Schutzhund Basics and Beyond

To start, you'll need a dog that's at least 18 months old, with a strong prey drive and a willingness to please. Schutzhund is not a breed-specific sport, but rather a training method that can be applied to a variety of breeds.

The sport is divided into three main components: tracking, obedience, and protection. Each component requires a unique set of skills and training.

Take a look at this: Schutzhund Training

Schutzhund is a German word meaning "protection dog", referring to a sport that focuses on developing and evaluating traits in dogs that make them more useful as breeding dogs and happier companions to their owners.

The original purpose of Schutzhund was to develop a dog sport that could measure a dog's working ability, which could be used in breeding programs to develop better working dogs with good temperaments.

Schutzhund work concentrates on three parts: tracking, obedience, and protection work. Many familiar with obedience work will recognize the first two parts, but the standards for the third part are similar to police work or personal protection work.

This breed evaluation test was developed specifically for the German Shepherd Dog. Schutzhund is intended to demonstrate a dog's intelligence and utility, measuring its mental stability, endurance, structural efficiencies, ability to scent, willingness to work, courage, and trainability.

Schutzhund training involves three phases: tracking, obedience, and protection. When put together, the effort involved in obtaining a Schutzhund title creates an obedient, stable, useful, and well-rounded companion.

Schutzhund is a team sport, requiring a dog and handler to work together in harmony. When done well, it's beautiful to watch, and the bond between dog and handler is clear for all to see.

A Schutzhund-trained dog is a well-trained dog, safe, happy, and obedient with great self-confidence, mental stability, and a willingness to please the handler.

In a Schutzhund trial, three main components are tested: tracking, obedience, and protection.

Tracking involves following a scent trail laid by a person, typically the handler's partner. The dog must identify the scent and follow it to the end.

Obedience tests a dog's ability to respond to commands in a distracting environment. The dog must perform tasks such as heeling, figure-eights, and stays.

Protection, also known as protection work, assesses a dog's ability to defend its handler. This includes guarding and biting a sleeve or pad.

Each component has its own set of rules and guidelines to ensure the dog's safety and the handler's control.

Schutzhund involves three phases: Tracking, Obedience, and Protection. Each phase has specific tasks or exercises that the dog and handler must perform, and each phase is graded on a point system with a maximum score of 100 points.

The tracking phase tests a dog's trainability, ability to scent, mental focus, and physical endurance. The track includes several turns and man-made articles left on the track by the tracklayer. The dog must scent out and follow the track from start to finish on its own.

In the tracking phase, the handler follows behind the dog at the end of a 10-meter line, and help from the handler after the initial command to track is faulty and results in a point deduction. The dog must indicate the articles dropped by the tracklayer, usually by lying down with the article between its front paws.

The obedience phase is similar to AKC obedience trials, and includes a variety of heeling and field exercises. The dog must respond to voice command alone, without hand signals. Schutzhund obedience also includes a gunshot test to evaluate the dog's nerves and sound sensitivity.

Dogs that demonstrate gun-shyness are dismissed from the trial. Heeling is done off leash, both in the open field and weaving through a group of people. The dog must perform "out of motion" exercises, in which the heeling dog is commanded to sit, down, and stand while the handler continues to move.

The protection phase tests a dog's courage, physical strength, and agility. The handler's control of the dog is absolutely essential. The exercises include a search of hiding places, finding a hidden person, and guarding that decoy while the handler approaches.

The Protection Phase is a crucial part of Schutzhund training, testing a dog's courage, physical strength, and agility. The handler's control of the dog is absolutely essential, as the dog must be able to guard and protect the decoy while the handler approaches.

The Protection Phase involves a series of exercises, including a search of hiding places, finding a hidden person, and guarding that person while the handler approaches. The dog must pursue the decoy when an escape is attempted and hold the grip firmly.

The final test of courage occurs when the decoy is asked to come out of a hiding place by the dog's handler from the opposite end of the trial field. The dog is sent after the decoy when he attempts to run away, and just when the dog is about to catch the decoy, the judge signals the decoy to turn about and run directly at the dog, threatening the dog with a stick.

All bites during the protection phase are expected to be firmly placed on the padded sleeve and stopped on command and/or when the decoy discontinues the fight. The protection tests are intended to assure that the dog is neither a coward nor a criminal menace.

The dog must also show the courage to engage the helper and the temperament to obey the handler while in this high state of drive. A dog that shows fear, lack of control, or inappropriate aggression is dismissed.

In the Protection Phase, the dog's handler needs to have absolute control over the dog.

