FAQ's

What is Schutzhund?

Schutzhund is a German word meaning "protection dog." It was first developed in Germany at the turn of the century as a comprehensive test of the German Shepherd dog to evaluate its suitability for breeding as a working dog. Shutzhund competition is divided into three parts: protection, obedience, and tracking.

Schutzhund started at the beginning of this century as a test for working dogs. Its initial purpose was to determine which dogs could be used for breeding and which had true working ability. The growing demand for working dogs made more sophisticated tests and training necessary. These dogs were needed for police training, border patrol, customs, military and herding. As these tests evolved, more people participated just for the sheer enjoyment of seeing if their personal dogs could be trained as effectively as these "professional dogs". Now, over sixty years after the first formal Schutzhund rules were introduced, tens of thousands of people participate in the sport each year.

Schutzhund tests three specific areas of a dog's training and behavior. The first, tracking, requires the dog to track footsteps over mixed terrain, change direction and show absolute accuracy and commitment to finding the track. It must also find dropped articles and indicate their locations to the handler. Often this is done under less than ideal circumstances with difficult cover, bad weather conditions and an aged track. Many find tracking to be the most satisfying experience in training, when only the handler and dog are working together.

The second phase is obedience. Those who are familiar with AKC obedience will feel more comfortable in this area, as many of the exercises are similar to those in Open and Utility. There is heeling, both on and off lead. The sit, down and stand are also done, except when the dog is moving. But Schutzhund applies its own style to this work. Instead of a forty foot ring, the handler and dog work on a soccer sized trial field. Some exercises require the dog to work under the noise of a firing gun. In addition to the normal dumbbell retrieval, the dog must retrieve over a one meter jump and a six foot wall. Down stays and a long send away conclude the test.

The final test is the most misunderstood by the general public. This is protection. The most important point to understand when watching a protection routine, is the relationship between dog and handler. The dog must never bite the trial helper, unless either the dog or the handler is attacked. Then it must attack fully and without hesitation. But here the real difference becomes apparent. The dog must stop biting on the command of the handler and guard the trial helper without further aggression. Often people confuse Schutzhund protection training with police dog or personal protection work. The Schutzhund dog is capable of the feats of never being aggressive except under those specific situations it is trained to face, and even then it must always be under the absolute control of the handler.

What is the difference between an AKC conformation show and a German-style show?

There are many differences between the two types of conformation shows. The major differences are outlined below:

Judges and Judging
♦ The judges of German style shows are usually from the SV in Germany.
♦ The judging is to the International Standard, as apposed to AKC standards.
Handling of the Dogs
♦ German style shows require the dog to pull out from the handler instead of being beside the handler as in AKC.
♦ Double Handling is utilized in German shows – another person outside the ring calling the dog to show attention and drive.
Ring Size and Setup
♦ German style shows are always outdoors.
♦ The ring is larger than in AKC and has an outer ring for the double handler.
Endurance of the dogs
♦ The evaluation by the judge also includes the endurance of the dog’s structure.
♦ If the judge sees a structure issue, he may have the dogs gait longer to test endurance and structure stability.

Also, the rating systems differ between AKC and German-style shows. Each dog in the show is given a placement and a rating for that event. The ratings are as follows:
VA – Vorzuglich Auslese - Excellent Select – This is a rating given only at the Sieger Shows, the national show.
V – Vorzuglich - Excellent – Top placement at regional and local shows. This rating is given at all shows.
SG – Sehr Gut - Very Good
G – Guht - Good – This is the lowest show placement allowable for a dog to receive a breed survey.
A – Ausreichend - Sufficient
M – Mangelhaft - Insufficient

Puppy classes under 12 months only receive ratings of Very Promising(VP), Promising(P), or Not Promising(NP). Young Dog (12-18 months) and Young Adult (18-24 months) classes or Open Classes over 24 months without a working title can only receive titles up to a SG. The only way to receive a rating of V or VA is from the working class groups which include dogs with Schutzhund or Herding titles.