Schutzhund is a German word meaning “protection dog.” It
refers to a sport that focuses on developing and evaluating those traits in dogs
that make them more useful and happier companions to their owners.
Schutzhund work concentrates on three parts. Many familiar with the obedience
work of the American Kennel Club’s affiliates will recognize the first two
parts, tracking and obedience. The Schutzhund standards for the third part,
protection work, are similar to those for dogs in police work.
While dogs of other breeds are also admitted to Schutzhund trials, this breed
evaluation test was developed specifically for the German Shepherd Dog.
Schutzhund is intended to demonstrate the dog’s intelligence and utility. As a
working trial, Schutzhund measures the dog’s mental stability, endurance,
structural efficiencies, ability to scent, willingness to work, courage and
trainability.
This working dog sport offers an opportunity for dog owners to train their dog
and compete with each other for recognition of both the handler’s ability to
train and the dog’s ability to perform as required. It is a sport enjoyed by
persons of varied professions, who join together in a camaraderie born of their
common interest in working with their dogs. Persons of all ages and conditions
of life --- even those with significant disabilities --- enjoy Schutzhund as a
sport. Often, it is a family sport.
Schutzhund Titles
In addition to the Schutzhund titles, the GSDCA-WDA offers three additional
training degrees. Two of these, the FH1 and FH2, are advanced tracking degrees
that require the dog to follow tracks over changing terrain, discriminate
between cross-tracks and is at least 3 hours old.
The third is the BH. The BH is a degree for traffic-safe companion dogs that
tests the dogs temperament in and around people. It includes basic formal
obedience - heeling on and off leash, sits, downs and recalls - as well as
practical tests of the dog’s character in everyday situations. These include
reaction to normal situations involving crowds of people, strange noises,
joggers, cars and other dogs. Before being allowed to enter for a Schutzhund I
title, the dog must first have successfully completed the BH.
There are three levels of the Schutzhund test for which titles can be earned.
For Schutzhund I the dog must be at least 18 months old and pass an initial
temperament test by the judge. The 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 retrieve on the flat and over a hurdle. In tracking, it
must be able to follow a track laid by its handler at least 20 minutes earlier.
There are also protection tests.
For Schutzhund II the dog must be at least 19 months old and must already have
earned its Schutzhund I degree. It must again pass all of the obedience and
protection tests required for the Schutzhund I degree, but those tests, for
Schutzhund II, are made more difficult and require greater endurance, agility,
and above all, control. There is an additional retrieve required over the six
foot slanted wall. In tracking, the Schutzhund II candidate must be able to
follow a track laid by a stranger at least 30 minutes earlier.
For Schutzhund III the master’s degree, the dog must be at least 20 months old
and must have earned both the Schutzhund I and the Schutzhund II titles. Again,
the tests now are made far more difficult. All exercises in obedience and
protection are demonstrated off leash. There is the additional of a walking and
running stand. In tracking, the dog must follow a track that was laid by a
stranger at least 60 minutes earlier. The track has four turns, compared with
two turns for Schutzhund I and II, and there are three objects, rather than two,
that must be found by the dog. The picture of obedience, strength, eagerness and
confidence presented by an excellent Schutzhund III team is a beautifully
illustration of the partnership of human and dog.
The Three Parts of a Schutzhund Trial
The tracking phase includes a temperament test by the overseeing judge to assure
the dog’s mental soundness. When approached closely on a loose leash, the dog
should not act shyly or aggressively. The track is laid earlier by a person
walking normally on a natural surface such as dirt or grass. The track includes
a number of turns and a number of small, man-made objects left by this person on
the track itself. At the end of a 33 foot leash, the handler follows the dog,
which is expected to scent the track and indicate the location of the objects,
usually by lying down with it between its front paws. The tracking phase is
intended to test the dog’s trainability and ability to scent, as well as, its
mental and physical endurance.The obedience phase includes a series of heeling
exercises, some of which are closely in and around a group of people. During the
heeling, there is a gun shot test to assure that the dog does not openly react
to such sharp noises. There is also a series of field exercises in which the dog
is commanded to sit, lie down and stand while the handler continues to move.
From these various positions, the dog is recalled to the handler. With dumbbells
of various weights, the dog is required to retrieve on a flat surface, over a
one-meter hurdle and over a six-foot slanted wall. The dog is also asked to run
in a straight direction from its handler on command and lie down on a second
command. Finally, each dog is expected to stay in a lying down position away
from its handler, despite distractions, at the other end of the obedience field,
while another dog completes the above exercises.
