The Sport of Schutzhund (SchH)
Last Updated 24 September, 2002
The Sport of Schutzhund (SchH)
Background
Overview
The tracking test assesses the dog's perseverance and concentration, its
scenting ability and its willngness to work for its handler. The animal must
follow the footsteps of a tracklayer, finding and indicating to its handler
articles that the tracklayer has left on the track. With each level of
Schutzhund, the length and age of the track is increased.
Obedience evaluates the dog's responsiveness to its handler. The obedience
test involves a number of different situations in which the dog must eagerly
and precisely carry out its handler's orders. It must be proficient at heeling
at its handlers side, retrieving, jumping and performing a variety of other
skills.
The protection phase gauges the dog's courage, desire for combat, self
reliance and obedience to its handler under very exciting and difficult
circumstances. This phase involves searching for and warning its handler of
a hidden "villain", aggressively stopping an assault on its handler and
preventing the escape of the villain, amoung other skills.
Schutzhund trials are judged by one judge for all phases (unless the trial is
very large and in that case, sometimes there will be a separate judge for the
tracking phase for instance). The dogs are scored in every phase of tracking
obedience and protection and after judging the judge is required to make a
detailed verbal and written assessment of the performance and give the score
to the compeditors and to the audience.
In addition to the three levels of Schutzhund competition, there is a
preliminary level of Schutzhund called the "B" (or the BH or VB). In
about 1991 the German organization that oversees the Schutzhund sport worldwide
voted to make the "B" mandatory for all dogs entering Schutzhund I. The B is
made up of an obedience phase very much like Schutzhund I level obedience
routine but without the retrieve or the send away. Once the obedience section
is successfully completed it is followed by a very interesting and revealing
temperament test section. Every judge approaches the B differently in the
temperament test section, so no test is ever like another, except for the basic
elements!
There are a number of very good books and video
tapes available, such as:
© Copyright 2002 by The United Doberman Club
Schutzhund was developed around the turn of the century as a means of testing
and preserving the character and the utility of working dogs. The program was
started for the German Shepherd, however, many other working breeds have joined
in since that time, such as, Doberman, Boxers, Giant Schnauzers, Belgian
Sheepdogs and Rottweilers. It was used then and in many cases is still used
today as a criteria to gauge the suitability of a dog for breeding. Today
that's still true, but for most people, it's an excellent way to work with
your dog in tracking, obedience and protection and be able to go to
trials also.
In the sport of Schutzhund there are three levels - Schutzhund I, II and III.
Each level comprises three phases - tracking, obedience and protection.
Each phase is allotted l00 points and the pass is 70 in all but protection
where the pass is 80 points.
The three phases span an entire day normally, so you can appreciate that a dog
who competes in this sport is in excellent shape and will demonstrate
endurance.
Further Details On Training
Several videos are available from Gottfried Dildei, Joanne Plumb,
Stewart Hilliard and soon Ivan Balabanov through
Canine Training Systems or Ph. 720-873-0900
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