Frequently Asked Questions--Schutzhund FAQ

Below you will find the answers to several commonly asked questions about Schutzhund, training dogs in the sport, puppies, and more.

What is Schutzhund?

Schutzhund is a 3-phase dog sport that was originally designed as a breedworthiness test for the German Shepherd Dog; it was designed to help protect the working qualities and sound temperament of the breed. Since its creation at the beginning of the 20th century, Schutzhund has gained popularity worldwide and is open to multiple breeds of dogs that show an aptitude for the work. These breeds typically include (but are not limited to) German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, Dutch Shepherds, Dobermans, Rottweilers, Giant Schnauzers, Bouvier des Flandres, Beaucerons, Belgian Tervurens, and other similar breeds. Mixed breeds can also compete in Schutzhund.

The three phases of Schutzhund are tracking, obedience, and protection. The dog and handler must pass each phase in order to earn their Schutzhund working title. Additionally, there are three different levels of titles, each increasing in difficulty (Schutzhund 1, 2, and 3). Prior to attempting a Schutzhund title, all dogs must undergo a temperament and obedience test known as the 'Begleithunde', or BH. The dog must pass this examination first, which helps determine if the dog has the stable temperament required for this work. For further information, please see the United Schutzhund Clubs of America's page: "Schutzhund and the German Shepherd Dog".

Is a Schutzhund dog the same thing as an "attack dog" or "protection dog?"

It is a very common misconception that Schutzhund dogs are trained "attack dogs" or "protection dogs". There are even some unscrupulous trainers, breeders, and importers that advertise their Schutzhund-trained dogs as protection dogs, which continues to add to this stereotype. But Schutzhund training is not "attack dog training", and a Schutzhund-titled dog is NOT an "attack dog".

Schutzhund was originally developed as a breedworthiness test for the German Shepherd Dog. It was (and still is) used to weed out the dogs lacking the appropriate temperament and drives, and to prevent these weaker dogs from passing on those genes that would then weaken the breed overall. It was (and still is) a way for breeders, handlers, and breed enthusiasts to test their dogs and determine if they have the valuable qualities for which this breed is noted: versatility, intelligence, high trainability, courage, strength, power, natural watchfulness and guarding. It also provides breeders with information on who/what a dog is genetically, which then allows for selecting the best breeding partner in order to correct their dog's weaknesses and continue the strengths. How can this test of Schutzhund, then, create an "attack dog" or personal protection dog? It cannot. It can only EVALUATE the genetic drives and temperament of the dog. Even now as a sport, it still primarily functions as a way to evaluate both dog and handler. It has nothing to do with training a dog to "attack" someone.

In Germany, all German Shepherds used for breeding must have obtained at least a Schutzhund 1 title before they can even be bred. This Schutzhund title tells us that this dog has been successfully trained in all three areas: obedience, tracking, and protection. The protection training is but one phase of their training, and the protection training they receive is considered very basic instruction compared to what would be required for a trained personal protection dog or police dog. In standard Schutzhund protection work, dogs are not trained to alert or fight with a passive person not wearing a sleeve, nor are they worked on hidden sleeves (which bridges the gap between a person wearing a highly visible piece of equipment and a person wearing none). They learn when it is appropriate to grip and fight with the helper, and when it is not appropriate. Additionally, the Schutzhund protection phase is bound by strict rules and guidelines designed to promote a dog that shows natural power, courage, and a strong grip, but also good control. An overly aggressive dog (whether it be social aggression or fear-based, reactionary aggression) typically will not do well in Schutzhund, because such a dog will be too unpredictable and often unsafe to train in bitework.

Schutzhund is like karate for dogs. It teaches them about the power they possess, but also teaches them self-control and how to channel that power into appropriate actions at appropriate times.  The addition to this is that we are then also placing that under our direct control as handlers. Control is key: if a dog cannot be controlled in any phase of Schutzhund, it is disqualified from the trial.

How does one train for Schutzhund?

Training for Schutzhund is a long and involved process that typically requires a multi-year commitment from the handler, as the level of training and control required for success in the sport are very high. All three phases must be trained concurrently: tracking, obedience, and protection. However, the dog itself must first show a particular aptitude and joy for the work, as well as strong nerves and an outgoing, stable temperament. If a dog does not show a particular desire to do the work or shows a shy and weak temperament, then it should not be trained in Schutzhund.

