Schutzhund dog stands for “protection dog” in German. And, in the early 1900s, Schutzhund dog training was established as a sport to assess the dogs’ characteristics that were imperative for use in law enforcement-type of work Puppy trainers near me. In the beginning, the German Shepherd breed was the only one that was put through the severities of training. Today, any dog breed may compete.
A Schutzhund dog must have certain qualities that make it a worthwhile breed. For example, they need to have:
- Agility
- Courage
- Good sniffer
- Intelligence
- Protection instinct
Once the dogs pass the tests, and very few do, they can be trained for all kinds of law enforcement related activities such as bomb detection, drug detection and search and rescue.
The Basics Of Schutzhund Dog Training
Schutzhund dog training is an organized system, which has changed in the last 100 years. The reason for the change is that some folks believed the process was a little inhumane. Today, the training is strict and firm; however, abuse toward the dogs is not allowed.
Prior training was founded on a minute number of organized courses and manuals. However, as the training became more widespread and popular, the expansion of educating the dog owner to begin dog training slid into DVDs and videos.
The actual test has three phases:
- Tracking
- Compliance
- Protection
There are certain skills that should be taught to a dog when he/she is a puppy like tracking and retrieving, leash training and behavior training
The majority of puppies will show characteristics early on if they meet all the qualifications for Schutzhund dog training. There are variations in each training method but the majority of them focus on four basic skills:
1 – Compliance/Obedience – The first trait sought from the Schutzhund dog is compliance (or obedience). Most courses have 11 basic commands including but not limited to:
- Heel positioning
- Object pointing
- Focus and attention
- Retrieving
- Stand
- Sit
- Down
2 – Clicker Training – Not every single dog training involving Schutzhunds use the clicker training; however, they use a similar technique. This is called positive reinforcement, which is the best way to alter a dog’s behavior. Clicker training should be started when the dog is just a puppy (around 10 weeks of age).
3 – Protection – When your dog is young, you want them to know it’s okay to bark at strangers and to approach only when you have given the all-clear. Any dog that displays lack of control, fear or aggression will be gone from the competition. While the dog is in training, he/she must recognize when someone/thing is a threat and be ready to attack. However, they also must be self-controlled enough to stop the attack once the command has been given.
4 – Tracking – When you start teaching your dog, you’ll want to begin simple. As cues, use the aiming and pointing of objects. Add difficulty to the tracking once the dog becomes more experienced. Schutzhund dog training teaches the dog to identify a target’s scent and then to start giving chase until he/she’s been called off.