple: just as the breed standard prescribes! As a show judge, you must place the dogs that conform the most to the standard at the top. Of course, the standard is somewhat "flexible" based on personal taste, but this flexibility is still limited. As a judge, you must separate personal preferences from the breed standard. Sometimes this is difficult because, after all, we’re only human... LOL.

Axel: What should the character of a Rottweiler be like?
Guy: Above all, it should be a guard and protection dog. We shouldn’t turn them into pushovers.

Axel: I’ve read some concerning reports that Rottweilers with overly short muzzles are becoming more popular. Is that true?
Guy: Absolutely, the so-called "Eastern Bloc look" (think: Yugo-type). If people prioritize breeding the most extreme and powerful-looking head type, they end up creating something entirely different. Thanks to social media, these abnormal (and they are abnormal) dogs are becoming increasingly popular, particularly in Eastern countries, the USA, and Russia. And that’s where the money is right now...
It’s purely a matter of supply and demand. We’ve never supported this trend and have actively worked against it—with no success. The problem isn’t just the atypical appearance; health also deteriorates as a result.

Axel: Is the gap between working lines and show lines in Rottweilers too wide, or is there a healthy collaboration?
Guy: The current German working lines (which dominate worldwide in working dog breeding) have deviated too far from the breed standard. A type has emerged that lacks volume and, above all, head type. These dogs perform very well in the field, but they look like light females (at least the males do). Some even resemble a chunky Dobermann, with all due respect to Dobies. However, a breed should look as the standard describes. But don’t worry: the working bloodlines of other breeds don’t match their standards either (the ‘blueprint’ of each breed). The gap is indeed large between the two types.

Axel: Is hip dysplasia (HD) and elbow dysplasia (ED) a big problem in Rottweilers?
Guy: In the previous century, yes. Then for about ten years, it wasn’t much of an issue, but now it’s back on the rise. However, I still believe the biggest challenge will be cruciate ligament ruptures! An additional problem is mapping this issue. A hip or elbow can be clinically diagnosed as good or bad, but cruciate ligaments remain intact until they break! I think the only way out will be to bring this to light through statistics, identifying which bloodlines are prone to it, and then researching the responsible genes via DNA testing. We also need to consider an outcross with another breed. All purebred dogs eventually harm themselves through inbreeding (closed gene pool). For example, a top stud like Dingo vom Schwaiger Wappen might appear in a dog over 40 times! Something to think about...

Axel: How do you see the future of the Rottweiler?
Guy: Not so rosy. Keeping this beautiful breed is becoming more and more difficult worldwide, largely due to muzzle mandates, reporting requirements, taxes, or even outright bans. Of course, there will always be die-hards, but this group will steadily shrink. The ADRK (German Rottweiler Club) magazine is thinning out, and there are hardly a few pages left with results from working or beauty competitions.
As for what’s happening in Belgium, it’s even less promising: two breed clubs making things difficult for each other. One doesn’t want the other to see the light of day. In tough times, they should be joining forces instead of tearing each other down.
Belgian breeders also have very different beliefs, and there’s barely any cooperation among the few remaining ones. The Rottweiler world has always been plagued by great jealousy, and this is still the case today. I could write a book about it... but I won’t ;-).
I don’t know what the cause is or what can be done to fix it, which is why my outlook is rather negative. Plus, there are more and more hereditary defects. It’s truly going to be a challenge in the future!

Axel: What do you think about the divide between beauty lines and working lines? In general and particularly for the Rottweiler?
Guy: I can be brief about this: one doesn’t believe in the other. There is very little cooperation between these two worlds. Right now, "crossbreeds" between the two "types" are being done because they almost have no choice anymore. The bloodlines are so closely related (due to inbreeding) that crossing the two opposites is the only option. Of course, this will result in the loss of type from both sides, but if it promotes health, I have nothing but praise for it!

Axel: And how do you see your own future? Do you still have ambitions in the sport?Guy: Not really. I continue, but I’ve lost the great drive. The ironic part is that when I had the drive, I didn’t have the knowledge, and now the experience and knowledge are there, but the motivation is mostly gone...LOL. However, my reduced drive is still greater than most average trainers, I can say that.
I’m happy that our club (which is still my baby) has new blood that has that high drive, hopefully, it won’t be replaced by any future arrogance. I also have difficulty accepting the new regulations and the weakening of our sport. My prime years were between 2000 and 2010. “You’re getting older, dad...” Peter Koelewijn sang that a long time ago.

Axel: I believe I know that you're not completely happy with the changes in the sport, like the names GHP, IPO, IWR, and now IGP?
Guy: Yes, that's correct. I have a huge problem with the constant changes in this sport. The original name was "SchutzHund" (this sport was invented by the Germans, hence the German name, which means "protection dog"). The name has been changed repeatedly, from IWR to IPO, to IGP, to GHP, and so on. If another sport, like football, changed its name to "Ballshot" or a completely different name, or if a car or clothing brand changed its name every few years, it would have disastrous effects on the brand’s recognition, and sales would decline. The same goes for dog sports.
Take Ringsport, Mondioring, KNPV, Obedience, etc. They have kept the same name since their inception. Very clear and easily understood. When someone asks me what sport I do, I always have to explain, because people don’t know the "new" name.
Another oddity is that in the IGP regulations, almost every year something changes, both in the obedience part and the protection work. It’s all very confusing for both the dog and the handler... and often far removed from logic.

breeding

Axel: So why did you start breeding?
Guy: Because I couldn't find what I had in mind. In Belgium and the Netherlands, every breeder was using the same studs, and they were mostly show bloodlines. That was my motivation to start breeding myself. I based my breeding on about six dogs that I wanted to bring together over a few generations, ultimately producing one dog. My goal as a breeder was to produce Rottweilers that could compete in dog sports against the German Shepherds of the time.
I had a vision of how that Rottweiler should look and behave. I wanted a dog with a super temperament. And not just any "people's dog," but a One Man Dog. You have to see this in the context of its time. Back then, BH (basic obedience) didn’t even exist. We’re talking about the 1980s and 1990s.
I think I succeeded in my goal. Those dogs weren’t as "ball-crazy" as the dogs of today, but they were harder and, above all, healthier!
In the end, I didn’t breed easygoing Rottweilers but rather dogs with a strong character. As a result, we often had young males returned to us by people who underestimated the dogs, despite our warnings and careful selection of future owners.
This led my wife and me to decide to ease up on breeding dogs with dominant bloodlines. Although we were fully aware that the working quality would decrease as a result.

Axel: Did you eventually succeed in bringing those six dogs together into one dog?
Guy: Yes, more or less. We achieved this around the turn of the millennium. A very special dog from that breeding was Bodo v Schloss Hexental, a real firecracker and also a beautiful male. To my knowledge, he is the only Rottweiler to have successfully competed in IPO, SchH, Mondioring, and working dog trials. You should know that the difference between IPO and Mondioring is very large!

Axel: "Who were those six dogs?
Guy: These were the German dogs Arri v Hertener Wappen, Aki vd Peeler Hutte, Karo v Schwaiger Wappen, Igor v Muthmannsdorf (from Austria), and later Max v Turnleberg and Doc v Oberhausener Norden.

Workingdogs & Dogsport - Interview with Guy Verschatse - 24
Axel: It’s not always smooth sailing as a breeder either.
Guy: That’s exactly right. It’s a common misconception about breeders that I’d like to dispel. Breeding Rottweilers is no easy task—it requires a lot of time, energy, and a fair bit of luck. One of the challenges is that potential buyers have extremely high expectations: they want a dog that can compete with any breed on the field and win a beauty competition. That’s simply not realistic because working dogs cannot afford too many compromises when it comes to appearance.
I can say this with confidence because we occasionally bred English Springer Spaniels as well. The bar for breeding Springers is considerably lower than for Rottweilers, and people are generally far more easily satisfied. So, I have a basis for comparison. Breeding for money is definitely not the way to go—those people won’t last long. You really have to do it purely for the love of the breed.
Breeding working Rottweilers is a massive challenge. C-sections are more common in Rottweilers than in breeds with, let’s say, a more “normal” build. Rottweiler puppies tend to have larger heads and more muscle mass.
Raising the pups is no small task either. When we started breeding in the 1980s, hip dysplasia was a frequent issue among Rottweilers.
Due to extensive inbreeding, it’s almost impossible to do an outcross nowadays. As a result, many health problems have emerged. Since the 1990s, for example, we’ve noticed an increase in cruciate ligament issues among Rottweilers. I estimate that out of every 10 Rottweilers, about 4 struggle with this problem. We’ve even seen it in the sport lines. And hip dysplasia, unfortunately, is making a comeback too.

