Schutzhund Basics

By Martin Wahl

Retrieve over the 1 meter hurdle

Schutzhund training concentrates on three parts. Many familiar with the obedience work of the AKC/CKC will recognize the first two parts, tracking and obedience. The Schutzhund standard for the third part, protection work, evolved out of police K-9 training and is still very similar to it. As a working dog trial, Schutzhund tests the dog’s mental stability, endurance, structural efficiencies, ability to scent, willingness to work, courage, and trainability, and therefore is an outstanding temperament testing and selection criteria for breeding purposes. As a sport, Schutzhund offers dog owners an opportunity to train their dogs and compete with each other for recognition of both the handler’s ability to train and the dogs ability to perform as required. It is enjoyed by persons of varied professions, who join together in a camaraderie born of their common interest in working with dogs. Persons of all ages and conditions of life, even those with significant disabilities, enjoy Schutzhund as a hobby. Often, entire families get involved in Schutzhund training, giving it the appearance of a picnic.

Barbara Weber with her GSD Yanus vom Fürstenberg SchH1 practiced for 2 years with the active help of the members of her local club "OG Büschergrund"

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Copyright 2001 Martin Wahl, Real GSD. RealGSD1@netscape.net. All rights reserved. Please view his site Real GSD.