What is 'Schutzhund'?

 

The following is based on exerpts from the Working Dog Association and are used with permission.

 

 

Schutzhund 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 third part is protection, aka bitework.

While dogs of other breeds are also admitted to Schutzhund trials, this breed 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 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.

Schutzhund Titles

The BH (Begleitshund) consists of an obedience test and traffic test that demonstrate the dog's temperament and willingness to train and work. It includes basic formal obedience - heeling on and off leash, sits, downs and recalls - as well as practical tests of the dog’s character in everyday situations. These include reaction to normal situations involving crowds of people, strange noises, joggers, honking cars, and other dogs. Before being allowed to enter for a Schutzhund I title, the dog must first have successsfully completed the BH.

 

There are three levels of the Schutzhund test for which titles can be earned:

For Schutzhund I the dog must be at least 18 months old and pass an initial temperament test by the judge. The dog must heel on the leash and off, demonstrate the walking sit, the walking down, recall, and long down as well as the send-out. It must retrieve on the flat, over a hurdle, and over the wall. In tracking, it must be able to follow a track laid by its handler at least 20 minutes earlier. In protection the dog must do blind search running two blinds, bark and hold in the blind, be called out of or picked up in the blind, perform and escape bite with re-attack, long bite, and escort to judge.

For Schutzhund II the dog must be at least 19 months old and must already have earned its Schutzhund I. It must again pass all of the obedience and protection tests required for the Schutzhund I with the addition of a walking stand. In tracking, the Schutzhund II candidate must be able to follow a track laid by a stranger at least 30 minutes earlier. In protection the dog must do a blind search running four blinds, bark and hold in the blind, be called out of the blind, perform and escape bite with re-attack, back transport, long bite, and escort to the judge.

For Schutzhund III, the dog must be at least 20 months old and must have earned both the Schutzhund I and the Schutzhund II titles. There is the addition of a running stand with recall. 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 Schutzhund I and II, and there are three objects, rather than two, that must be found by the dog. In protection, the dog must do a blind search running all six blinds, demonstrate a longer bark and hold in the blind, be called out of the blind, perform an escape bite with re-attack, back transport with re-attack, escort to the judge, long bite with re-attack, and escort to the judge.

 

The FH1 and FH2, are advanced tracking degrees that require the dog to follow tracks over changing terrain, discriminate between cross-tracks and is at least 3 hours old.

 

The AD (Ausdauerprüfung) is an endurance test where the handler bikes while the dog gaits for 12.5 miles at approximately 7-10mph. There are two stops where the dog is able to rest and the physical condition is checked before continuing. The AD is not required for Schutzhund titles but is required for a Breed Survey.

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 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 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 at various paces. From these various positions, the handler either returns to the dog or 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 facing the handler 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.

 

 

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 multiple blinds and guarding the helper/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 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 judge from the opposite end of the trial field. The dog is sent after the decoy when he refuses to listen to the handler’s command to stop. The decoy then runs directly at the dog threatening the dog with a stick. 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.

Schutzhund Around the World

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), the parent club, 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).

In 1970 the first Schutzhund trial in the U.S. was held in California. Today, the GSDCA-WDA sponsors trial in all parts of the country and chooses a team in open competition to represent the GSDCA at the WUSV World Championship. More than 25 countries send teams of competitors to the World Championship for Schutzhund dogs from the World Union of German Shepherd clubs.

For More Information About Schutzhund & WDA

The GSDCA-WDA (German Shepherd Dog Club of America- Working Dog Association, Inc.) is a national organization which was formed in 1982 and which offers both Schutzhund trials, Breed Shows and Breed Surveys using SV and SV trained judges. We also choose the team to represent the GSDCA at the World (WUSV) Championship. We welcome all German Shepherd enthusiasts who are interested in improving the working and structural qualities of the German Shepherd Dog.

The GSDCA-WDA publishes a bi-monthly newsletter (which includes information about training, a breeders directory, etc.) and offers several booklets and videos on raising German Shepherd puppies as well as several aspects of training. In addition to local club trials and shows, the national organization sponsors an annual Schutzhund Championship, an annual Conformation "Championship" (The North American Sieger Show), and an annual Universal Championship which combines a Schutzhund Trial and a Breed Show on the same weekend. WDA individual membership is $50 per year; the family membership is $75 per year (two people same address).

WDA clubs are organized by regions through the U.S., and there are numerous clubs in most areas of nearly all states. They are an excellent source of information. To contact a club or the Regional Director for your area, visit our Member Club page on this site.

 

For more information regarding membership or to request a membership application contact...

GSDCA-WDA Office
Joy Schultz
732 Lindley Blvd. DeLand FL 32724
Phone: 386-736-2486
Fax: 386-738-4741
Email: wdaoffice@cfl.rr.com

Applications and forms can also be obtained from the WDA website