As a dog owner, you probably want to spend as much time as possible with your companion. Well, there are many activities you can enjoy together. Since you’re here, you probably came across Schutzhund training while looking at your options.
Don’t worry. I also used to have no idea what it meant. But after some research on Schutzhund dog training, I quickly understand the concept. Now let me share everything you should know about it, starting with a short definition.
What Is Schutzhund Training For Dogs?
Schutzhund training consists of improving your dog’s tracking, obedience, and protection skills. Developed in Germany in the early 1900s, it used to be a suitability test for German Shepherds. Also known as IPO or IGP, Schutzhund is now a competitive sport evaluating the handler’s ability to train a working dog.
Schutzhund Dog Training In Action!
Now, visual support might be helpful to give you a better idea of what it looks likes. So here’s a video in which you can see protection dogs perform in a dog show.
What Does Schutzhund Mean?
Schutzhund is a German word that means “protection dog.” With this new term in our vocabulary, it’s easier to understand that Schutzhund training consists of developing a working dog’s skills for protection purposes. It includes three parts: obedience, tracking, and protection.
What Is IGP & IPO?
Schutzhund is also often referred to as IPO or IGP. Although those terms might seem completely different, they all practically mean the same thing. Schutzhund, IPO, and IGP are three ways to talk about dog training for protection.
IGP (Internationale Gebrauchshunde Prüfungsordnung), previously known as IPO, means International Utility Dog Trial Regulations. IPO stands for Internationale Prüfungs-Ordnung, which is the German equivalent of International Trial Rules.
Many people use those terms as a synonym for Schutzhund. But IGP and IPO are generally related to the competitive part of this dog sport, not training. So I will mainly use the word Schutzhund for the rest of this article to avoid any confusion.
Short History Of Schutzhund
Now you might wonder where the sport of training protection dogs comes from. Schutzhund was developed over 100 years ago in Germany as a breed test for German Shepherds. They used to be herding dogs, but industrialization has turned them into police and military dogs.
Since herding and protection are significantly different types of work, they introduced the Schutzhund test to make sure German Shepherds have the right skills and temperament for this job. In other words, it helps train and condition dogs for working with the police and military force.
Over the years, many organizations and other countries have started using Schutzhund training. It’s now a well-known sport in the K-9 community around the world. So there are several clubs and trials where you can improve or test your dog’s protection skills.
For more information about the history of Schutzhund, please read this article from the Wüstenberger-Land website!
Can Any Dog Learn Schutzhund?
Although Schutzhund was initially a test made for German Shepherds, any breed can now participate in this dog sport. This type of training quickly became popular for other protection breeds such as Boxers, Dobermans, and Rottweilers. But German Shepherds are still dominating in Schutzhund along with Belgian Malinois.
3 Phases Of Schutzhund Dog Training!
As I already said, there are three parts to the sport of Schutzhund. Dogs will have to show their skills in tracking, obedience, and protection. Now here’s more information about each phase of this dog training discipline.
Tracking.
One of the 3 tests in Schutzhund consists of evaluating the dog’s ability to follow a track laid by a person and then find articles dropped on along the way. But this phase isn’t all about tracking and scenting skills. It also requires mental soundness and physical endurance.
Obedience.
In another part of the sport, the dog must follow commands and perform specific exercises as accurately as possible. The judge also evaluates the attitude in this phase. So the dog must stay enthusiastic and focus on the handler during the obedience test.
Protection.
Finally, the last phase of Schutzhund is a test in which the dog needs to protect himself and his handler. It allows the judge to evaluate the dog’s courage, protection skills, and level of control in such conditions. This part also involves exercises related to K-9 police work.
With the 3 levels of Schutzhund training in mind, you can understand better what it takes to get into this dog sport. It’s not all about protection. Other skills such as obedience and tracking are also essential for a working dog to be well-suited for this type of activity/job.
How To Get Started With Schutzhund?
