Jim Engel, Informal Resume
I suppose my canine world persona goes back to the days of my monthly Dog Sports magazine column. Not everybody loved me, but even those who disagreed turned to my column first to see what it was that they were going to be angry about, and from the editor's viewpoint motivation did not make a whole lot of difference. Ya gotta remember that before the internet all you really got was a Schutzhund USA magazine every couple of months and Dog Sports, so a monthly column got you a whole lot of attention. Also placed quite a few articles in Dog World. But time moves on and today there is the occasional wet behind the ears pup who wants to rag on me about being all talk, usually some sort of candy ass internet twerp scared to death to use a real name. Responding can get to be a bit irksome, so this little page is something to just point to and move on.
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Now I know all of this is gonna sound a whole lot like bragging, so to keep it real, let’s start out with what I am not. For one thing, I am not a world class protection training helper. Started too late and was never strong enough or quick enough to aspire to excellence. Did some club level training, worked a trial or two years ago but was always ready to hand it over to a better guy. Often in the role of working the main helper’s dog; one of the frustrations of Schutzhund training is the best helper always gets the second best for his own dog. But when push comes to shove I know and have seen too many great helpers to have any illusions.
Nor am I an especially big deal trainer or handler; was always an amateur with a full time career, which tends to limit the number of dogs you end up working. Worked with too many real experts like Tom Rose not to know my limitations. But we still did manage to take home the trophies, and all of my dogs were owner trained, many born on the floor of our kitchen or whelping room.
A lot of time was spent in Europe, in the Netherlands training with a KNPV trainer and judge, and in Belgium. In Belgium there was a little bit of work in the old style Ring jacket, enough to know I was out of my element, but a learning experience. I have traveled far to see the best, the Cup of France in French Ring, the champion of Belgian Ring in a regular trial, many KNPV trials, IPO and Schutzhund many times in the Netherlands and Germany.
Professionally, I have a masters degree in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University and spent many years in the communications industry. Had some fun, did big time technical presentations as far away as Australia and picked up a few patents along the way.
My first training experience was with a German Shepherd inherited after my wife went out and bought the Bouvier she wanted in the first place. I took the dog to a big shepherd obedience specialty, came in third over all, won a huge trophy, and thought it might have had something to do with my training, which turned out not to be true. Got the CD with a bunch of trophies, and shortly thereafter the dog died from Parvo.
I have trained four Bouviers to Schutzhund III, three of which also became AKC champion of record. Also trained a dog to the advanced FH level in tracking. I have been North American working champion for my breed four times and reserve champion several times also. I have taken a dog to compete in the Bouvier Championships in the Netherlands. We have shown dogs at the Schutzhund III level from California to Maine, from Florida to Canada and in Europe. I have competed in USCA regional championships.
Many dogs from our breeding have Schutzhund titles, other working titles including Bouvier working champion and held numerous AKC conformation championships. My old Leah was Schutzhund III, Bouvier working champion, AKC conformation champion and the top group winning female in the AKC show ring in one year.
Our Bouvier book was the American breed book of the year and is still the standard of comparison world wide. It has sold many thousands of copies throughout the world, and is still bringing in the cash after some fifteen years.
I have conducted training seminars for Bouvier groups from Oregon to Florida. I have instructed beginning obedience classes in a club situation, and sometimes consult on problem dogs in my breed. Also have served as judge in conformation matches in California and Michigan.
For many years from the mid eighties to
the early nineties my column was featured in Dog Sports magazine, before the
internet. There were many political offices over the years; I was for instance
the founding and long time secretary of the AWDF, the American Working Dog
Federation.
Background and Reference:
Who is Jim Engel?The Fourth Estate
Memoirs of an Advocate
Glossary
Orginizations and Conflicts
Legacy Lost, the Other Breeds
The Americans
Style and Opinion Sports
Has Sport Subverted the Trial?
How We Play the Game
Commercialization of Schutzhund
The Mother State