Axel: What do you see as the solution?
Guy: Breeders should absolutely stop breeding with animals that show these defects. They also need to deepen their understanding of hereditary factors.
Too many breeders are stuck on linebreeding. They choose popular dogs to reinforce their strong traits, but they forget that they are also doubling down on undesirable (and often invisible) traits.
Unfortunately, there isn’t another breed with which the Rottweiler can realistically be crossbred. Unlike other breeds, such as Malinois, which could potentially be crossed with Dutch or German Shepherds for much-needed genetic diversity, the Rottweiler doesn’t have that option.



Axel: Do you also take the bite into account?
Guy: Of course, especially for IGP. A full and steady bite is the hallmark of IGP. Do you know why it’s so important? A dog that doesn’t bite fully actually wants to flee (to get as far away as possible from the threatening person). The fuller a dog bites, the closer it stays to the decoy.
A good sport dog naturally bites in the middle of the sleeve. If a dog bites at the elbow, they’re avoiding the stick, which means the dog is a bit insecure. If the dog bites at the top of the sleeve, I call that a challenger—seeking out the threat. A “trouble seeker.” Neither type of dog is ideal for the sport.
The ideal dog has a lot of prey drive combined with the right sharpness and hardness. I firmly believe that to breed a good working Rottweiler, you need to rely on the necessary sharpness. Other breeds, like the German Shepherd, can deliver top performances while still being extremely social—the so-called “prey dogs.” For the Rottweiler, this is much harder to achieve.
If you want to breed working dogs, you need to fully understand what makes a good working dog. As a decoy, it’s easier to see these qualities.
It’s actually very complex. That’s why it’s easier to simply breed with champions. I’ve made mistakes in breeding myself, I readily admit that. It’s not an exact science, and there’s always an element of luck involved.


Axel: What does the future hold for you as a breeder?
Guy: Honestly, as a breeder, I don’t have much ambition left. We do plan to have one more litter because we have a very strong female. I still enjoy helping other breeders by offering advice.
But my ambition has lessened for several reasons. I’m also somewhat disillusioned with Rottweiler enthusiasts. They’re very demanding and expect too much. Their expectations are unrealistically high. They all want a show champion and a working champion at the same time. If the eye color or muzzle pigmentation isn’t dark enough, they already call it a disgrace... They need to be fair—those expectations are not realistic. Everyone wants a champion, but that’s simply impossible. And when things don’t work out, they want to get rid of the dog, which isn’t fair.
I never sell a male puppy as a companion dog, by the way. I’ve gotten criticism for that, too, but I know exactly why I do it. I don’t breed for everyone. As a breeder, I have my own requirements for future owners. My goal has always been to breed Rottweilers for sport. However, I was always keenly aware that many of these dogs, unfortunately, end up as family dogs.
The increasing health problems also concern me. Even when you manage to breed a dog with the right drives and looks, health issues often get in the way. Mind you, this isn’t limited to Rottweilers. The German Shepherd is in an even worse state! The Malinois still has remarkably good health, but the breed struggles with a degeneration of working qualities. I estimate that two-thirds of Malinois have behavioral issues (lack of stability), meaning they’re fear biters. The Dobermann and Boxer also have increasing health problems, and that just about covers all working breeds... So there’s a lot of work to be done!
Raising a litter is also very intense. It’s becoming harder to combine with running our shop.

Axel: What role does the female play in breeding?
Guy: An even more important role than the male. That’s why the female must meet the same strict requirements as the male. She also needs to be exceptional, with strong working traits. While you can compensate for appearance by selecting the right stud, you can’t do much about working abilities.
In other words, when it comes to working qualities, it’s 60% female and 40% male—or even 65/35. Also, keep in mind that 95% of the pups never meet their father. Everything they learn in the first nine weeks of their lives comes from the mother. That’s why the mother must have extremely stable and solid character traits.

