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
even more useful and happier companions to their owners.
Schutzhund work concentrates on three parts. Many familiar
with 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.
The Tracking phase includes a temperment 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 the person on the track itself. At the end of a
30-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 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 dumbells 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 temperment, structural efficiences, 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 of 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 dog's handler from the
opposite end of the trial field. The dog is sent after the decoy
when he attempts to run away. Just when the dog is about to
catch the decoy, the judge signals the decoy to turn 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 first Schutzhund trial
was held in Germany in 1901 to emphasize the correct working
temperment 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 für Deutsche Schäferhunde
(SV), the parent club, became concerned that his would lead to
careless breeding and undesireable 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 für
Deutsche Hundesport (VDH).
In 1970 the first Schutzhund trial in the U.S. was held in
California. In 1987, the United Schutzhund Clubs of America
alone sanctioned nearly 300 trials with a total entry of about
1800 dog/handler teams. More than 17 countries sent teams of
competitors to the World Championship for Schutzhund dogs for
the World Union of German Shepherd Clubs.
There are three levels of the
Schutzhund test. SchH1, SchH2, SchH3
For Schutzhund I the dog must be at least 18 months old and
pass an initial temperment 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
already have earned its Schutshund 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 addition of a walking and
running stand. In tracking, the dog must follow a track that was
laid by a stranger at least 50 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
beautiful illustration of the partnership of human and dog.
In addition to the Schutzhund temperment tests, the United
Schutzhund Clubs of America offers three training degrees: the
FH, an advanced tracking degree; the B, a basic dog obedience
degree for traffic-safe companion dogs; and the WH, or basic
protection degree which includes basic obedience.
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, temperment, 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 Körklasse I or Körklasse II.
This is a recommendation and evaluation by a trained and
recognized expert judge as to the worthiness of the dog for
breeding. Dog rated Körklasse II are "suitable for breeding" and
dogs rated Körklasse 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 of Schutzhund dams and sired by
Schutzhund dogs are more likely to be of reliable temperment,
high intelligence, steady nerves, extreme endurance, great
strength, and sound structure.
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 track and obedience and 80% of the points in protection - or
if the dog fails the pretrial temperment 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, accurate
working dog. High ratings and scores are given to the animal
that displays a strong willingness and ability to work for its
human handler.
Since Schutzhund is the
demonstration of the German Shepherd'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,
ardous work, the standard fot 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 itself enjoyable for the dog, but the
Schutzhund-trained dog knows how to please its owners, creating
a stronger bond between dog and owners.
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
temperments 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.
In every breed, the pedigree
is the key to knowing the potential of the puppy. Schutzhund
revolves 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
temperment.
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 of are 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 fom its litter mates. It should not need to
stay with the mother. The puppy should be adventurousd 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 traits of trainability that you need.
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 its 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. Rember that your goal is to
build confidence in the young animal. Your aim is not to
dominate or opress 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 place. 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 rapuidly when you run away, and
finally defending itself, its family, and its home. The latter
only really 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.
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. |