A five-year-old Belgian Malinois, Nyx, as she is called, is “family” to the Struebers as Margaret Strueber’s sister, Deb Lanzo, is the champion’s guardian.

Mondioring is a competitive dog sport that tests handlers and canines in areas of obedience, agility and protection through a high-intensity mental and physical obstacle course.

Nyx won top honors in three categories at the 2025 U.S. Mondioring National Championships held May 16-18 in Jefferson, Ohio, having competed against 15 other level 1 competitors from across the country. Each team had to compete at least two different competitions earning qualifying scores at those competitions to be invited to Nationals. Nyx won as the Level 1 champion, Highest Scoring Female from all teams from all levels and Highest Owner Trained also from all teams from all levels, according to Lanzo.

Nyx is owned by Dori Tompa and trained by Tompa and decoys Jerimiah Pullinger and Todd Dunlap of Clarity-Canine. She is expected to compete at the international level this fall in Italy and Lanzo will accompany her.

Nyx excercises with a human decoy and jumps a six-foot high wall (right) during one of her twice-weekly official training sessions. Courtesy photos

Nyx is following in her father’s paw steps. Her sire is Finnegann des Ombres Valeureax, a five-time Mondioring world championship participant earning a third place finish in 2018 in Moscow. Nyx dam was imported from the Czech Republic, Hears ze Soutoku Sazavy, according to information provided by Lanzo.

When Lanzo says Nyx’s name in conversation, the dog comes and puts her muzzle on her lap. The two are nearly inseparable.

Lanzo, of Oakmont, Allegheny County, has been Nyx’s guardian for three years. Her daily responsibilities include feeding, exercising and reinforcing training. Lanzo knew Nyx’s owner, Dori Tompa, through her participation on a rowing team.

Margaret Strueber recounted how upon their arrival in Hollidaysburg, Nyx ran through every room — part of her protective training.

“She had to check out every room. I had to open my cupboard doors. She had to make sure nobody was hiding,” she said.

Nyx excercises with a human decoy and jumps a six-foot high wall (right) during one of her twice-weekly official training sessions. Courtesy photos

“Before we went to bed, the same things. She checked all the rooms and wanted to see where we were all sleeping,” Michael Strueber said. Like all dogs, Nyx thrives on belly rubs and petting.

Margaret and Deb’s brother Art Churchill, who was visiting from Oklahoma earlier this week, said of Nyx, “She’s really amazing. Deb will hide things in the house and tell Nyx ‘go find’ and she is so intent and focused. She won’t quit until she finds it.”

Nyx and other Malinois are often trained for rescue and recovery searches after disasters. Other malinois are used by police and military for various purposes, including sniffing out bombs.

Nyx is 55 pounds of muscle and has a very high need for activity and exercise, Lanzo said. She eats three cups of high protein, kibble and vegetable mixture of fresh food.

Her twice-weekly official training sessions include practicing various elements of the competition sport, such as jumping a six-foot high wall and exercises with human decoys who put her through defence and protection paces.

Deb Lanzo is pictured with five-year-old Belgian Malinois, Nyx. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

“I do more practical training around the house like obedience kinds of things,” Lanzo said. “Part of her sport requires her to find a stick that her handler has touched. They put that stick in a pile of sticks and she doesn’t see which one it is. She has to pick up the scent and figure out which stick. She also has to retrieve objects and sometimes they are crazy objects like a piece of hose or a stuffed toy or a hula hoop. She has to be willing to retrieve whatever it is.”

Nyx also enjoys swimming in Lanzo’s inground pool.

“She loves to swim,” said Lanzo, noting that Nyx uses the ladder to exit the pool after her 30-minute swim sessions.

When it’s time to go out into the Strueber’s yard, Lanzo attaches a long leash to Nyx’s collar. The yard has many enticing inhabitants, such as deer, red fox and rabbits. While it would be unlikely Nyx would take off, Lanzo played it safe since Nyx is in unfamiliar territory.

Nyx is motivated during exercise by the opportunity to play and tug on a tethered ball, her guardian explained. Nyx instantly obeys Lanzo’s voice commands to heel and sit. Her reward comes when Lanzo pulls the ball out of her pocket and tosses it in the air. Nyx leaps to catch it but surrenders it when asked.

Deb Lanzo plays with five-year-old Belgian Malinois, Nyx. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

“She gets very excited,” Lanzo said. “She loves to work.”

Mirror staff writer Patt Keith is at 814-949-7030.

Deb Lanzo plays with five-year-old Belgian Malinois, Nyx. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

Deb Lanzo plays with five-year-old Belgian Malinois, Nyx. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski