If you plan to get into Schutzhund, you must be ready to spend some money. There are many expenses involved in this sport, including the dog, training sessions, club membership, and much more. But you might have no idea how much it will cost at the end of the day.
Don’t worry. I’m here to help you figure out what budget you need for Schutzhund training. Before getting started, you should know what to expect to pay down the road. Otherwise, you might end up investing money into the sport of IGP when you can’t afford it.
On average, Schutzhund will cost around $4,000 before you can participate in trials with your dog. It includes approximately $500 in training sessions, a $500 annual club membership fee, $1,500 in fuel, and $1,500 for other expenses. However, the cost of Schutzhund training can vary a lot from one handler to another.
Is Schutzhund Training Expensive?
With all the costs involved in Schutzhund training, it can get quite expensive. So you should be ready for significant investments to enjoy this dog sport. Schutzhund training generally costs a lot of money. Not all handlers can afford the expenses required to train a dog for obedience, tracking, and protection work.
Costs Of Schutzhund Training
Now you probably wonder what you will have to pay for before competing in IGP. Well, there are many different costs involved in Schutzhund. Training is only one part of the expenses you might face while getting into this canine sport.
Here are 5 elements you have to consider for your Schutzhund budget!
Dog
First of all, you will need to find and invest in the right partner. Dogs aren’t cheap, especially if you want one that’s well-suited for Schutzhund. The most popular breed for this sport is the working German Shepherd Dog.
Find The Right Schutzhund Dog Breed For You!
In general, you should expect to pay between $2,000 and $4,000 for a good Schutzhund dog. Most working German Shepherds from reputable breeders cost at least $3,000. So if you don’t already have a dog suitable for IGP, consider it a significant expense.
Memberships (Schutzhund Club & Organization)
Once you have an appropriate partner for Schutzhund, the next step is to find and join a club. It’s a non-profit organization for handlers to train their dogs together. The membership cost and benefits it brings will vary from one club to another.
You might also have to be a member of the parent organization such as the United Schutzhund Clubs of America (USCA) before joining the club. For the USCA, the most popular IGP organization in the US, a single membership costs $100.
Other associations for this dog sport have similar fees and dues to become a member. Then, you should expect to pay between $100 and $1,000 per year to join a Schutzhund club. The cost will vary according to the club you choose and what the membership includes.
Some clubs provide free training to their members while others give them favorable rates. Thus, the club you join can also influence other costs you might have down the road. That’s another reason why it’s so important to select the right one for you!
Evaluation
Some clubs and training facilities might require your dog to pass an evaluation before getting started. It will generally cost between $25 and $50. The Training Director wants to assess if your dog has the temperament and drive to be suitable for the sport of Schutzhund.
Training
Once you know your partner can do Schutzhund, it’s time to train him. If you’re not in any club yet, you should expect to pay around $20 to $40 per dog per session. If you only want to use the training field, it will be more like $10 to $20.
For people that have a membership in a club, the cost of training will vary a lot from one organization to another. In some cases, members will benefit from lower training fees. There are also Schutzhund clubs that offer memberships that include free training sessions.
The training and membership costs generally balance out each other. Most clubs that offer free training to their members will have to pay higher dues. On the other hand, memberships that only offer preferable training rates will be less expensive.
For example, let’s say it costs $1,000 to be part of a club, and it includes two free training sessions per week. Well, it’s not that much more expensive to pay a $100 membership and $10 per session for the same amount of training time. ($100 + ($10 x 104 weeks) = $1,140)
Yes, it’s more money for the same number of training sessions, but you generally get what you pay for. The more it costs you, the more budget your club has to invest in good trainers, helpers, and new equipment. So don’t always try to look for the cheapest option.
Group VS Private Training Sessions
All numbers above were referring to group training sessions. If you want more personalized help and one-on-one training, you will have to pay more money. Private Schutzhund training can cost anywhere from $70 to $350 per hour or session. It will mainly depend on the trainer and what phase you want to work on.
Equipment
Although your club should give you access to most of the equipment you need for Schutzhund training, you might have to buy some. So here are some purchases you should consider to prepare your dog for IGP at home with how much it should cost on average.
