Schutzhund, which means “protection dog” in German, used to be a breeding suitability test for German Shepherds. Now it’s a three-part sport evaluating a dog’s obedience, tracking, and protection skills. Before considering doing Schutzhund training, you should ensure your dog can do this type of work.
Can Any Dog Do Schutzhund Training?
Any dog that’s well-suited and old enough for Schutzhund training can participate in the sport. All breeds and sizes are eligible. A dog must be over 15 months old to pass the BH, and it’s a prerequisite for other titles. Then, dogs with the minimum age who passed the initial temperament test can compete in IPO/IGP.
There are some exceptions where a dog won’t be eligible to participate in a trial. It usually occurs when it’s not safe for the dog or other participants to let him compete in Schutzhund.
I will get into more details and give you examples very shortly. But first things first, you need to figure out if your dog is an appropriate partner for this canine sport.
Is Your Dog Suitable To Do & Learn Schutzhund?
Although any dog can technically do Schutzhund training, it’s not exactly true. Some dogs can’t develop their obedience, tracking, and protection skills to the point where they will pass the BH or get an IPO/IGP title. Besides that, it’s also essential to make sure your puppy is old enough to compete in this sport.
If you have no idea what Schutzhund, BH, IPO, and IGP are or mean, you should read this article!
Which Dogs Can’t Participate In Schutzhund Trials?
If your dog is too young, doesn’t appear healthy, has a faulty temperament, or seems dangerous to the judge, he might not be eligible to compete in IPO/IGP. Other exceptions are not allowed to compete in Schutzhund events, such as females that are obviously pregnant or nursing and sick or contagious animals.
What About Bitches In Season?
Females in heat can still participate in IPO trials under specific conditions. They first have to be kept apart from the rest of the participants. Bitches in season will also pass after all the other dogs, except in Phase A – Tracking. It’s the same thing for most training venues. Females in heat are the last ones to be worked.
Age Requirements For Schutzhund BH & IPO Tests
As for any other sport, your dog’s age is a factor you must consider. It’s generally recommended for young puppies to avoid strenuous exercise. Their bones are fragile because they are still growing, so high-impact physical activity can be dangerous.
That’s why there’s a minimum age to participate in dog sports like agility and Schutzhund training. Improving your puppy’s obedience, tracking, and protection skills will also take a lot of time. So the age requirement for the BH and IPO tests is rarely an issue.
At What Age Can Dogs Participate In Schutzhund BH & IPO?
A dog must be at least 15 months old to be eligible for the BH test. For IPO 1, 2, and 3, the minimum age requirement is, respectively, 18, 19, and 20 months old. Although you have to wait for your dog to be old enough to compete in Schutzhund, you can start training and preparation as soon as 8 weeks old.
Read more about when you should start training your dog for Schutzhund?
Traits Schutzhund Dogs Should Have
Apart from the age, there are no other official requirements a dog must have to participate in Schutzhund. However, not every companion is well-suited for this type of training and work. So let’s break down some traits a dog might need to pass the BH Test and win IPO/IGP Titles.
Proper Temperament.
During any Schutzhund test, the judge will evaluate the dog’s temperament. So it’s essential to make sure your partner’s nature and behaviors are appropriate for this sport. Being mentally stable and confident is fundamental for dogs that do protection training.
Drive.
The natural drive and strong desire to work with the handler are other elements to consider for Schutzhund training. First, a dog must show enthusiasm during the BH and IPO tests. Besides that, it’s also good to develop and nurture your dog’s drive for better motivation and progress during training.
Trainability.
Since the sport of Schutzhund is all about training, your dog should be ready for it. Intelligence, focus, and eagerness to please can make a difference. If you have difficulty training your dog, improving his obedience, tracking, and protection skills might be complicated.
Some companions might be too stubborn and independent for Schutzhund. If your dog doesn’t listen to you and has no desire to work with you, this might not be the right sport for you. The less easy your partner is to train, the less enjoyable it will be and the longer it will take.
Protective Instinct.
Schutzhund involves protection training, so your dog should have the instinct to protect you. You can develop a protective instinct or use another drive to compensate, but it’s always better when it’s present and innate. A protection dog doesn’t have to be aggressive. He only has to care about the safety of his owner.
Physical Conditions.
Although dogs of any size and shape are eligible for this sport, protection work and Schutzhund training are still demanding physically. It requires strength, endurance, and agility. That’s why it’s better if your dog is large, muscular, and athletic.
List Of Traits That Make Good Schutzhund Dogs!
- Confidence.
- High-Drive.
- Strong Desire To Work.
- Easy To Train.
- Ability To Focus.
- Courage.
- Loyalty.
- Protective.
- Athletic.
- Large & Muscular.
- Good Sense Of Smell.
Schutzhund Dog Breeds
Now that we know what makes a dog well-suited for Schutzhund training, it’s time to look at the breeds that usually participate in this sport. Although it used to be a test specifically for German Shepherds, many other dogs can also do well in IPO/IGP.
It quickly became a popular training model and test for other protection breeds such as Boxers, Dobermans, and Rottweilers. However, most dogs that do Schutzhund training are still German Shepherds. The Belgian Malinois is also a popular choice for this canine sport.
Here’s a list of the best-suited dog breeds for obedience, tracking, and protection work.
- German Shepherds.
- Belgian Malinois.
- Rottweilers.
- Boxers.
- Dobermans.
- Beaucerons.
- Dutch Shepherds.
- Giant Schnauzers.
- Etc.
Does Your Dog Have To Be Purebred To Do Schutzhund?
No, mixed-breeds can participate in Schutzhund training and win IPO/IGP titles. As long as your dog is old enough and has the right traits for this sport, the breed doesn’t matter. The only thing a mutt can’t do in Schutzhund is to compete in breed-specific championships like the USCA nationals.
Last Thoughts About Can Any Dog Do Schutzhund!
Finally, practically any dog can do Schutzhund training and participate in competitions. The only restrictions are the minimum age (BH: 15 months old & IPO 1-2-3: 18-19-20 months old) and the temperament. So you still need to make sure your dog is eligible.
Then, it’s also essential to question yourself: Does my dog have what it takes for Schutzhund training? If the answer is yes, stop waiting and get started now. It’s time to improve your dog’s obedience, tracking, and protection skills.
Have Fun Training Your Dog For Schutzhund!
I’ve found most of the information about the eligibility of dogs to participate in IPO/IGP trials on the United Schutzhund Clubs of America Rulebook. If you plan to do Schutzhund training and compete in USCA events, you should read it.