All of the obedience exercises are tests of the dog’s temperament, structural
efficiencies and very importantly, its willingness to serve man or woman. The
protection phase tests the dog’s courage, physical strength and agility. The
handler’s control for the dog is absolutely essential. The exercises include 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.The final test of courage occurs when the decoy is asked to come out
of a hiding place by the judge from the opposite end of the trial field. The dog
is sent after the decoy when he refuses to listen to the handler’s command to
stop. The decoy then runs directly at the dog threatening the dog with a stick.
All grips 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.
What is the Judge looking for in the Dog?
At all three stages --- Schutzhund I, II and III --- each of the three phases:
obedience, tracking and protection, is worth 100 points, for a total of 300
points. If a dog does not receive a minimum of 70% of the points in tracking,
70% of the points in obedience and 70% of the points in protection --- or if the
dog fails the pretrial temperament test ---- it is not awarded a degree that day
and must repeat the entire test, passing all phases of the test at a later
trial. In every event, the Judge is looking for an eager, concentrating and
accurate working dog. High ratings and scores are given to the animal that
displays a strong willingness and ability to work for it human handler.
The Schutzhund Trained Dog in the Home
Since Schutzhund is the demonstration of the German Shepherd dog’s most
desirable characteristics, dogs well trained in Schutzhund are usually excellent
companions in the home. The German Shepherd Dog --- like any other working dog
that possesses mental stability --- has trust and confidence in itself, allowing
it to be at peace with its surroundings.
In addition to sound structural efficiencies for long, arduous work, the
standard for the German Shepherd Dog calls for mental stability and a
willingness to work. The dog should be approachable, quietly standing its
ground, showing confidence and a willingness to meet overtures without itself
necessarily making them. It should be generally calm, but eager and alert when
the situation warrants. It should be fearless, but also good with children.
The German Shepherd Dog should not be timid or react nervously to unusual sounds
or sights. A dog that is overly aggressive because of its overall fears of
people and events can be extremely dangerous. The Schutzhund sport is designed
to identify and eliminate such dogs from breeding stock. Because Schutzhund
training gives the owner a great deal of control over the dog the owner is able
to let the dog have more fun. Not only is Schutzhund training itself enjoyable
for the dog, but the Schutzhund trained dog knows how to please its owners,
creating a stronger bond between dog and owners.
The Schutzhund Trained Dog for Police Work.
A dog that performs well in Schutzhund work is obviously a very good candidate
for police work. Police dogs, like other service dogs, must have temperaments
with a good foundation of intelligence and utility. A minimal amount of
additional training makes many well-trained Schutzhund dogs ready for active
police duty. Such fearless police dogs can also work around children and in
crowds without worry on the part of their handlers.
Choosing a Puppy for Schutzhund.
In every breed, the pedigree is the key to knowing the potential of the puppy.
Schutzhund revolves around working lines --- generations of dogs that have
proven themselves and produced similar characteristics in their offspring. These
characteristics include not only the physical structure of the dog, which is
very important, but also its temperament.
Selecting the bloodlines from which you want your puppy may require advice.
Information from breed surveys can help. Of course, it makes sense to discuss
your objectives with reputable and experienced Schutzhund handlers or
enthusiasts.
Once you have determined that the bloodlines of the potential dam and sire are
of high quality, you should observe the parents, especially the Mother, if that
is at all possible. The dam will be the main influence on the young pup for the
first six weeks of its life. If the dam is nervous or unsure, chances are this
uncertainty will be transferred to the offspring.
If you are able to see the litter, watch the puppies together and also
separately, to try to determine which is the best puppy. Obvious structural
defects or health problems should be watched for.
It is important that the puppy have intense instinct to stalk the prey --- a
ball, a toy, etc. --- and also be the leader in the sense of bullying the other
puppies. The puppy should not show fear when away from its littermates. It
should not need to stay with the mother. The puppy should be adventurous and
active, playing with objects shown to it by someone in the enclosure, but it
should be independent enough to take that object and go off on its own as well.
It is independence and confidence, combined with the positive contact with the
pack leader (the dam, at this time) that will develop into the traits of
trainability that you need.
Raising a Puppy for Schutzhund Work.
