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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
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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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.
More info
and FAQ's
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