Our Background

A lifelong hunter and outdoorsman, Roger Smith has owned gun dogs since early childhood, and has professionally trained them part-time since the '60's. During the '70's he bred gun dog strains of Brits and Springers under the Chippewa kennel name, and then briefly, GWP's under the Oldmarsh kennel name. He served the Delaware Valley Chapter of NAVHDA as both Secretary and President. He received a NAVHDA Handler of the Year Award in 1985. He served VDD/GNA as HD Program Coordinator from 1988 through 1995, and as Vice-Chairman/Director of Testing and Director of Judge Development from 1993 through 1995. He received the VDD Silver Hegewald award in 1996. Roger is retired from his position as a police chief and now runs Altmoor Electronic Collars and Dog Training Supplies.

Nancy Bohs, an equestrienne turned hunter and versatile gun dog fan, like Roger hunts with gun, bow, and black powder. Nancy served the Delaware Valley Chapter of NAVHDA for two years as Test Secretary, and also received the 1985 Handler of the Year Award. In 1989, she successfully handled a dog in VDD's prestigious Hegewald in Nettetal, Germany. She served VDD/GNA as Test Secretary for two years, and in 1996 received GNA's Exemplary Service Award in recognition of her research and education of the membership regarding genetic bleeding disorders. She was elected GNA's Business Manager in 1997. Also a former police officer, Nancy is currently employed as a veterinary assistant.

We have hunted, judged, and/or tested dogs in Germany, British Columbia, Ontario, Maine, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey, Virginia, Alabama, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Missouri. Our home is located on the edge of the 110,000 acre Wharton State Forest, in the Jersey Pinelands. Within a one hour drive we have access to thousands of acres of State Wildlife Management Areas, including some of the best waterfowl hunting in the East. Although farmland habitat in the area is declining, woodland and marsh hunting opportunities are practically limitless.

We have handled dogs which we trained 15 times in NAVHDA tests, and 66 times in VDD/JGHV tests. We are among the most senior of GNA-nominated JGHV judges on the continent. Nancy is also certified as a VDD Breed Show (Conformation and Coat) judge. Our VDD kennel, vom Altmoor, has produced more litters than any other in North America, and vom Altmoor pups please their hunting buddies from Greece and Spain to northern Quebec, Mexico, Alaska, and just about every place in between. Our dual goal is to increase hunter awareness and appreciation of the breed while always vigorously supporting and pursuing the parent breed club's continuous efforts to further refine and perfect it.

Members of:

VDD Group North America
VDD Group Canada
NAVHDA
Ducks Unlimited
NJ Waterfowler's Association
NRA - Life
NJ Retired Police & Firefighters' Association
National Shooting Sports Foundation