What is Schutzhund?
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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 f�r
Deutsche Sch�ferhunde (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 f�r
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 K�rklasse I or K�rklasse 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 K�rklasse II are "suitable for breeding" and dogs rated K�rklasse 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.
Schutzhund Clubs are organized by regions through the U.S.,
and there are numerous clubs in most areas of nearly all states. Regional Directors are
also available for information and guidance in starting a new one.
As of January 1995, there were more than 170 full member clubs and 30 affiliated clubs in
the "United Schutzhund Clubs of America." More than 5,500 individuals were
members of those clubs.
The United Schutzhund Clubs of America (USA) is a member of the World
Union of German Shepherd Dog Clubs, and sends a team to the World Championship each year.
In addition, the USA sanctions regional championships and two major
national championships. It also sanctions conformation shows and championships for the
German Shepherd Dog.
USA is responsible for scheduling visits from foreign judges and
administers its own judges program.
USA also maintains a "Breed Registry" for German Shepherd
Dogs consisting of pedigrees for five generations.
USA adheres to the VDH rules for Schutzhund.
United Schutzhund Clubs of America
St. Louis, Mo 63125
ph(314)638-9686
Verein f�r Deutsche Sch�ferhunde (SV)
Hauptgesch�ftsstelle
Steinerne Furt 71/71A
D-86167 Augsburg
Germany
tel (0821) 740020