While traveling in Europe in 1982, Erik Houttuin heard tales of a big black dog in the village of Ulvenhout, just outside the Dutch city of Breda and within a few miles of the Belgian border. This dog, called Donar, had become both Schutzhund III and FH at the tender age of eighteen months and shortly thereafter became the Bouvier Working Champion of Holland. Arriving at the home of the owners, Jos and Ria Klep, Erik found only Donar and the Klep's two daughters at home. Under the watchful eye of Donar, he left a note saying they must bring this dog to America!

Ria Klep was no novice trainer. Previously she had reached Schutzhund III with Wodan le Jardin Etoile at a time when Schutzhund was very new in the Netherlands. Wodan was apparently poisoned under mysterious circumstances and for many months Ria spent weekends traveling to evaluate Bouvier litters, looking for her next dog.

In some ways this big black dog was not a likely candidate for greatness. He had a simple, one word name in a time of elaborate and pretentious kennel names. He was a dog of pure Dutch breeding in an era when many of the Dutch breeders were abandoning a fifty year tradition of Dutch bloodlines in a headlong rush to Belgian dogs. Many of his ancestors had great records in an era when few Bouviers were competing in that arena. He was, above all else, a great working dog when the eye of the fancy was being drawn increasingly to the show ring.

His pedigree is a litany of the Dutch heritage. It includes the great KNPV dogs such as Borissio, Dolfo and Nerodan. The founding kennels are represented in names such as Bica v.d. Rozenheerd, Rato v.d. Ouden Dijk and Bianca v. Baakenstein.

The Kleps accepted Erik's invitation and brought Donar to the 1982 Working Championships at Niagara-on-the-Lake. There was never any question as to who was the star of that show. Donar was spectacular to watch in action. When the placements were announced he responded to the applause by stretching out to a full alert posture and barking his recognition--the dog knew he was a winner and his knowing it played a big part in making it happen.

There was no doubting Donar's enthusiasm for tracking. His style was similar to a freight train, until he came to a corner, where he seemingly was able to suspend the laws of physics for a moment as he changed direction, still going at full speed! Watching this working team was always an inspiring

experience. Their concentration and total dedication to excellence set an example for all of us--in the days before a trial no detail was too small for consideration, no potential distraction too insignificant to be prepared for. As those who saw him can attest, Donar was spectacular in the protection work.

Donar has not gone without notice by breeders in the United States. His progeny are being bred in a number of influential kennels. There is a son at Belco Farms; a son and two daughters at Flandersfields Kennels; a son and a daughter at Centauri. There are others in California and elsewhere. Over the coming years Donar seems destined to emerge as the Dutch dog who has had the most influence on the breeding of the Bouvier des Flandres in America.

NAWBA Journal Volume III, Summer 1989

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