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The concept of schutzhund evolved around 90 years ago
in Europe when concerned dog owners set up a training and testing program
for privately owned working dogs. The dogs were able to use all their
capabilities and thus the owners were able to reap the benefits as well as
valuable clues for collecting a good breeding specimen. The dogs and
handlers enjoyed working as a team in the three categories of the
Schutzhund ("protection dog") program: Tracking, Obedience, and
Protection.
Today the exercises have changed slightly and,
depending on the Schutzhund degree, consist of the following:
Tracking:
The dog must retrace the path of a
person (400-1500+ yards with 2-4 turns) after 20-60 minutes have elapsed
and be able to find 2-3 lost articles, regardless of weather conditions.
Obedience:
The dog must follow the handler's
orders to heel both on and off leash, jump, retrieve, retrieve over a 6
foot wall, and send away. The dog must not be intimidated by any
distractions, including the sound of a gun or a group of strangers
milling about.
Protection
and Obedience under a Conflict
Situation:
The dog must, without handler assistance, respond
properly in critical situations like finding and warning its handler of
a hidden person, preventing an assault on his handler, and stopping the
villain from escaping. The dog must distinguish between a harmless
bystander and a potentially dangerous person. He must display courage
but restraint on his own when the agitator gives up.
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Garak von Heksterhorst, photo by Brenda Maybee |
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Schutzhund training is a sport open to dogs of all
working breeds, including mixed breeds if they can do the work.
Traditionally, German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, Boxers, Dobermans,
Rottweilers, Airedales, Bouviers, and Giant Schnauzers have been the most
common, with the German Shepherd dogs outnumbering them all. Dog/handler
teams from all over the world compete for degrees. Each level is
increasingly more difficult to earn (SchH1 to SchH2 then to SchH3 degree).
Available also are an Endurance certificate (AD), advanced Tracking Degree
(FH1 and FH2), and Police Dog degrees for service handlers and others.
While Europe has enjoyed the benefits from the
Schutzhund program for decades, Canada, until recently, adhered to the
pet-obedience type of training. In 1979 the German Shepherd Schutzhund
Clubs of Canada (GSSCC) was formed, bringing together individual clubs
from across Canada. Trials are now held regularly with SV judges and many
titles have been awarded.
People do not wish to share their house or community
with a potentially dangerous dog. ANY large dog is potentially dangerous.
The large dog needs to be handled by a responsible, knowledgeable person
who will give a lot of understanding, affection, love, attention, and MOST
IMPORTANT of all, TRAINING to the dog. Anyone who lacks these basics should
not even consider owning a dog, and definitely not one of the working
breeds.
For the responsible, private working dog owner,
however, the Schutzhund sport has proven to be an ideal program. Training
can be done in very small groups, training locations are readily
available, time requirements are reasonable, and benefits are obvious.
Knowing how a dog behaves in critical situations is reassuring and
provides better control over the animal, eliminating in fact, so-called
viciousness. The result is a happy, friendly but alert, controllable
family dog that becomes an asset, not a nuisance or even a danger to
society.
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