2022 Inductee – “Ralphie”
Owner/Handler: Jack Heim
1974 Champion Points
Legendary Status Champion
98x Champion
13 Super Major Championships
6 Major Championships
Jack Heim felt good about Ralphie’s chances to do well in the BDC. Bred by Mary Garr of PBF Kennels his lineage on the Dam’s side went back to Dual Champion Renegade’s Kansas Kid and Dual Champion Shoshoni War Chief and his Sire was the well decorated Dual Champion Road’s Rough Rider. But for a while it looked like Ralphie would never get his career started! His discipline with other dogs was a problem and a nasty fall from a third level (high) kennel broke his front leg! Terrific doctoring from Renee Palmer and continued training with Craig Steinbach carried the day, however, and Ralphie qualified for Puppy and Top Gun at Nationals in Anita, IA, March 2012.
He found his rhythm in Anita. Pushed hard by Mike Wallace’s Armani in Top Gun and Dan Park’s Sophie in Puppy he became one of the few dogs to win both events at the same Nationals. Ralphie went on to win 13 Super Majors, 6 Majors, and 2 Dog of the Year Trophies.
Along the way Ralphie earned AKC Senior Hunter status and competed in PHU and Wisconsin series events where the “two runs added together” format helped hone his consistency. He was a terrific wild bird hunter with frequent trips to the mid-west for quail, pheasant, and sharpies. Ralphie often returned from these trips with new bad habits; no worries,”Steiny will fix it!”
Several people handled Ralphie but primarily it was Craig Steinbach and Tom Glynn. They will tell you that Ralphie’s strengths were field management, handling, and a rocket fast retrieve. He would key off their moves and head to the next quadrant completely on his own. Ralphie also had the uncanny ability to find birds missed by others; an ability that won him more than one tournament. Retired now, he is very busy forgetting all his training and has become a “champion” sofa snatcher! He is almost 13 now. When he moves on he will join Joey, Kodie, Dusty, and Annie, all tournament dogs, in the “The Hollow” at Windy Creek Farm.
“Immediately west of the thickets lining Indian Creek about ½ mile south of the house is the “Hollow”. We seldom hunt “The Hollow” so it is a quiet place frequented mostly by coyotes and an occasional deer. We keep listening for faint murmurs when we pass through but hear none….they must be hunting in a special place or on a long quiet point……..”
Today March 10, 2022 Ralphie enters the BDC Hall of Fame as a Legendary Status Dog with 98 Championships, 1974 career Champion points, 13 Super Major Championships and 6 Major Championships. Ralphie completes his career as the number 1 “All Time Pointer” with a substantial lead over the next dog. Like all BDC Hall of Fame dogs he is special and we’ll all miss him!