Puppyhood is the most critical period for the development of the characteristics
you want to encourage. Your local Schutzhund club can advise you about nurturing
and socializing your growing puppy.
A puppy learns from it experiences, so you want to provide only positive ones.
It should be provided with opportunity to explore and investigate new situations
and new people, but always in a non-threatening way. Remember that your goal is
to build confidence in the young animal. Your aim is NOT to dominate or oppress
the young pup.
Exposure to different environments is crucial to the general education of the
dog and also to assure it that the world is a safe pace. If something appears to
make the dog unsure, give it the opportunity to investigate it slowly, but do
not force the issue.
It is imperative to avoid situations where your dog would be dominated by
another older or stronger dog, or by another puppy. You also want to avoid
having to discipline or correct your puppy and thus dampen its spirit or damage
its self-confidence. You can do this by never leaving the pup in a situation
where it can cause damage to your valuables or find itself in a dangerous
predicament.
The final area of development is that of drive encouragement. The natural
behaviors that you want to encourage are playing with the ball, tug of war, hide
and seek, pulling toys on a string, pursuing you rapidly when you run away, and
finally defending itself, its family and its home. The latter really only shows
itself between the ages of nine and eighteen months as the pup begins to mature
by barking at strangers or intruders.
It is better to leave for later formal obedience training with a young dog. The
character of the puppy is not sufficiently strong to withstand the corrections
involved in obedience training. Acceptable manners at home and in the car and
“play“ training, like learning to sit for a food reward, with NO corrections
involved, is advisable. Real obedience work should begin only after the dog is
well on its way in the protection training.
Schutzhund Around the World
The first Schutzhund trial was held in Germany in 1901 to emphasize the correct
working temperament and ability in the German Shepherd breed. Originally, these
dogs were herding dogs, but the industrialization of Germany encouraged breeders
to promote the use of their dogs as police and military dogs. The Verein fur
Deutsche Schaferhunde (SV), the parent club, became concerned that this would
lead to careless breeding and undesirable traits such as mental instability, so
it developed the Schutzhund test.
Since then, many other countries and working dog organizations have also adopted
Schutzhund as a sport and a test of working performance in dogs. International
rules have been established, and they are administered by the Verein fur
Deutsche Hundesport (VDH).
In 1970 the first Schutzhund trial in the U.S. was held in California. Today,
the GSDCA-WDA sponsors trial in all parts of the country and chooses a team in
open competition to represent the GSDCA at the WUSV World Championship. More
than 25 countries send teams of competitors to the World Championship for
Schutzhund dogs from the World Union of German Shepherd clubs.
The Value to the Breed
Any registered German Shepherd that has earned a Schutzhund degree has
demonstrated sufficient ability as a working dog to qualify for breed
evaluation. The breed evaluation is a very detailed examination of the dog’s
structure, temperament and pedigree and requires both a certification of good
hip joints and sufficient performance on an endurance test (the AD). Dogs that
do well in the breed evaluation receive a Koerklasse I or Koerklasse II. This is
a recommendation and evaluation by a trained and recognized expert Judge as the
worthiness of the dog for breeding. Dogs rated Koerklasse II are “suitable for
breeding” and dogs rated Koerklasse I are “recommended for breeding”. By thus
screening dogs in order to select the suitable specimens for breeding,
Schutzhund helps to maintain the quality of the breed at a very high level.
Thus, there is a very high level of assurance that puppies born to Schutzhund
dams and sired by Schutzhund dogs are more likely to be of reliable temperament,
high intelligence, steady nerves, extreme endurance, great strength, and sound
structures.
Do Dogs Enjoy Schutzhund Training?
If trained in the right manner, dogs enjoy working, as anyone who attends a
Schutzhund competition can see. The joy of the dogs in working with their
handlers is evident.
For thousands of years, dogs have adapted to serve humans in a mutually
beneficial relationship. While dogs could move quickly, hunt prey, and protect
flocks and their owner, the humans could provide food, shelter from the most
severe elements, and protection from larger predators, besides tending to the
dog’s injuries. A dog’s reason for being is to serve humans.
Schutzhund training helps develop the dog’s natural instincts to a high level.
Self-confident dogs, doing work for which they are well trained, are happy dogs.
Wagging tails, sounds of excitement, and strong pulling on a leash all show an
observer at a Schutzhund trial how much fulfillment dogs find in this work.
