Laurie Schweizer, USA IGP National Champion

October 15, 2021

There was a big question mark who would be the top IGP dogs in the USA after the pause of competition in 2020 due to the pandemic. Sadly, a few of the best dogs missed a prime year and some retired for 2021. There were new dogs to the top stage that had a lot of people excited. The top honors were up for grabs more than any year in recent memory. It is fair to say that few could have expected such a dominant performance from one team. Laurie Schweizer and Argo von Schweizer had a year for the record books, winning three national championships. Argo is the only BHOT dog to have ever won all three.

2021 AWDF IGP National IGP Championship

2021 USCA Universal Sieger

2021 USCA GSD National IGP Championship

The year did not star well. It was a case of fire and ice. The first National they entered this year was the USCA Working Dog Championship. Through all phases they showed to be serious contenders. But in the back-half of protection, Argo did not out (disengage) resulting in disqualification. It was a heartbreaking moment and had a strong impact on Laurie. It stoked her fire and made her more determined than ever. She saw enough to know that she had something special in Argo and the experienced made her determined to show better. She worked with Beth Bradley and together formulated a remedial plan. What followed was a win at the AWDF Nationals. They switched lanes and pursued the Universal Sieger title, which is a combination of highest show rating and protection scores. Argo is a handsome and classic proportioned GSD, combined with world class working ability. Not surprisingly they earned the Universal Sieger. Two championships under their belt.

The team headed into the USCA Nationals with well deserved confidence. When a team time their peak perfectly and have put in the perfect practice and countless perfect repetitions, things happen naturally and with fluidity. To add drama, during the helper selection and Colt Dickson was selected for back-half. Colt is a young and talented new comer to the National helper ranks and the only helper Argo has refused to disengage, as mentioned before, which took them out of contention at the WDC in May. I can't help but think this played in the back on Laurie's mind. however, if it did, she didn't reveal a tell. Laurie and Beth Bradley had done their work. As the ending of this story has had a spoiler in the opening paragraph, but Argo redeemed his earlier WDC misstep and it could not have worked out better than for this to be with Colt on the back half.

Call Out after Bark & Hold

The Escape with Eric Hultgren

Putting on the brakes during The Escape

Guarding at the end of The Escape

Pressure phase of The Escape

Finishing The Escape with a power ending.

Eric Hultren bringing Argo from right pocket over the left knee and applying pressure to finish the drive.

The transition to the out at the end of The Escape.

Attack out of Back Transport with Eric Hultgren

Final drive of front-half

Laurie looking on as her boy delivers the goods.

Scary helper face is de rigueur helper's part of the protection act.

Argo is poster dog for exciting guarding.

Start of back-half. Colt Dickson is running full stride at them. The only helper that Argo has not outed on. This is a moment of truth. Laurie has ice in her veins.