Leo Muller, Judge, DVG - LV America
Written for DVG America magazine (2005)
Leo moved from Germany to Winnipeg, Canada in 1957. There he met his future wife, Millie. One very cold winter Leo and Millie took a vacation to California. When they returned to Canada, they packed up their bags and moved to California. That was in 1964.
Leo started his career in dog training in AKC obedience in the 1960s. By 1969, North America had its first Schutzhund organization, the North American Working Dog Association, called NASA for short. At that time, DVG issued scorebooks to Americans through a special club, DVG Sonder-Verein Dortmund. That was the first DVG-recognized group in the United States. The Southern California Schutzhund Club was formed in 1969, and Leo joined the same year. One of the other members of the club, Paul Reschke, had been a DVG member in Germany, and had retained his membership when he moved to the States. He convinced Leo to join DVG also. Leo became the tracking and obedience trainer for the club; Reschke was the protection trainer. Five years later, when Reschke resigned, Leo became the sole trainer for the club. He also served as club president from 1976 through 1983.
Leo earned his first Schutzhund title in the early 1970s with his first German Shepherd, Shane of Esquipulas. Shane earned his Schutzhund 1 and 2 at NASA trials, and his Schutzhund 3 at the first Schutzhund USA Championship in 1973. That same year, Leo became a NASA judge. In 1975, Leo went to Germany and, after an examination, was accepted as a DVG judge.
Leo had two more German Shepherds in the 1970s, first Damion of Summit Ranch (Demon) and then Kondor vom Hainbrunnen (Kondor), his first German import. In addition to showing in Schutzhund, Leo kept up his interest in AKC obedience and continued to show in that venue.
In 1979, Leo, his wife Millie, and another member of the Southern California club went to Germany for the DVG annual board meeting. In response to their requests for help, DVG formed the California Schutzhund Verband. The original intent was that this organization would be restricted to California. They were accompanied to America by Rudi Buker, a former DVG-LRO, and together they established the rules for the new group. Leo became the LRO, his main duties being to complete the paperwork needed to bring over German judges. He also served as the OFS, holding the first Decoy Seminar and Certification for DVG in the United States. One of the earliest students later became one of the first American DVG judges-Jean Claude Balu.
Word of the new organization spread, and other Schutzhund fans in the United States began to call. In 1980, DVG formed four American verbands: Western, Midwest, Northeast, and Southeast. In 1984, these were all combined into the Landesverband DVG-America. In large part, this resulted from Germany pressuring the American groups to join together and fulfill the responsibilities of a Landesverband.
Throughout the 1980s, Leo trained and handled several more German Shepherds. He also served again as DVG America's LRO, after a break of several years. In 1984 he imported the dog he considers his best German Shepherd, Argo v.d. Angelberg, imported as a Schutzhund 3. In that same year, and again in 1985 and 1986, Leo and Argo were on the GSDCA/WDA team that went to Europe to compete in the World Union SV Championship.
Also in 1984, Leo moved to Fontana, California, where he had a new home and training field. That became the home of a new DVG club, the Coast Schutzhund Club. Leo was president and training director of the club for 18 years, from 1984 through 2002.
In 1985, Leo judged the DHV youth Meisterschaft in his hometown of Hameln, Germany. In 1988, Leo was elected LRO of DVG-America, a post he held for several years.
In 1990, he trained and earned a Schutzhund 1 with his first non-German Shepherd Schutzhund dog, Doberman Pinscher ""Midnite's der Teufel."" In 1991, he took Rottweiler ""Lando"" whom he got as a Schutzhund 1 to a Schutzhund 2, 3, and FH. In 1992 he got Rottweiler Quax vom Mariannenthal as a BH. He put a Schutzhund 1, 2, 3, IPO 3 and FH on Quax. Later in the 1990s, he purchased Giant Schnauzer Doure Fjeld Ramses (Ramses) and trained him to an IPO 3 and FH2. In 1999, he and Ramses went to the FCI championships.
Millie, Leo's wife, is his partner in the sport. She's a well-known and popular figure who has helped many people in Schutzhund throughout her long career in training and trialing. Millie has been active in AKC obedience and tracking as well as in Schutzhund, and has titled many dogs in all three sports.
After living in Southern California for many years, Leo and Millie moved to Oregon in 2002. They are now members of the Salem Schutzhund Club. Currently, Leo is working a new German Shepherd, Norbert vom Argatos (Argo), who recently earned his BH.
Asked about is impression of training the four different breeds he has experience with, Leo told me that he feels he trained Ramses just like he would a German Shepherd; that Ramses had the same training abilities. He was always eager and responsive with a very high drive and a eagerness to please me. His protection was always great.
Thinking about Doberman Pinchers, Leo feels that they are always one step ahead of their trainers but lag in the concentration department - they must be worked continuously to keep their interest up. They are very loveable with their owners and have a great deal of energy. They make you work for your titles with them.
Leo believes Rottweilers are very sensitive to handler pressure; they seem to remember harsh corrections and they do hold grudges. They have a high food drive and respond well to food. They also show high ball drive. They are very loyal to their master but can be a little difficult with others.
All in all, Leo says he loves all four breeds and it has been a pleasure to have worked with them.
In his judging, Leo likes to see handlers in the BH who are familiar with the exercises and routines. The BH is the beginning of a Schutzhund career, and handlers should grow in their understanding the rules in all three phases throughout their trialing career. He also likes to see sound dogs who work happily through
The dog should be a sound dog, focused on the handler. He should work happily through all the routines. The dog should perform willingly and eagerly. Dog and handler should be a team who exhibit good sportsmanship on and off the trial field.
Besides dog training, Leo likes to remodel houses, fish, and travel.