Judge
We are proud to welcome our judge Al Govednik to the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
My name is Albert (Al) J. Govednik. My wife Linda and I currently have 2 German Shepherd Dogs; Ava and Ruger both live and train with us.
I was born on 17 January 1958, in Joliet, Illinois. (This is a suburb of Chicago, Illinois.) I became involved with my first dogs as a boy, working with my father & his hunting breeds.
My real passion has been Schutzhund, now called IPO work. My breed of choice since 1984 has been the German Shepherd Dog.
I have worked as an electronic technician for the BNSF (Burlington Northern Santa Fe) railway company since 1984, and have been employed in the railroad industry since 1977.
Being involved with my local Mustang car club is the other hobby Linda & I are involved with.
I have always been active with the working side of dog training. As a working dog judge, active handler involved with multiple groups, and fancier of multiple breeds I have a rather unique relationship with our membership. I am also a teaching helper and a teaching judge. I have attended 10 international championships as either a competitor, team captain, or a representative of the AWDF. I consider myself extremely fortunate because I am able to attend these events in part because of the work I do, combined with my time on the job.
- United Schutzhund Clubs of America (GSD club) Training Accomplishments:
- 2 times Mid-Central Regional Handler of the Year & Regional Sports Friend of the Year
- SchH 3 Club 7 times
- Many times national competitor in multiple organizations events
- HOT (handler owner & trained) competitor; 5 dogs trained from youngster to FH2 level or higher (3 of the first 12 FH2s in America)
- Have participated as a competitor in over 200 SchH trials, passed over 80 FH competitions; numerous high in trial, high tracking, high protection, high obedience awards, several "V" scores
- Actively support all working dog organizations: I have either shown, judged, or attended the majority of our federation's clubs events at one time or another.
- Won North Central Regional Schutzhund Championship & Mid-Central Regional Schutzhund Championship
- Had not been beaten in a Mid-Central Regional FH Championship from '87 until '03 (didn't enter) with 5 different dogs
- Mid-Central Regional FH Champion again in '04, '05 & '08
- Finished 2nd three times, 4th three times and 5th at the UScA FH Championship
- AWDF FCI IPO-FH '06 World Championship team member (Austria)
- AWDF FCI IPO-FH '07 World Championship team captain (Switzerland)
- AWDF FCI IPO-FH '08 World Championship team member (Slovakia)
- Placed 25th in the World Tracking Championship (IPOFH)
- AWDF FCI IPO-FH '09 World Championship team member (France)
- AWDF FCI IPO-FH '10 World Championship team member (Slovenia)
- UScA IPO-FH '09 National Champion
- UScA FH '10 National Champion
- FCI IPO World Championship team captain '08 (Warve, Belgium)
- FCI IPO World Championship team captain '09 (Schwanstadt, Austria)
- FCI IPO World Championship team captain '10 (Finland)
- Never failed a SchH track in a competition with a dog I have raised & trained from a pup
- United Schutzhund Clubs of America (GSD club) Helper Accomplishments:
- UScA Teaching Helper '02-present
- Helper in two WPO championships (police dog) '92 & '93
- Helper in the North American Working Bouvier Association Nationals '00, and at the '02 & '04 Airefest
- Many time Mid-Central & North Central Regional Championship helper
- Helper work done in at least 2 local club trials every year from '88-'13
- United Schutzhund Clubs of America (GSD club) Other Accomplishments:
- Track layer at every major event, hosted in America, including the WUSV championships in Boston and Cincinnati
- USA liaison to Czech WUSV/GSD team in Boston
- 5 GSDs to SG in conformation (Bullet, Jack, Deli, Bingo & Dixi), 2 others to G (Gita & Gonzo)
- Have also handled Rotts, Airedales & Bouvs
- UScA Mid-Central Regional Training Director '11-'12
- Judging Events:
- UDC - '12 National (all phases)
- UScA - UScA Nationals '02, '04, '06 & '11 (Tracking), '10 (Obedience), '04 (Protection & Obedience)
- UScA - HOT (handler owner trained) Tournament '00
- UScA - GSD Championship '99 (Tracking)
- AWDF Championship '01, '05 & '11 (Tracking)
- NAWBA - '00 Nationals (Obedience)
- USBA - '04 Nationals (all phases)
- UScA Teaching Judge '06-present
- Judged many UScA Regional Championships and many AWDF member club events
- Clubs/position(s):
- United SchH Clubs of America '86-present
- UScA Executive Board Member '96-'12
- UScA Executive Board Member at large '00-'12
- Mid-Central Regional Director '96-'00
- Assistant Mid-Central R.D. '93-'96
- UScA Judge #23 '96-present
- FCI-approved Judge Dec. '06
- UScA liaison to the AWDF '97-'00
- AWDF President '04-'14
- Training Director Central Illinois Schafferhunde Association '11-present
- Winner of the first Egon Vollrath Sportsmanship Award '01
- Executive Director of the American Dog Owner Association '05-'14
- Expert witness in the state of Iowa in animal behavior '03-present
- Delegate to the FCI Working Commission '04-'14
- German Shepherd Dog Club of the Quad Cities '95-'07
- Dogs/titles:
- SG Sir Bullet vom Govednik SchH3,IPO3,FH2,TD,CGC*
- SG Bingo of Nachez Trace SchH1**
- SG Deli Cerny Obelisk SchH1**
- SG Dixi vom Hackhauserweg SchH3,IPO3,FH,CD,CGC
- SG Jack vom Hildeshiemer Land SchH3,IPO3,FH2,CD,CGC*
- G Gonzo z Ceska SchH3,IPO3,FH2,CGC*
- G Gita z Lipin SchH3,IPO3,FH2,CGC*
- Lea Bohemia Vek SchH3,IPO3,CGC**
- Armor vom Govednik SchH3,IPO3,FH2, RH1***
- Hex Aites Bohemia SchH3,VPG3,IPO3,IPOFH,RH1**
- Ava vom Holtgrew IPO2, FH, BH*
* = raised & trained from puppy
** = raised & trained from young/untitled dogs
*** = bred, raised & trained from puppy