The exercises include a search of hiding places, finding a hidden person, and guarding that person while the handler approaches.

The dog is expected to pursue the decoy when an escape is attempted and to hold the grip firmly.

The decoy is searched and transported to the judge with the handler and dog walking behind and later at the decoy's right side.

The decoy is asked to come out of a hiding place by the dog's handler from the opposite end of the trial field, and the dog is sent after the decoy when he attempts to run away.

The judge signals the decoy to turn about and run directly at the dog, threatening the dog with a stick, just when the dog is about to catch the decoy.

All bites during the protection phase are expected to be firmly placed on the padded sleeve and stopped on command and/or when the decoy discontinues the fight.

The Protection Phase is a crucial part of Schutzhund training, testing a dog's courage, physical strength, and agility. The handler's control of the dog is absolutely essential during this phase.

The Protection Phase involves a search of hiding places, finding a hidden person (acting as a human decoy), and guarding that decoy while the handler approaches. The dog is expected to pursue the decoy when an escape is attempted and to hold the grip firmly.

The decoy is searched and transported to the judge with the handler and dog walking behind and later at the decoy's right side. When the decoy attempts to attack the handler, the dog is expected to stop the attack with a firm grip and no hesitation. This requires the dog to have a strong protective instinct.

A final test of courage occurs when the decoy is asked to come out of a hiding place by the dog's handler from the opposite end of the trial field. The dog is sent after the decoy when it attempts to run away. Just when the dog is about to catch the decoy, the judge signals the decoy to turn about and run directly at the dog, threatening the dog with a stick.

All bites during the Protection Phase are expected to be firmly placed on the padded sleeve and stopped on command and/or when the decoy discontinues the fight. This is a critical aspect of the Protection Phase, as it tests the dog's ability to control its actions and respond to commands.

Dogs that show fear, lack of control, or inappropriate aggression during the Protection Phase are dismissed from the trial. This ensures that only dogs with the desired traits are allowed to proceed and potentially earn a Schutzhund title.

The first Schutzhund trial was held in Germany in 1901, emphasizing the correct working temperament and ability of the German Shepherd breed. This trial was a response to the breed's shift from herding to police and military work.

Germany's Verein fur Deutsche Schaferhunde (SV) developed the Schutzhund test to prevent careless breeding and undesirable traits like mental instability. This test has since become a benchmark for working performance in dogs.

In 1970, the first Schutzhund trial was held in California, marking the beginning of the sport in the US. This event paved the way for the growth of Schutzhund in America.

The United Schutzhund Clubs of America sanctioned nearly 300 trials in 1987, with a total entry of about 1,800 dogs/handler teams. This demonstrates the popularity of Schutzhund in the US.

More than 17 countries sent teams of competitors to the World Championship for Schutzhund dogs from the World Union of German Shepherd Clubs. This international participation highlights the global reach of Schutzhund as a sport and test of working performance.

To earn a Schutzhund title, dogs must pass a series of tests that assess their obedience, tracking, and protection skills.

The first level, Schutzhund I, requires dogs to be at least 14 months old and pass an initial temperament test, demonstrating obedience skills such as heeling, walking sit, and stay.

In Schutzhund I, dogs must also retrieve on the flat and over a hurdle, and in tracking, they must follow a track laid by their handler at least 20 minutes earlier.

To progress to Schutzhund II, dogs must be at least 16 months old and have already earned their Schutzhund I degree, with more difficult tests requiring greater endurance, agility, and control.

Schutzhund III, the master's degree, requires dogs to be at least 18 months old and have earned both Schutzhund I and II titles, with even more challenging tests that demonstrate their obedience and protection skills off-leash.

Schutzhund clubs play a crucial role in training dogs, providing a hands-on environment where handlers and their dogs can practice techniques with experienced handlers and decoys.

A good Schutzhund club is essential for training, as it provides the necessary resources and expertise to help dogs and handlers progress through the levels.

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Any registered German Shepherd that has earned a Schutzhund degree has demonstrated sufficient ability as a working dog to qualify for breed evaluation.

Dogs that do well in the breed evaluation receive a Koerklasse I or Koerklasse II, which is a recommendation and evaluation by a trained and recognized expert judge as to the worthiness of the dog for breeding.

Dogs rated Koerklass II are "suitable for breeding" and dogs rated Koerklass I are "recommended for breeding."

Having a Schutzhund-trained dog at home can be a wonderful experience. The German Shepherd Dog, bred for its desirable characteristics, makes an excellent companion due to its mental stability and trust in itself.

