MVSV Spring Trial | Minnesota Valley Schutzhund Verein

Professional experience ... law enforcement officer, a firefighter & medic, and a secondary and collegiate educator.

My love and life with the German Shepherd Dog breed began in 1976, at the age of 14, when I received my first two GSDs, a retired USAF sentry dog and a pup from her final litter. Five decades later, the Craddock family is synonymous with the “German Shepherd family” , with four generations of Craddock’s sharing our lives with German Shepherd Dog.

My “dog world” experience ... 6-year AKC obedience instructor and competitor, including a 1994 Dog World Magazine Dog of Distinction recipient; 14-year IPO, IGP competitor; 3-year RH competitor, including training four dogs who have earned the USCA Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Master Sports Medal awards, two Schutzhund-3 Club awards, a USCA Working Dog Champion award, and have competed at six USCA National Championships. I began my journey as a USCA Performance/RH Judge in 2016.

My favorite dog sport phases and activities include: tracking, everything RH, judging, and helping others to succeed through workshop education. “We learn by doing”

My USCA competitors have been:

Optimus Victor vom haus Rentz (2010-2022) BH, AD, 3x IGP3, FH1
Wunderschon Ruger Das SBI (2011-2023) BH, Tr1, IPO1, FH2
Hamlyn von der bosen Hohle (2015- ) BH, AD, 9x IGP3, FH2, RH-F-V, RH-FL-V, RH-FL-A
Optima von der bosen Hohle (2018- ) BH, AD, IGP1, FH2, RH-F-V, RH-FL-V, RH-FL-A, RH-F-A

Whether it be as a fellow competitor or as the judge, I look forward to someday sharing a trial field with you. Please, let me know if I can be of help with your journey in these wonderful sports that we share with our dogs.