Experience

Additionally, as a trainer, instructor and canine specialist

• Have trained and instructed in the areas of:

             Basic, advanced, competition obedience

             Beginning and Advanced Tracking

             Search & Rescue

             Police dog and handler training

             Protection dog training

             Narcotic Detection and nosework

             Helper/Decoy work

             Schutzhund (SchH), IPO, IGP (3 phases- 

             tracking, obedience, protection work)

             Behavior Problem Solving

             Agility    

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• Have been a trainer/instructor for:

         LaCrosse Dog Training (began as a student)

         Bachbett Kennels (co-owner since the 1990s)

         LaCrosse Schutzhund & Police Dog Assn

         United States Boxer Association

         United Schutzhund Clubs 

         Great River Working Dog Association

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• I have trained and certified over 40 Police K9 dogs and their handlers for tracking, substance detection, and patrol work and have helped start over 20 Police K9 units. These K9 teams have been responsible for hundreds of arrests in their careers.

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• Have conducted seminars and provided instruction to many competition handler/dog teams. 

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• Former Special Deputy for La Crosse & Jackson County Sheriff Departments

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• Certified K-9 handler & Police K-9 Certification Trial judge

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• Schutzhund trial and protection training helper/decoy

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• Federal DEA Licensed police dog trainer/handler 

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• Breeder of working German Boxers under the kennel name of “Boxers von Bachbett” since the 1990s.  Have produced some of the top Boxers performing police work, performance events and schutzhund.

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• I have traveled many times to Europe in the past for dog related events, or to acquire working dogs, and to study training techniques.

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• Importer of officially recognized German working breeds, including German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, German Boxers and Giant Schnauzers.

Mentors:

I have received extensive training in the past from the most accomplished dog trainers in the world, including:

• William Kulla – Multiple IPO Champion (GSD)

• Richard Kornherr - 2x IPO German National Champion (Boxer), SHV Champion (Malinois)

• Ingrid Kornherr – IPO World Champion (Boxer)

• Dennis Bauer - 2x German IPO National Champion (Boxer), 2x IPO World Champion (Boxer), FCI (all breed) IPO World Champion (Boxer), DHV Champion (Malinois)

• Ivan Balabanov – Multiple US National & World IPO Champion (Malinois) 

• Peter Scherk – Multiple German & World IPO Champion (Boxer) (Malinois), bestselling author

• Marcus Neutz – IPO German National Champion (Doberman) (Malinois) (Schnauzer), Command of 100’s of Police K9’s at Baden-Wurtenburg (Germany) Police K-9 center. USA Special Forces K9 trainer consultant.

• Bruno Kastelic-Sakoparnig – Austrian FH Tracking Champion (GSD) (Boxer). Police K9 handler/commander/instructor in Austria.

• Bart Bellon – Belgium RING World Champion, Teacher, Theorist, Inventor

• Alexander Paul – 2x German & 2x World Champion (Boxer), German Military & NATO K9 Trainer, USA Special Forces Counter Terrorism K9 Trainer consultant

I have trained extensively with all the above dog trainers.  My objective was to learn the variations of classical and operant conditioning that this elite class of trainers have applied to their training methods and techniques. In most cases, my time spent with these trainers was months and in some cases years.  The minimum I spent working with any of them was two weeks. I consider all these gifted people friends, and, have ongoing relationships with many of them. 

Accomplishments with my own dogs

I have trained & titled 8 of my own dogs in Schutzhund, IPO, DPO, Tracking, Police K9 certifications, Police K9 SWAT cert, obedience, and Search and Rescue. My dogs and I have competed in the United States and in Europe. (We are also the breeders of the "von Bachbett" dogs listed here).

• Reward’s Rebel Rouser, SchH1 (1st American-bred Boxer to earn Schutzhund title in USA)

• Grobi vom Hafen, SchH1, FH2, ZTP, AD (first FH2 advanced tracking titled Boxer in USA)

• Ivo vom Hafen, SchH3, IPO3, FH2, ZTP, PD1 (4-time National Working Champion, DVG Nationals competitor, ATIBOX World Championship competitor)

• Cliff vom Grand Kevin, SchH2, FH1, DPO1

• Arames vom Messingsburg, SchH2, FH1, DPO1, PD2

• Sam von Bachbett, IPO3, DPO1, FH1, Police VSK, StPr3, BST, ATIBOX Qualification 289v

• Biff von Bachbett, IPO3, DPO1, FH1, VSK, BST, SWAT Certification. V1 in confirmation.

• Charlie & Gucci von Bachbett . . . works in progress

High Scores: Schutzhund and Police Dog competitions.

"V" denotes rating of excellent

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Ivo von Hafen:

• SchH1 97v, 94, 94 - 285sg

• IPO3 95, 95, 97v - 287v BK Judge Koehler,

• IPO3 Tracking – perfect 100v DVG

• Helpers Choice Award at DVG National Championship & ATIBOX World Championship.

Cliff vom Grand Kevin: 

• IPO2 100v, 93, 93 - 286v, USCA(GSD) Judge Floyd Wilson,

• DPO1 100v, 97v, 97v - 294v DMC Malinois Judge Dennis Bauer

• Shown in conformation – rated “V” Excellent 

• Responsible for several hundred arrests as a Police Dog

Arames vom Messingsberg:  

• SchH1 Protection - 97v

• SchH2 Tracking - 97v and - 98v

• DPO1 100v, 96, 97v - 293v DMC Malinois Judge Dennis Bauer

• NAPWDA PD2 - 100

• Shown in conformation – rated “V” Excellent 

Sam von Bachbett:

• DPO1 97v, 93, 97v - 287v DMC Malinois Judge Marcus Neutz,

• IPO3 100v, 94, 95 - 289v FCI - SV (GSD) Judge Bruno Kastelic-Sakuparnig

• Shown in conformation – rated “V” Excellent 

              *DPO1 is German Police Dog title and is equivalent to IPO2

Current or past member of the following working dog organizations:

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• United States Police Canine Association (USPCA)

• North American Police Work Dog Association (NAPWDA)

• Past Vice President of the 9,000 member all breed American Working Dog Federation (AWDF)

• United Schutzhund Clubs of America (USCA)

• DVG America Schutzhund Organization (world's 1st police certifying agency, Germany)

• United States Boxer Association (President from 1998 through 2008)

• Great River Working Dog Association (Board of Directors and Training Director)

• La Crosse Schutzhund and Police Dog Association (President and Decoy 1997 and 1998)

• Minnesota Valley Schutzhund Verein

• Skunk Hollow Schutzhund Club

• Wisconsin Canine Search & Recovery Association