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What is Schutzhund?
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 more useful and 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: 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 actively involved in the sport of Schutzhund,
and often follow similar criteria for breeding purposes, this 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. It is a sport enjoyed by
people of varied professions, who join together in a camaraderie born of their
common interest in working with their dogs. People of all ages - even those with significant disabilities
- enjoy Schutzhund as a sport.
And often, it is a family sport.
Schutzhund Trial
History
The
first Schutzhund trial was held in Germany in 1901 to emphasize the correct
working temperament 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 fur
Deutsche Schaferhunde (SV) became concerned that this would
lead to careless breeding and undesirable 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 fur Deutsche Hundesport (VDH).
Three
Parts of the Schutzhund Trial:
Part 1: Tracking
The tracking phase includes a temperament
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. It includes a number of turns and
a number of small, man-made objects left by this person on the track itself. At
the end of a 33-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
trainability and ability to scent, as well as its mental and physical endurance.
Part 2: 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.
Part 3: 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.
The Schutzhund Titles
The BH, or companion dog title, is a pre-requirement for Schutzhund titles. All
breeds and sizes are eligible with the minimum age requirements of 15 months.
There are three levels of the Schutzhund test:
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Schutzhund 1
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Schutzhund 2
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Schutzhund 3
In addition to the Schutzhund temperament tests,
the United Schutzhund Clubs of America offer three training degrees: the FH 1
and FH 2, advanced tracking degrees; WH, or basic protection degree, which
includes basic obedience; and the AD, which is a 12.5-mile endurance test and
includes obedience. USA also offers six separate obedience and tracking titles
that reflect the routines for SchH 1, 2 & 3.
 SchH1
For SchH1 the dog must be at least 18 months old and pass an initial temperament
test by the judge. The dog must heel off leash, demonstrate the walking sit, the
walking down, and the long down under distraction, as well as the send-out. It
must retrieve on the flat and over a hurdle, and over the scaling wall. In
tracking, it must be able to follow a track laid by its handler at least 20
minutes earlier. There are also protection tests.
SchH2
For SchH2 the dog must be at least 19 months old and must already have earned
its SchH1 degree. It must again pass all of the obedience and protection tests
required for the SchH1 degree, but those tests are made more
difficult for the SchH2 and require greater endurance, agility and, above all, control. There
is an additional walking stand exercise required. In tracking, the SchH2
candidate must be able to follow a track laid by a stranger at least 30 minutes
earlier.
SchH3
For SchH3, the master's degree, the dog must be at least 20 months old and must
have earned both the SchH1 and the SchH2 titles. Again, the tests now are made
far more difficult. All exercises in obedience and protection are demonstrated
off leash. The walking stand is replaced by the running stand. In tracking, the
dog must follow a track that was laid by a stranger at least 60 minutes earlier.
The track has four turns, compared with two turns for SchH1 and 2, 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 SchH3
team is a beautiful illustration of the partnership of human and dog. |