Axel: How do Rottweilers differ from German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois?
Guy: With those other breeds, you can do many more repetitions. You can't do that with a Rottweiler. In IGP, you don’t want a dog that takes the initiative. Rottweilers are less intelligent, but I don’t see that as a disadvantage. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that a Rottweiler is a dumb dog.
Highly intelligent dogs are more difficult for beginners because they anticipate quicker. With a Rottweiler, you need to train in shorter sessions. You also need to reward them with a ball more thoughtfully.
Rottweilers can have a hard time competing at the highest level against Belgian Malinois and German Shepherds, but a Rottweiler has more personality and charisma. They also have less of the “will to please” compared to a Malinois. We’re talking about top dogs in the sport here. There are also many mediocre to bad Malinois!
There’s a difference between nervousness and temperament. I get the feeling that many people don’t understand this difference, so they don’t see it. Nervousness is undesirable behavior, whereas temperament (working drive) is exactly what you want.
In the early years of my career, I didn’t recognize that difference. I used nervous dogs in my breeding, but I learned from my mistakes. Those nervous dogs never delivered what was expected from them.

Axel: What are your criteria for selecting a stud dog?
Guy: I don’t believe in lucky strikes. Those usually don’t contribute much. A stud dog MUST fit with the female, above all. I simulate the pedigrees and the traits of the dogs. I definitely don’t focus solely on titles because titles alone don’t pass on traits.
A working dog must have a high level of hardness. By hardness, I mean a dog that can endure mental stress.
I deliberately never chose a popular male because they don’t bring anything to the gene pool. Financially, they may be appealing, but I preferred the outliers. Because of that, I can say I have my own bloodline.
Many breeders don’t think long term. They don’t want to see the flaws or weaknesses that will inevitably arise.
I’ll repeat it again because it’s an important rule in breeding: by inbreeding, you double the good traits, but the flaws also become more evident. This is a disadvantage of inbreeding or linebreeding. I’ve experienced this firsthand over the years.
However, I want to emphasize that I’ve never been kennel blind. Quite the opposite, I was always more critical of my own dogs than others’ dogs. My goal was always to do better and learn from my mistakes. Also, as President and Handler of a club, I absolutely didn’t want the reputation of "the breeder’s pet." Something that can’t be said about many of my colleagues. I believe everyone in a club should be equal under the law, which many breeders fail to realize. There’s nothing wrong with private clubs, but they’re rarely private.
In the end, I didn’t breed easy-going Rottweilers but dogs with a strong character. Because of that, we often had young dogs returned to us by owners who underestimated them, despite our warnings and our careful selection of future owners. I am also proud to say that at one point, the Belgian IFR team (World Championship Obedience) had 3 out of 4 dogs with Hexental blood. I’ve also bred dogs that achieved the highest scores to date in Belgian Ringsport, Mondioring, and in the Dutch KNPV.

Axel: Why did you start breeding Springers as well?
Guy: We were looking for a smaller breed to bring into our business, but it had to be a breed with working qualities, not "useless" dogs. Since we manufacture equipment for Service Dogs, we quickly came into contact with Springers. They seemed like a nice and healthy breed, which is why we made the choice.

Axel: You consciously choose to breed a mix of show lines with field lines. Why that choice?
Guy: Well, for several reasons: First, we absolutely don’t like the pure English field trial lines because these dogs no longer look like a Springer and are almost always extremely submissive, sometimes even fearful. Another reason is inbreeding; no one has ever mixed these very different bloodlines (almost even different "breeds"), and this is only beneficial for expanding the gene pool, thus reducing hereditary defects. We can say that we always produce very healthy and very willing little dogs from our mix of 75% show lines (our "show lines" are proven German hunting dogs, by the way!) and 25% English field trial lines. Our Springers have more personality and are much easier to train than pure English field trial lines; they are also not as hectic and insecure. Of course, I don’t claim that all these field trial lines are insecure—we have seen some very confident dogs as well. Their drive and energy levels are also much higher, but because I’m more focused on athletic house and/or scent dogs, we have better results with not too much of this blood.





