
Navy and Seti both earned their Basset Hound Club of America Versatility Certificate Master (VCM) titles this past year. Sadly Seti passed away on December 31, 2019. Pictured is Seti's retirement photo, which I am so glad I did before his passing.
Here is an excerpt from the Tally-Ho magazine article written by Freda Burks, Ph.D.
"Terri Ralenkotter has two new Versatility Certificate Master (VCM) boys! Navy has earned both the Versatility Certificate Excellent (VCX) and the VCM. Seti earned the VCM just prior to Terri losing her very special boy. Kudos to CH KasKade Dress Blues at Air Command VCD1 BN RAE RM TDU HH CA CGC TKN VCM (Navy) and CH Kaleidoscope Set in Stone VCD1 RAE OAJ OJP NFP SHH THD VCM (Seti)! I’ve asked Terri to write a special tribute to these boys as both have awed the Basset community that understands the effort that goes into earning multiple titles on our Bassets.
At Nationals 2019, the BHCA board approved the current versatility program update as presented by the Versatility Committee. The program’s goal, from its inception in the late 1980s, has been to honor Bassets that are conformationally sound, that demonstrate using their noses as they were bred to do, and that can also work as part of a human/dog partnership team.
Seti and Navy have always been two different personalities, which helped them on their individual roads to the VCM.
Seti loved showing in any venue, the louder and more crowded the better. Seti was also a wonderful Therapy Dog with 10 years of service. [She] was my first Champion and together we spent many nights in hotels and on the road working on his other titles. He remained a showman in his later years, happily marching around the ring in veteran’s classes. Sadly, we unexpectedly lost Seti on the day I mailed in his VCX points.
Navy is an entirely different personality. He was never a huge fan of the breed ring or crowds. While Seti’s style was slow and steady, Navy would barrel down the track, full speed ahead. Navy easily finished his TD and has had some adventures in tracking as well. Navy likes nothing more than to be with me, and that has served us well in the Rally, Agility and Obedience rings.
These two wonderful boys had two distinct personalities. However, a venue that they both shared as a team was in the field where they braced together during Hunting Performance Tests. This was proof of their shared “hound mentality.”
It has been an honor for me to have had both of these dogs in my life and I will forever be grateful for their breeders for giving me the opportunity to own such great hounds."
As of their earning the VCM, I believe they were #10 and #11 Bassets to earn this title from BHCA.
Stay healthy! I am hoping to work on some tracking and some nose work while this (COVID-19) is all going on.
Terri
Terri, congratulations to you and your fabulous Hounds! It's been my genuine honor to work with you, Seti, and Navy over the years. I look forward to our next training session. Soon! Matthew