Schutzhund
For a little history on what Schutzhund is… Schutzhund is a sport that
focuses on developing & evaluating those traits in dogs that make them
more useful & happier companions to their owners.
Schutzhund work concentrates on three parts. Many are familiar with the
obedience work of the American Kennel Club's
affiliates and 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.
More on the three phases of Schutzhund:
Tracking:
At
the end of a 33 foot leash, the handler follows the dog, which is
expected to scent the track. During the track the dog must indicate the
location of the objects, usually by lying down with it
between its front paws. There are three levels to this phase with increasing
difficulty as the dog advances. The physical endurance
in the tracking phase is intended to test the dog's trainability and ability
to scent, as well as its mental and physical endurance.
Obedience:
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 its owner.
Protection:
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 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 who is threatening the dog with
a stick and charging at the handler. 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 possesses the proper temperament for
breeding.
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