DoDocer v Triton SchH1, CD
Schutzhund
The term schutzhund means "protection dog". It was originally developed over 100 years ago as an evaluation tool to test a dog's scenting abilities, intelligence, desire to please, courage and nerves. This was then the selection process for choosing dogs suitable for breeding. Schutzhund is still used today as a breed worthiness test in Germany and in other countries where breeders are attempting to follow the SV(The Verein fur Deutsche Schaferhunde-Germany's German Shepherd Dog Club) standard in breeding dogs. Since it's inception, this breed test has evolved & developed into an international sport with many breeds and handler teams participating. Despite some of the changes that have been made in the sport over the years; we still feel schutzhund is a very good test for a working dog. We still need an evaluation tool to determine if the dogs have the aptitiude, temperament and drives for a variety of real life work.
Schutzhund is divided into 3 phases-tracking, obedience, and protection. The titles offered progressively become more difficult as the dog and handler advance from a schutzhund 1, schutzhund 2, and finally the schuthzund 3. Dogs must all pass a temperament, traffic, and obedience test-the BH- prior to competing for the level 1 schutzhund test. This test actually involves heeling on and off lead, heeling through a group, moving exercises, a recall, and a long down. Then the dog will be judged on its reaction to traffic, bikes, other dogs, etc.
Other titles that are offered are the the FH 1 and FH 2, which are advanced tracking degrees. The WH, or basic protection degree which includes basic obedience, and the AD which is an 12.5 mile endurance test and includes obedience. United Schuthzund Club of America ( a schuthzund organization) & the WDA (Working Dog Association) also offers six seperate obedience and tracking titles that reflect those routines from the SchH 1, 2, & 3 levels.
There are many misconceptions by people not involved in the sport regarding the protection portion of schutzhund. I thnk the general public has the misconception that these dogs are "attack dogs"; or that the training changes the dog so it cannot be a member of the family. This of course is NOT the case . We always tell people new to the sport, that if you had 10 GSD's in a room, you couldn't walk in and point out the "schutzhund dog". One only has to attend a schtuzhund trial to see and meet the dogs and their owners to see the total picture. It seems that so much focus is on the protection phase, forgetting that the sport is composed of 3 phases, not one. It's important to understand that the level of training required for schutzhund is very high. You're not only spending countless hours training in one phase, but three. This degree of training makes for very well trained dogs that have a very close bond to thier owners. These dogs must possess stable, confident temperaments and be under control at all times. Dogs and handlers are dismissed at a trial if the dog is out of control on the protection field. No title is earned in that scenario. The protection phase demonstrates the dogs level of training, their nerves, tempermanet, courage, obedience, and the control the dog and handler must have. A huge amount of time that goes into training for this sport which builds a positive relationship between the dog and it's owner. The majority of competition dogs are in the house, living with their families as loving & well behaved companions. For more information on the sport, please visit our links page for training articles and schutzhund organizations. The schutzhund organizations listed have an event list on their website with area trials posted. We encourage people to attend a trial to learn more about this great sport!
V Our retired female-V Biggi vom Rietmann's Hof SchH3, KKL-1 now with the Rollins Family
A good example of the total package!
German Titles & Meanings:
VA-Vorzuglich-Auslese-excellent
Select V- Vorzuglich
-Excellent SG- Sehr Gut -Very
good G- Ausreichend
-Good S-Mangelhaft-Sufficient U-Ungenugend-Insufficient Breed
Survey KKL-1-Breed Survey
Class 1 KKL-2 Breed Survey
Class 2 WorkingWorking
TitlesB hBH-Begleithunde-Companion
Dog Title-pre-requisite for advanced schutzhund
titles SchH1-schtuzhund
1 SchH2-Schutzhund
2 SchH3-Schutzhund
3 IP1, IP2,
IP3-schtuzhund 1,2,3 international rules WH-Watch Dog-basic
protection routine AD-12.5 endurance
test-needed for a breed survey FH1, FH2-Advanced
Tracking Titles TR1,2,3 & OB
1,2,3-six seperate obedience and tracking titles that
reflect the routines for SchH 1, 2, & 3
levels.