Entrepreneurship

THE SHOP 'K9-K4'

Workingdogs & Dogsport - Interview with Guy Verschatse - 17
Axel: Why did you start a store and create your own brand?
Guy: It didn’t happen overnight. I come from a family of entrepreneurs. I worked for 26 years in construction with my parents. That heavy work took its toll. Actually, health problems forced me to stop, but that’s not easy when you’re self-employed, especially with your parents. In the end, I had no choice but to redirect myself. I’m actually a trained metalworker. Through my experience as a decoy, trainer, and breeder, I knew what was needed in that world. The sum of it all was obvious to me. So, we started our own brand: K9 Evolution. We are very involved in the creation of our products. We design them ourselves but outsource the production.
Staying still means going backward. We’re constantly critical of our own products, just as I was with my breeding. We have a strong hunger for knowledge and keep our eyes and ears open to learn more.

Own Line of Products and Equipment

MCRS
Workingdogs & Dogsport - Interview with Guy Verschatse - 16
Axel: With your MCRS training vest, you must have hit the mark?
Guy: You could say that. It was a challenge to keep those ball-crazy dogs focused and then to calm them down in preparation for a competition. So I was looking for a way to make this process more efficient or easier for training.
In 2009, we visited a major trade fair in Germany for Law Enforcement and Hunting (IWA). There, I saw jackets with pockets that were held closed by magnets.
We had already experimented with a velcro-based system, but it didn't convince us.
On the way back from the fair, I suddenly had an idea: a ball with a magnet in it. I was very excited because I knew this would be a hit.
Once we developed the system, I patented it in the Benelux.
Even six-time world champion in IPO, Mario Verslype, was thrilled about our invention. He also gave us tips on what could be improved, and we are very proud to call him an ambassador! Mario also taught me many tips and tricks in training at the highest level, for which I am still very grateful.

Axel: What other products do you make yourselves?
Guy: The development and testing is 100% done by us. Due to labor costs and current technology, it is impossible to carry out production in Belgium. We still make all the lines and some of the collars ourselves, and many things are assembled by us in the final phase. It doesn't make sense to try to compete with cheaper foreign colleagues given the high hourly rates in Belgium. Coming from a family of multi-generational entrepreneurs, I’m very pragmatic when it comes to business. I believe Belgium should focus on innovation and custom work because, simply put, all labor-intensive tasks are too costly. But that's a challenge for our ministers; they're generously paid to handle it!

Axel: You’ve undoubtedly seen the evolution of the materials used in dog sports. Can you tell us more about that?
Guy: Absolutely, almost all current training is based on rewards, either food or toys. In the past, very little was rewarded, everything was taught under force. From experience, better results were achieved through positive training, so all kinds of food and toy rewards were invented. So, there’s a lot more toys and treats than there used to be. Trainers' clothing has also evolved a lot; the days of the gray jacket are long gone... LOL Initially, training clothing was only functional, and appearance wasn’t important, but this has changed significantly, and now the look is just as important. Also, the bite sleeves in IGP have changed a lot. In the past, there was a puppy sleeve, a junior sleeve (which looked like a competition sleeve but had a plastic shoulder piece and was softer), and finally, a competition sleeve. Now, they’re all technical hybrids of bite pillows and sleeves. The sale of traditional competition sleeves has completely collapsed as a result. Honestly, this evolution is only a very good thing because training has become much more dog-friendly and looks much more colorful and professional. So, nothing but praise! These are positive consequences of the evolution.

Axel: Belgium has long played a leading role in dog sports, including in IGP. But our country had to let go of that role. Why do you think that is? And what should we do to change it again?
Guy: Because of the success of Belgian teams, several Belgian trainers have been invited abroad multiple times to give workshops. These trainers (myself included) were happy to do this, and there’s nothing wrong with that. The downside is that our hard-earned knowledge was “leaked” to the competition, which naturally turned against us. Of course, I don’t want to blame everything on this phenomenon and must honestly admit that talent in Scandinavia has been extremely high for several years. The Scandinavians’ pragmatic approach combined with their motivation has brought them to a very high level. Countries like the Czech Republic also have excellent bite work techniques, work at a high level of sharpness, and were the pioneers of the short, technical bite sleeves that allow the dogs to bite more quickly. Then there’s Germany, which has never really been gone. The Germans are a bit more traditional in their training methods, and as a result, they mostly work with the same methods, which gives very consistent results. There are also many more dog sports enthusiasts in Germany than in Belgium, which by itself gives them more chances for podium placements. Of course, there are also very good trainers in other countries, and the World Championships prove this.

