New to Schutzhund?

What is Schutzhund??

Schutzhund is a German word whose literal translation means "protection dog". However, today the word is used to describe the three phases of training which comprise the dog sport known by the same name.
Although at this time Schutzhund is a sport enjoyed by handlers with dogs of many breeds, it was originally developed by the breed's creator, Capt. Max vom Stephanitz, as a means of testing a German Shepherd's courage, intelligence, endurance and trainability. The point of this test was to determine a dog's breed worthiness. In other words, to determine if a particular dog had the qualities necessary to allow it to be added to the German Shepherd gene pool.
Today, in addition to being a practical test of a dog's utility, Schutzhund is a sport that allows teams (team= handler + dog) to compete against each other at a local, national and international level.
There is a general misconception by people unfamiliar with Schutzhund that our "biting dogs", AKA Schutzhund dogs, are dangerous. In fact, quite the opposite is true. Well trained Schutzhund dogs -- of any breed -- are some of the safest dogs to encounter. There are several reasons for this. First, a Schutzhund trained dog is under the control of her handler at all times...the dog looks to her handler for direction. Also, Schutzhund training makes a dog more confident, more self-assured, making them less likely to perceive a threat where there is none.

What is the first step??

Before a handler and his dog can get into the meat and potatoes of Schutzhund, they have to pass a BH or Begleithunde. Although technically not a training title, it is a prerequisite to earning a Schutzhund I. It is, in essence, a temperament test, assuring that a dog has the necessary nerve soundness to continue its training. The dog is required to demonstrate a basic obedience routine and, more importantly, function calmly and self-assuredly in numerous distracting -- and potentially nervous -- situations. This test of the dog is not scored, the results are pass or fail.

What about the REAL titles??

In Schutzhund, dogs are scored on three different disciplines of work: tracking, obedience, and protection. Each phase has a total of 100 points which may be awarded, for a perfect total score of 300. In order to achieve the title the dog is working toward he must obtain a minimum score of 220, with at least 70 points each in tracking and obedience and 80 points in protection.
There are different levels of accomplishment in Schutzhund competition. They are Schutzhund I, Schutzhund II, and Schutzhund III, with Schutzhund I being the most basic and Schutzhund III the most difficult.
Schutzhund Tracking. The tracking phase is designed to observe and test a dog's temperament, trainability, scenting ability, endurance (both physical and mental) and its ability to work independently of its handler. Advanced tracking may indeed be the most demanding of the three disciplines. Tracks are laid with increasing difficulty as the dog's training improves. However, all tracks have certain things in common. The tracks are aged, the dogs must find and indicate a number of personal articles laid directly on the tracks and the dog must work at a distance of 10 meters from the handler and must be able to negotiate a number of turns on the track while following the track precisely. The level of difficulty increases with each level of Schutzhund.
Schutzhund Obedience. The obedience routines were developed to test a dog's intelligence, temperament, and trainability (willingness to work). The exercises are not unlike those seen in an AKC obedience ring, with on and off leash heeling, retrieves, stays and recalls. There are also a number of motion exercises that, like in the other disciplines, increase in difficulty with each level of training.
Schutzhund Protection. Designed to test the dog's temperament, courage, physical endurance and trainability (control by the handler is critical in this phase), the protection routines are generally the most exciting for spectators.

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