A well-trained Schutzhund dog is approachable, standing its ground quietly, and showing confidence without aggression. It's fearless but also good with children, making it a great family pet.

The dog should not be timid or react nervously to unusual sounds or sights, as this can be extremely dangerous. Schutzhund training is designed to eliminate such dogs from breeding stock.

The sport is enjoyable for the dog, and the training gives the owner a great deal of control over the dog. This allows the owner to let the dog have more fun and creates a stronger bond between dog and owner.

Schutzhund clubs are a reliable source for training information and provide a hands-on learning environment. Most training is done in clubs among other people and dogs, with experienced handlers and decoys in bite suits.

Puppy training is a critical period for developing the characteristics you want to encourage in your Schutzhund dog.

The pedigree is the key to knowing the potential of the puppy, and selecting bloodlines from high-quality working lines is essential.

Observe the parents, especially the mother, to see if they have a nervous or unsure temperament, as this can be transferred to the offspring.

A puppy that is nervous or unsure is less likely to develop into a confident and trainable dog.

The dam will be the main influence on the young pup for the first six weeks of its life, so choosing a calm and confident mother is crucial.

You should observe the puppies together and separately to determine which one is the best fit for you.

Look for a puppy that has an intense instinct to stalk prey, is the leader in the sense of bullying the other puppies, and is adventurous and active.

The puppy should not show fear when away from its littermates and should be independent enough to take an object and go off on its own.

Puppyhood is the most critical period for the development of the characteristics you want to encourage, so it's essential to provide only positive experiences.

Exposure to different environments is crucial to the general education of the dog and to assure it that the world is a safe place.

You should avoid situations where your dog would be dominated by another, older or stronger dog, or by another puppy.

Discipline or correction can dampen a puppy's spirit and damage its self-confidence, so it's best to avoid it.

It's better to leave formal obedience training with a younger dog until it has developed its character and drive.

Dogs enjoy working when trained in the right manner. At a Schutzhund competition, the joy of dogs in working with their handlers is evident.

Dogs that are self-confident and well-trained find fulfillment in their work. They show it through wagging tails, sounds of excitement, and strong pulling on a leash.

Schutzhund training develops a dog's natural instincts to a high level. This type of training can bring out the best in a dog.

To earn a Schutzhund title, a dog must pass a series of tests that assess its obedience, tracking, and protection skills.

The Schutzhund titles are divided into three levels: Schutzhund I, Schutzhund II, and Schutzhund III. To begin with Schutzhund I, a dog must be at least 14 months old and pass an initial temperament test.

For Schutzhund I, a dog must heel on the leash and off, demonstrate the walking sit, the walking down, and the stay tests, as well as the send-out. It must also retrieve on the flat and over a hurdle.

The tracking test in Schutzhund I requires the dog to follow a track laid by its handler at least 20 minutes earlier. Protection tests are also a part of Schutzhund I.

To progress to Schutzhund II, a dog must be at least 16 months old and have already earned its Schutzhund I degree. The obedience and protection tests for Schutzhund II are more difficult than those for Schutzhund I.

Schutzhund II requires an additional retrieve over a six-foot slanted wall. The tracking test is also more challenging, with the dog needing to follow a track laid by a stranger at least 30 minutes earlier.

For Schutzhund III, the master's degree, a dog must be at least 18 months old and have earned both the Schutzhund I and the Schutzhund II titles. The tests for Schutzhund III are made far more difficult.

All exercises in obedience and protection are demonstrated off-leash for Schutzhund III. The tracking test requires the dog to follow a track laid by a stranger at least 50 minutes earlier, with four turns and three objects to find.

Col. Konrad Most's Dog Training: A Manual, published in 1910, is a defining work on Schutzhund training in its early years. Most's training methods were harsh and possibly abusive by modern standards.

The training methods outlined in Most's book fell out of use over time, and few trainers still follow his program.

Helmut Raiser's 1981 book Der Schutzhund made significant changes to Schutzhund protection training.

Dr. Dietmar Schellenberg's 1981 book Top Working Dogs, A Schutzhund Training Manual, provides a comprehensive guide to Schutzhund training and theory.

In the US, Susan Barwig and Stewart Hilliard's 1991 book Schutzhund Theory & Training Methods marked a new era in Schutzhund training.

Other influential books on Schutzhund training include Training the Competitive Working Dog by Tom Rose and Gary Patterson, published in 1985, and Schutzhund Obedience: Training in Drive with Gottfried Dildei, by Sheila Booth, published in 1992.