Axel: What can we do about it?
Guy: That's a different matter, maybe a better policy? The current approach is that only the top performers matter, and the "ordinary" participants are ignored under the assumption that "through our strict approach, quality will improve." Personally, I think the entry process should be made easier, so more attention should be given to the "ordinary players" and less to the "top performers." Hopefully, this will enlarge the pool of participants, and the more choices there are, the greater the chance of success. Making the sport more attractive, "cooler," and more spectacular might also give it a boost. Specifically, IGP is a bit "long-winded" in its obedience section, perhaps shortening it or making it more spectacular could allow spectators to watch a competition in awe.
Training still carries a bit of a negative image, and it's high time something was done about that. More collaboration (with fewer political games) would certainly help raise the quality. In my 35-year career in dog sports, I've seen so many dirty games and so much dishonesty (and experienced it myself!) that I could write a book about it! As a result, several excellent trainers have already given up. Maybe it’s a utopia to think that Belgian dog sport enthusiasts will ever pull in the same direction...

Axel: Do you have any revolutionary products?
Guy: We always want to be at the forefront of innovation. As an active dog sportsperson, I know better than anyone what we need and what can be improved. Many of our competitors have never been active in the sport and rely on others for development. The most revolutionary product is undoubtedly the MCRS Magnet Ball. Thanks to our invention, training has changed worldwide. Training will never be the same again, and that is our greatest contribution to the dog sports community. We also always try to maintain the best price/quality ratio, as this is important in the challenging times we are facing.

Axel: What role does Katrien play, because you don’t do all this alone, right?
Guy: I come from a family of dog lovers, but my wife wasn’t one. When we met, she had to learn to live with it. When two people meet, they are often young, and a common problem is that, as they grow older, they grow apart, and certain hobbies or passions can become a source of conflict. Fortunately, that hasn’t happened to us. We are both passionate dog lovers and have even made it our livelihood. Not by breeding puppies though! No, we started a company focused on the production and wholesale of dog sports and working dog supplies: http://www.k9-k4.be/";>www.K9-K4.be and http://www.k9-evo.com/";>www.K9-evo.com.

When we occasionally breed a litter, Katrien is the overprotective foster mom. She literally makes her bed next to the puppies, which leaves me quite lonely… LOL. I train the dogs, and my wife takes care of the mother and her puppies. She loves doing that, but unfortunately, finding the time for it is becoming increasingly difficult with our entrepreneurial lifestyle.
Breeding Rottweilers is also very difficult. There are many hurdles to overcome, and many puppies still die in the first week. Compared to breeding Springer Spaniels, that’s a “walk in the park.” The puppies are much stronger and tougher, the mother is much more cautious, and so on.

As for our company, Katrien handles all the bookkeeping and office work, including processing customer orders, restocking the showroom, and packing orders for our online stores. In short, she does everything and is skilled in all areas. On the other hand, I mainly focus on maintaining our online stores, designing products, managing the warehouse, working on designs, and patent applications. I am also more adventurous and usually have to convince Katrien to try new things. If I can’t ‘win her over,’ I get insecure because she is a great barometer and EXTREMELY critical! We get along very well, though—it’s not easy to be together 24/7, but it’s the ultimate relationship test… Haha, Temptation Island 2.0. Without her, I would be a bird for the cat (or the dog), and maybe she would be too… But you’ll have to ask her yourself.

Thank you Guy for this informative, honest and enlightening interview. Good luck in all your activities!

Axel Van der Borght

Workingdogs & Dogsport - Interview with Guy Verschatse - 27
Do you want to know more about the breeding Vom Schloss Hexental ?https://nl.working-dog.com/breedstation/vom-Schloss-Hexental-1925

http://www.hexental.be/nl/home

Are you interested in visiting the store or ordering online?
https://www.k9-k4.be/
https://www.mcrs-magnetball.be/c-677597/mcrs-products/

Would you like to distribute their products or are you looking for a distributor?https://www.k9-evo.com/

 

Posted on : 20 november 2024
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