- Jump. ($200-$300)
- Wall. ($1,200+)
- Dumbbells. ($20-$30)
- Tugs, Balls & Other Toys. (Around $10-$15 Each)
- Tracking Line. ($20-$30)
- Training Leash. ($15-$20)
- Collar. ($15-$30)
- Crate. ($100+)
All in all, Schutzhund training equipment should cost between $1,000 and $2,000. It includes all the accessories and items you will need to do IGP with your dog at home. However, it might not be necessary to buy all the gear required for this dog sport if you have access to your local club’s training facilities.
Fuel
Another cost you should consider is the gas you will use to drive from one place to another. Whether it’s for training sessions, meetings with your club, or actual IGP trials, Schutzhund requires a lot of traveling. So the fuel can be a significant expense you should not neglect.
For example, let’s say it takes around 1 hour to drive from your home to your Schutzhund club. With an average gas price of $3.5 per gallon, a car that gets about 25 miles per gallon, and a 50 mph speed, it would cost you approximately $7 per hour of driving.
Thus, you would have to pay around $14 (round trip) every time you want to go to your Schutzhund club. In general, members will meet two or three times per week. So it can quickly add up to more than $1,500 in fuel per year. ($28 x 52 weeks = $1,456)
The numbers up there might not be accurate for you, but it can still give you an idea of how much this driving will cost you in money and time. As you can see, fuel might be more expensive than the training itself. Thus, finding a club near you will end up saving you a lot of money.
What Can Influence The Cost Of Schutzhund Training?
As you probably already figured out, how much Schutzhund training costs will vary a lot from one person to another. Some people will pay more money than others to get into this dog sport. Here are the principal factors that can impact your expenses.
First, the club you join will highly influence how much you should expect to pay down the road. Íts parent organization, membership dues, training fees, and location also determine how much Schutzhund will cost. So it’s essential to choose the right club.
Besides that, the equipment you buy, its quality, and whether you invest in private training sessions or not are other essential elements to consider. You may also need to spend money on a dog if you don’t already have a suitable partner for Schutzhund.
How long it will take to train your dog can also impact the overall cost. If it takes longer, you will have to pay for more membership dues, training sessions, etc. However, don’t push yourself and your dog too hard to save a little bit of money.
So depending on your budget, there are ways to get around some expenses involved in this dog sport. However, it will generally cost a lot of money before you can participate in IGP trials. There’s a limit on how much you can save while practicing this expensive activity.
So, How Much Does Schutzhund Training Cost?
Although the cost of Schutzhund training can vary a lot, most people will pay around the same price to get started. Joining a club and training your dog for IGP will inevitably cost money. Thus, here’s what budget most handlers should plan before competing.
In general, you should expect to pay between $3,000 and $5,000 to prepare your dog for his first Schutzhund trial. The club membership, training sessions, and fuel are the principal expenses involved in this sport. But you might also invest in a dog, equipment, and other things to improve your training experience.
How Much Does A Schutzhund Trained Dog Cost?
Dogs already trained for Schutzhund and have IGP titles are very expensive. You should expect to pay between $10,000 and $30,000 for an adult dog with advanced obedience, tracking, and protection skills. The price of a Schutzhund-trained dog will mainly depend on the level of training, breeding, and titles.
You can check out some trained Schutzhund/protection dogs for sales on WustenBerger-Land
Other Costs Of Schutzhund Training!
Money isn’t the only thing preparing your dog for IGP will cost. It will also require a significant investment in time and effort. Schutzhund training isn’t a quick and easy process. Thus, you should be ready to make other sacrifices to enjoy and succeed in this dog sport.
Last Thoughts About The Cost Of Schutzhund Dog Training!
Finally, Schutzhund is expensive. With all the costs involved, from memberships to training sessions passing by fuel, you must be ready to pay a lot of money before getting started. Preparing your dog for IGP requires a lot of investments, just like any other hobby.
In comparison to other sports, Schutzhund training is on the higher end. But if you’re passionate about something, I’m sure you will be more than happy to spend your money on it. The sacrifices required are worth all the fun you will have while working with your dog.
Stop wondering about how much money Schutzhund training will cost, and think about what it can bring you in return. You should see this as an investment, not an expense. So what are you waiting to find a club and start training your dog?
Let’s Invest Your Money In Something You Will Enjoy!
