Reprinted from an article produced with my good friend, the late John Westwood for the GSDL Magazine back in 2014. A tribute to one of the best dog trainers this Country has seen, and I for one will forever be indebted for his help:

Tribute

George Garbett

28.10.28 – 09.01.14

Malvern & Worcester Sports (Schutzhund) Club

It is with great sadness to report that George Garbett sadly passed away after a short illness on the 9th January – only a few years after his daughter and club secretary Sue Evans was prematurely taken from us.

There are so many of us in this sport (IPO) that owe so much to George, his drive and passion for working dogs was infectious and his knowledge and experience was second to none. Everyone who met him or had the privilege of training at Malvern and Worcester Sports (Schutzhund) Club will have many fond memories of George, and are indebted to him for passing on his knowledge and skills. He always kept a close eye on club members and would go the extra mile – by offering advice and support over the phone, even during the years after the club closed down. George would like to be kept up to date on members’ performance at trials; training seminars and visits to other clubs. His enthusiasm for the sport and working dogs in general was limitless.

It has been said many times that George should have written a book on his life experiences with working dogs and the training skills that he had acquired over many years. Sadly much of this has now been lost, but we can console ourselves by looking around at trials and seeing the countless people in the sport, that have at some time passed through Malvern and Worcester Sports (Schutzhund) Club and can now be actively seen using many of the techniques and skills that George provided them with. And that’s not to mention the countless memories and the associated smiles that follow, when we fondly look back and recount the numerous anecdotes and tales that George has passed on, and continue to live on to this day.

George was a real working dog man and enthusiast, having spent many, many years working dogs in the police and helping countless others in this sport. In fact, George founded the Birmingham Police Dog Handling Unit in the 1950s and as a mark of respect and in recognition of his long and dedicated service four police dog handlers, plus dogs, and the Chief of Police, were at George’s funeral on 7th February, where they stood to attention and saluted as the hearse arrived.

One story that is fondly remembered was a situation when George was summoned to help a fellow police officer, whose dog was being fought by an assailant. George would calmly sit back and smile and say, ‘but unlike his, my dog was a hard dog and when he bit the assailant (in the belly), he wanted no more, and gave up immediately!’

Many of us will remember George shouting out across the training field (for his enthusiasm leaked out in buckets) when we’d done something wrong or stupid in our training. After the initial shock hit you and subsided, George would then single you out, apologise and smile saying ‘just ignore me…… It’s just my way!’….

There are so many of us, that have been helped by George ‘it was just his way’. George is a great loss to our sport and to his friends, but most importantly to his family. He cannot be replaced; his boots are far too big for us to fill. Our thoughts go out to Edie, Laura, Adie and his family – he will be sadly missed, but will be remembered by us all as a true working dog man – and friend.

Thanks for everything George you have helped us to become in this sport. Thanks for your friendship and help in training us for this fulfilling sport that is so much more than just a hobby……As you would say, George, ‘Schutzhund is a hard old game’. RIP

Grahame Green and the late John Westwood
On Behalf of Malvern & Worcester
Sports (Schutzhund) Club