There are a wide variety of materials out there that discuss how to start training for the different phases of Schutzhund: books, videos, discussion boards, and articles (some of which are included at the end of this section). However, the best way to begin training for Schutzhund is to start attending a nearby club and any Schutzhund trials to watch the training, ask questions, and see the end product. Books and other reading materials can be a great start and an excellent way to begin educating oneself about the sport in general, but they are no replacement for the knowledge and experience that can be gained from watching others train and asking questions.

For further information on Schutzhund, please browse through the list below.

Websites:

• http://germanshepherddog.com/schutzhund/index.htm
• http://www.schutzhund-training.com/index.html
• http://www.schutzhundvillage.com/arminhome.html (articles by Armin Winkler)

Books:

• Schutzhund: Theory and Training Methods, by Susan Barwig
• Schutzhund Obedience: Training in Drive, by Sheila Booth and Gottfried Dildei
• Purely Positive Training, by Sheila Booth (good for if you have a new puppy!)
• Tracking Dog: Theory and Methods, by Glen Johnson (describes tracking theory very thoroughly!)

What/How do you train at PCSC?

Please see the Training Page for the training schedule and rules.

Obedience:

At Placer County Schutzhund Club, we train obedience prior to starting protection. Our obedience training is reward-based, where the dog learns to perform the desired exercises for praise, food, and/or a toy. We do not offer or perform group obedience classes, but we do train out on the field together and use our fellow club members as mock judges, a group, and other sets of eyes to help us train exercises correctly. Dogs must be under their handler’s control at all times when training out on the field. We are fortunate to have several top-level handlers and competitors in our club who often share their knowledge and handling tips with newer handlers. We continue to learn not only from top handlers and trainers, but from each other as well, sharing in each other’s progress and triumphs.

In addition to training on the field on club days, each club member is individually responsible for continuing to train their dogs at home during the week. For young dogs, it is best to break up training into short, frequent sessions that focus on only one or two behaviors and that use a high-reinforcement reward schedule. We must first teach the dog that training/learning is enjoyable, and then we teach the proper behavior in small incremental steps before beginning to piece it all together. New handlers are often learning just as much about the training as their dogs are!

Protection:

Protection training is started after obedience, and for this only one dog is allowed on the field at a time. All other dogs are crated while a dog is worked in protection, because this is a very rewarding phase for the dogs and can make them incredibly excited even when they are not on the field. Protection training must be done under the experienced instruction of a good trainer and good helper, and they work together with the dog and handler to train the protection exercises. This is not something that can be safely and successfully trained at home on one’s own. It truly takes an entire club to bring along a young dog in protection, as each member at some point helps with handling the line, setting up the equipment, serving as a ‘judge’, or helping proof the dog. Schutzhund protection training is NOT 'guard dog training', "attack" training, or personal protection dog training!!

When starting young or green dogs in the protection phase, the helper and trainer work together with each handler to build a strong foundation in the young or new dog before beginning to teach other behaviors besides barking and gripping the sleeve. New components of the exercises are slowly introduced as the dog matures, and the actual exercises are carefully incorporated together over an extended period of time. The training is matched to the level and style of the dog, which is why it is important to have a good helper and trainer who can accurately read dogs. We are fortunate to have both here at PCSC.

Tracking:

The last phase, tracking, is often done individually, although group members occasionally meet together when they can to go out tracking together. Tracking training can begin early for most dogs, and is typically performed in either grass or plowed dirt. Each club member is responsible for training their own dog in the tracking phase, but it is also important to ask questions and talk with other experienced individuals as well as our Training Director about the tracking phase.

Schutzhund tracking is very precise; the method of tracking is called ‘footstep tracking’, because the dog is scenting each and every footstep rather than trailing the scent. This requires many months of consistent foundation work in order to build the methodical style of tracking required by the sport. It is often one of the most challenging in terms of finding time and enough space to track regularly and consistently. While there are different methods for training the tracking phase, many people start their young dogs and puppies with food in nearly every footstep, on what are called 'puppy tracks'.