Interview (Part one) with
2009 WUSV Protection Judge
Lance Collins (GSSCC, Canada)
Lance Collins Schutzhund resume
Lance Collins has been actively involved in the dog sport exclusively as a hobby since 1980. He has raised, trained and titled many dogs from puppies to SchH3. An active competitor, Lance has competed at the Canadian Championships 14 times with 7 different dogs, and qualified for the WUSV World Championships 7 times with four different dogs. His highest placing at the WUSV WM was 4th place with Dune v Bergblick, a dog he bred, raised and trained.
Recognized as an innovative and systematic trainer and teacher who utilizes proven learning principles, he has conducted many seminars in Germany, USA, Australia and Canada. He has drawn his experience from working closely with Juergen Ritzi, Reinhard Linder, Roman Schuler, Elmar Mannes (SV)
Helper work has been a big part of the dog sport for Lance and he has been active as a training, trial and teaching helper. He was selected to do the helper work at the Canadian SchH3 Championships and the Canadian Sieger Show four times, including the first Canadian SchH3 Championships.
Lance spends much of his free time training others in his club, to great success. Over the last 20 years handlers from his home club have repeatedly won the Canadian Championships. Eight different handlers from his home club have qualified to represent Canada on the WUSV world team some 18 times, resulting in a number of top 10 places at the World Championships.
Lance began judging in Canada in 1990. He judged the tracking at the WUSV World Championships in 2000, and protection at the WUSV in 2009. He has judged major events such as the North American, the Canadian and the Australian Championships.
Lance started breeding German Shepherd dogs in 1985 under the kennel name of Haus Bergblick. At one point dogs from his breeding won the Canadian championships for 5 consecutive years. Dogs from his breeding have placed in the top ten at the WUSV World Championships a number of times.
JUDGING GENERALLY
Q: How do you feel in anticipation of judging the World Championships?
A: I feel sincerely honored by the invitation to represent the GSSCC and the Canadian judging program at the WUSV World Championships. I am excited and slightly nervous when I do think about it but for the most part I am way too busy with my business commitments, my responsibilities as a GSSCC director, my own club and my own dogs to think about it very much. I expect as it gets closer and I set aside more time to concentrate on the preparation it will be a little more of a issue.
It is always an honor and a big responsibility to have the opportunity to judge at any level. Certainly judging the protection phase in Germany in front of a big crowd, a lot of friends, fellow competitors and fellow judges magnifies the significance of the moment for me. However, I do get the best seat in the house once protection starts and that is very cool.
Q: What do you think are the qualities that make a good judge?
A: They must be fluent in the language of dogs. To become fluent a judge needs first hand experience as a competitor, a trainer and a handler. They must have a lot of experience with a lot of different types of dogs and they must have had success in completing the work of training dogs. Being a very good training helper is a distinct advantage as well.
Judges must be students of the behavior of dogs to understand what they are looking at and to be able to explain properly what they are evaluating. They must be teachers and bring with them an enthusiasm and passion that promotes the sport and motivates the handlers and spectators.
Judges have to have the confidence and character to be able to make the difficult decision and hold the line on the rules and the intent of the rules. Maintaining a standard that follows the intent of the trial regulations can mean that you do not get invited back in some circles.
Q: As a judge who are your biggest influences?
A: I would have to say that it was a variety of influences that have influenced my judging. My long and close relationship with some very well respected German SV judges and trainers also had a tremendous influence. Juergen Ritzi, Reinhard Lindner, Walter Hoffman, Elmar Mannes, and most recently, Guenther Diegel, all had a profound impact on my development as a judge. They all provided me with honest direction and an understanding that I apply in my judging today.
More than anything else, it was my passion and my struggle to become a top training helper and an international competitor that has influenced my judging the most. Training my own dogs from a puppy and working through the steps to compete at many big events gave me experience and knowledge that is impossible to achieve any other way. Being a training helper and making the commitment to travel to gain the experience of working many thousands of dogs also had a huge influence on my judging. I would point the finger at Juergen Ritzi and Reinhard Lindner for giving me the opportunity and encouragement to immerse myself in helper work until it became instinctive.
I had and still have an intense passion to understand why dogs do what they do and an intense desire to learn how to influence them. That has been the main factor in my evolution as a judge.
Q: How do you prepare for judging the World Championships?
A: I have confidence that I know what I am looking at and what is critical. The challenge is to remain mentally focused for every moment of every dog. I want to be sure to give every handler my best attention and to do that I am spending some time to improve my physical fitness. Being fit certainly helps with the mental aspect of judging.
I will spend some extra time studying the regulations and the interpretations, making sure that there is no hesitation in my decisions. Working with the dogs keeps me in tune and that is the best preparation therapy for me. For the most part, I will keep training my dog and the dogs in my club as well as competing and judging.
Preparing to judge this event is a lot like preparing for a big competition with a talented dog for me. The best method for me to avoid excessive nervousness has always been to prepare as best I can and then enjoy the moment. That is what I plan to do here.