| Rottweilers are a working dog. Schutzhund is but one of the many, yet one of the most misunderstood, working sports that Rottweilers participate in. Read here to learn the TRUTH about what Schutzhund is and why it is a good measure of both temperament and character. |
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. It is intended to demonstrate the dog's intelligence and utility. Schutzhund
measures the dog's mental stability, endurance, structural efficiencies, ability to scent, willingness to work, courage, and trainability.
Schutzhund work concentrates on three parts. Many familiar with the obedience work of the American Kennel Club's affiliates 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.
The protection tests are intended to assure that the dog is neither a coward nor a criminal menace
This working dog sport offers an opportunity for dog owners to train their dog and compete with each other for recognition of both the handlers
ability to train and the dog's ability to perform as required. It is a sport enjoyed by persons of varied professions who join together in a
camaraderie born of their common interest in working with their dogs. Persons of all ages and conditions of life — even those with significant
disabilities — enjoy Schutzhund as a sport. Quite often, it is a family sport.
The Three Parts of a Schutzhund Trial
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. The track 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
30-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 to scent, as well as its mental and physical endurance
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 man or woman.
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 human decoy), and guarding that decoy while the handler
approaches. The dog is expected to pursue the decoy when an escape is attempted. The decoy is searched and transported to the judge with
the handler and dog walking behind and later at the decoys right side. When the decoy attempts to attack the handler, the dog is expected to
protect the handler with 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 when he attempts to run away. Just when the dog is about to catch
the decoy, the judge signals the decoy to turn about and run directly at the dog, threatening the dog with a soft padded-leather 'stick'.
The protection tests are intended to assure that the dog is neither a coward nor a criminal menace.
Three Levels of Schutzhund
There are three levels of Schutzhund, each progressively more difficult, with Scutzhund I being the beginner degree, Schutzhund II being the
intermediate degree and Schutzhund III being the master's degree.
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. It is intended to demonstrate the dog's intelligence and utility. Schutzhund
measures the dog's mental stability, endurance, structural efficiencies, ability to scent, willingness to work, courage, and trainability.
Schutzhund work concentrates on three parts. Many familiar with the obedience work of the American Kennel Club's affiliates 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.
The protection tests are intended to assure that the dog is neither a coward nor a criminal menace
This working dog sport offers an opportunity for dog owners to train their dog and compete with each other for recognition of both the handlers
ability to train and the dog's ability to perform as required. It is a sport enjoyed by persons of varied professions who join together in a
camaraderie born of their common interest in working with their dogs. Persons of all ages and conditions of life — even those with significant
disabilities — enjoy Schutzhund as a sport. Quite often, it is a family sport.
The Three Parts of a Schutzhund Trial
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. The track 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
30-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 to scent, as well as its mental and physical endurance
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 man or woman.
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 human decoy), and guarding that decoy while the handler
approaches. The dog is expected to pursue the decoy when an escape is attempted. The decoy is searched and transported to the judge with
the handler and dog walking behind and later at the decoys right side. When the decoy attempts to attack the handler, the dog is expected to
protect the handler with 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 when he attempts to run away. Just when the dog is about to catch
the decoy, the judge signals the decoy to turn about and run directly at the dog, threatening the dog with a soft padded-leather 'stick'.
The protection tests are intended to assure that the dog is neither a coward nor a criminal menace.
Three Levels of Schutzhund
There are three levels of Schutzhund, each progressively more difficult, with Scutzhund I being the beginner degree, Schutzhund II being the
intermediate degree and Schutzhund III being the master's degree.
copyright © 2005 Southeastern PA Rottweiler Klub (SPARK) . All rights reserved. ANY reproduction of any text, graphics, photos or backgrounds on this site is
strictly prohibited. Southeastern PA Rottweiler Klub and the SPARK name are registered with the USRC and may not be used by any other entity in any form
without the express permission of the club & club webmaster.
strictly prohibited. Southeastern PA Rottweiler Klub and the SPARK name are registered with the USRC and may not be used by any other entity in any form
without the express permission of the club & club webmaster.
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