Who made Armin Winkler think he could do anything?? - Page 1

I was at 2007 AWMA Nationals this past weekend. First I want to say congrats To Steve Gregalunas and the rest of the field. I would like to know WHO BRIGHT IDEA WAS IT TO MAKE ARMIN (STINKLER) WINKLER A HELPER??? That person need a strong talking to! But on the other hand it just showed the world that Armin Winkler can only translate book  written by other people.

He's not a good dog trainer, and now you know he's not a good helper. He is a good Bullshitter!! "If you can't dazzle them with brillance, baffle them with bullshit"

LOL I have been hearing this for years. On the longwoods board they were impressed by his performance, so I can only imagine how bad they have it up north.

LOL.  We had our own experience.  So, what did Armin do? 

I believe Doug Wendling had to pull due to having back surgery recently and Armin was kind enought to fill the spot. Never seen Armin do helper work so I can not comment.. How did the helper  for the Sch 1 &2 do? He is a buddy of mine.  Have any video of the event?

Worked with Armin a couple of times at his club (will go back when I have the time to drive 2 1/2 hours each way) and have to say that he was always able to bring out the best in my own dog and that his club as a whole was very very welcoming to a newcomer.  His own Schnausers were also very impressive and I watched a mal that he had trained that was awesome. 

Armin is a good person who is always willing to help, he works hard training any dog in his club and welcomes anyone to come to his club to work their dogs.  He does a good job and I have not seen him be unsafe as a helper, even with very strong and fast dogs.  Main thing is - he was there at the Mali Nationals, all the way from VA to MI, to help the helpers.  I don't think he planned on being a helper in the trial.  He puts a lot of time into helping others from newbies and their dogs, to experienced and their dogs, to new and old helpers and he supports the region, the club and the organization.   Nothing at all bad to say about Armin Winkler from here, he's there for anyone who needs help and is not "politically motivated"

molly

folks that i know who have gone down to armin's place to train for a week claim that he is brutally honest, loves dogs and connects well with them, but does not relate especially well to people.  they say he tries very hard to bring out the best in the dogs and send each dog off the field with a good feeling, but this may not be the case with the handlers.  i think you have to have a thick skin to work with armin, but he does know what he's doing.  i guess if you can't take the heat, stay out of the kitchen.

pjp

So exactly what did Armin do or didn't do that was not to your liking? ....

Just out of curiosity why would you say he isn't a good dog trainer?  Did you train with him and during his eval of your dog he said it wasn't cut out for the sport or is this something you heard from a guy who knew a girl who's second cousin trained with him 10 years ago?  Just trying to find out where you expertise is coming from concerning his training.

Kinda funny...other people saw exactly the opposite...just goes to show someone will always bitch no matter if they're being hung with a new rope.

Keith Jenkins

I was there too and I can comment on this subject first hand. 

Sometimes we hold on to things too long.  It was very nice to fill in for a vacant spot, but the truth of the matter, is that you need to hang it up when you need too many braces on your legs to enable you to run.  Maybe someone is mad because a few of the dogs did not do too well.  One came off the sleeve when stick hits arrived.  Maybe it is the fact that Armin didn't have too many helicopter catches?  I didn't see him jam any of the dogs.  He actually did a good job of slowing the dogs down in the courage test.  Most of the dogs gathered quite a bit in their approach. 

To answer someone else's question, the helper for the 1 and 2's only had two dogs.  There were no 2 entries.  He did a good job.  From what I heard he has only been doing helper work for a year.  Front half was better than the back half.    It's nice to see a guy come in from New york to work two dogs.