Now that you know more about the sport of Schutzhund, you might be interested in doing it with your dog. Although it can be a fun activity, you still have a lot to learn before he can do protection work. Thus, here are the steps you should take to get into Schutzhund.
Preparation.
First of all, you have to make sure you and your dog are ready for such a sport. Although it’s open to any breed, some aren’t well-suited for protection work. Then, you also need handling skills and experience to train your dog for Schutzhund.
Unfortunately, this activity isn’t easily accessible to everyone. But if you’re ready to put in the time and effort, I’m sure you can do it. Just make sure your dog is healthy enough and has appropriate traits for Schutzhund training.
Once you have the right partner and know you can train him for protection, it’s time for preparation. There are many ways to get ready for Schutzhund. You can read books on the subject, work on your dog’s obedience, and exercise together to stay in good shape.
Find A Schutzhund Club.
Once you’re well-prepared for this dog sport, joining a community of people that have experience with it can be very helpful. That’s why every beginner should search for a local Schutzhund club. It allows you to surround yourself with advanced protection dog trainers.
However, it’s essential to find the right one. Every club is unique, and not all of them will fit your needs. Thus, look for an organization that suits your lifestyle in which you and your dog feel comfortable learning about Schutzhund.
Once you have found the perfect local club for you, it’s time to integrate yourself properly. Make sure to respect other members (people and dogs), be willing to learn, and try bringing value to the team. Those principles help everyone make the most of the Schutzhund community.
Choose the Right Mentor.
Apart from joining a club, having a person that can and wants to teach you Schutzhund is also an excellent idea. Having the support of a mentor while training your dog for protection work is extremely helpful. But once again you must find the right one for your situation.
Some people will get into Schutzhund to eventually compete when others only want their dog to be a better companion. Thus, finding a mentor that can help you reach your goals and fits your personality is essential.
Dog Training.
Now it’s finally time to start training your dog for Schutzhund. Depending on your handling skills and how obedient he is, there are many ways to get into this activity. The best approach would probably be to work on one phase at a time.
Ideally, you will begin with basic obedience because it’s the foundation of Schutzhund training. You can take classes to improve your dog’s ability to focus on you and follow commands. Besides that, it’s also essential to practice specific exercises for this phase with your mentor.
Once your dog is more obedient, you can introduce him to scent tracking. You will have to train your Schutzhund partner to use his acute sense of smell for locating articles you’ve dropped in a field. As with any other type of training, you must start small and gradually improve.
Last but not least, you can get into the final phase: Protection. Most clubs will offer training classes for their members to prepare their dogs for this type of work. You can also ask for Schutzhund exercises and advice from your mentor to master this part of the sport.
Schutzhund Equipment.
During the whole training process, you will need equipment. From a suitable collar to bite sleeves passing by tracking gear, there are many items you must have to enjoy Schutzhund with your dog.
Here’s a list to give you an idea of what protection dog handlers use for training.
- Dog Collars, Harnesses & Vests.
- Leads & Leashes.
- Treats & Treat Pouches.
- Dog Tug Toys & Bite Pillows.
- Bite Sleeves & Suits.
- Scaling Walls & Hurdles.
- Muzzles.
- Protection Blinds.
- Tracking Gear.
- Schlagstocks & Clatter Sticks.
- Etc.
Practice.
Improving your dog’s obedience, tracking, and protection skills will take a lot of time and effort. So you must be ready to train him and practice together regularly. Keep in mind that it’s not an easy and quick process. But the results and all the fun you will have are worth the investment.
Last Thoughts About Schutzhund Dog Training!
Finally, Schutzhund is a sport that tests your dog on three levels: Obedience, Tracking & Protection. Each of those skills requires a lot of training and practice. Then, a dog might have what it takes to win titles in IGP/IPO trials and competitions.
If you’re interested in Schutzhund, I highly recommend giving it a try. It’s an excellent way to bond with your dog, exercise together, and make him a better life companion. So stop thinking about it and take action now.
Have Fun Training Your Protection Dog!