Schutzhund
Schutzhund means Protection, Tracking and Obedience, so a Schutzhund trained canine is a complete working dog. These dogs must put in 500-1000 dog hours just to get their Schutzhund I title, so they have to be of sound mind and body. The top Shepherds are universally in demand, not just in the U.S.A. and Germany, but throughout the world.
What does protection really mean?
Protection training is grossly misunderstood by the general public. A misconception regarding protection training is associating it with guard dog or attack training. Nothing could be further from the truth!
The most important point to understand when watching a protection routine, is the relationship between dog and handler. The dog must never bite the trial helper unless either dog or the handler is attacked. Then it must attack fully and without hesitation. Here the real difference between Schutzhund and guard dog - attack training becomes apparent. The dog must stop biting on the command of the handler and guard the trial helper without further aggression. The Schutzhund dog must always be under the absolute control of the handler.
The Schutzhund dog must be friendly and approachable. It does not regard a person as an enemy until the person displays signs of hostility or aggression towards him or his handler. The Schutzhund dog is trained with love, he and his master work together as a team. The Schutzhund dog is not a nuisance or danger to society. They should never be put in the same category as an attack dog.
A final misconception involves the feeling that a dog will protect his owner "when the chips are down". Most family dogs have been taught not to show any aggression. In addition many do not have the courage to bite when threatened. An untrained dog is an unpredictable dog.
The Schutzhund dog who has had formal protection training is predictable, therefore an asset to his owner and to the community. A well trained, reliable dog can serve for many years as a family protector and companion. To many competitors this is a family sport. Children are often seen playing with their dogs before and after the dog leaves the protection field. This seems impossible to the uneducated, but this is a product of good breeding and proper training.
Schutzhund dogs are by far the most predictable, trustworthy, and safe animals to be around.
Obedience
Those who are familiar with A.K.C. obedience will feel more comfortable in this area, as many of the exercises are similar. There is heeling, both on and off lead. The sit, down and stay are also done when the dog is moving. Schutzhund applies it's own style to the work. The handler and dog work on a soccer size trial field. Some exercises require the dog to heal under the noise of a firing gun. In addition to the normal dumbell retrieval, the dog must retrieve over several obstacles with varying degrees of difficulty. Down stays and a long send away conclude the test.
When the Schutzhund dog is working he should exhibit willingness and enjoyment. The dog should perform the exercises quickly, with spirit and precision. Each exercise should be taught to the dog to create the desire to work in the dog. Dogs that are slow or dull during the work are penalized heavily by the judge.
Obedience training also carries a moral burden for the trainer of a dog who is also receiving protection training. It is necessary that the dog be reliable and under control in all situations. To be a safe companion, the dog must master walking at his master's side, lying down and staying on comand in any location at any time.
What is meant by Tracking?
Tracking requires the dog to meticulously follow a person's footsteps over mixed terrain, change direction and show absolute accuracy and commitment to finding the track. It must also find dropped articles with human scent and indicate their location to the handler. Often this is done under less than ideal circumstances with difficult ground cover, bad weather conditions and an aged track. Many find tracking to be the most satisfying experience in training, when only the handler and dog are working together.
Titles of Excellence
- V Rating
- Rating given to Shepherds only when they have accomplished a display of high German standards. A judge will choose only those who exemplify "Vor" or "Excellent."
- VA Rating
- Rating awarded only to Shepherds who make the best placements in a regional show or the World Sieger Show in Germany. "VA" means "Excellent Select", thus VA1 is the title given to the Champion or Sieger and Siegerin.
- KKL1 a, Normal
- Kor Klass 1, which is the best quality stock according to the Breed Standards
- "a" for hip certification
- Normal, (pronounced nor male) means the best rating for hips, or equivalent to our OFA Excellent
- Fast Normal, (pronounced faast) is Equivalent to OFA Good
- "a" for hip certification