SCHUTZHUND
WHAT IS SCHUTZHUND?
Schutzhund work concentrates on three parts. Many familiar with the obedience work of the American
Kennel Club’s affiliates will recognize the first two parts, tracking and obedience. The Schutzhund
standards for the third part, protection work, are similar to those for dogs in police work.
While dogs of other breeds are also admitted to Schutzhund trials, this breed evaluation test was
developed specifically for the German Shepherd Dog. Schutzhund is intended to demonstrate the dog’
s intelligence and utility. As a working trial, Schutzhund measures the dog’s mental stability,
endurance, structural efficiencies, ability to scent, willingness to work, courage and trainability.
This working dog sport offers an opportunity for dog owners to train their dog and compete with each
other for recognition of both the handler’s ability to train and the dog’s ability to perform as required. It
is a sport enjoyed by persons of varied professions, who join together in a camaraderie born of their
common interest in working with their dogs. Persons of all ages and conditions of life --- even those
with significant disabilities --- enjoy Schutzhund as a sport. Often, it is a family sport.
Schutzhund Titles
In addition to the Schutzhund titles, the GSDCA-WDA (German Shepherd Dog Club of America--
Working Dog Association) offers three additional training degrees. Two of these, the FH1 and FH2, are
advanced tracking degrees that require the dog to follow tracks over changing terrain, discriminate
between cross-tracks and is at least 3 hours old.
The third is the BH. The BH is a degree for traffic-safe companion dogs that tests the dogs
temperament in and around people. It includes basic formal obedience - heeling on and off leash,
sits, downs and recalls - as well as practical tests of the dog’s character in everyday situations. These
include reaction to normal situations involving crowds of people, strange noises, joggers, cars and
other dogs. Before being allowed to enter for a Schutzhund I title, the dog must first have
successsfully completed the BH. (The dog must be a minimum of 15 months of age to enter a BH.)
There are three levels of the Schutzhund test for which titles can be earned.
For Schutzhund I the dog must be at least 18 months old and pass an initial temperament test by the
judge. All obedience exercises are performed off leash: heeling, demonstrate the walking sit, the
walking down, and the stay tests, as well as, the send-out. It must retrieve on the flat and over a
hurdle and a scaling wall. In tracking, it must be able to follow a track laid by its handler at least 20
minutes earlier. There are also protection tests.
For Schutzhund II the dog must be at least 19 months old and must already have earned its
Schutzhund I degree. It must again pass all of the obedience and protection tests required for the
Schutzhund I degree, but those tests, for Schutzhund II, are made more difficult and require greater
endurance, agility, and above all, control. In tracking, the Schutzhund II candidate must be able to
follow a track laid by a stranger at least 30 minutes earlier.
For Schutzhund III the master’s degree, the dog must be at least 20 months old and must have earned
both the Schutzhund I and the Schutzhund II titles. Again, the tests now are made far more difficult. All
exercises in obedience and protection are demonstrated off leash. There is the additional of a
walking and running stand. In tracking, the dog must follow a track that was laid by a stranger at least
60 minutes earlier. The track has four turns, compared with two turns for Schutzhund I and II, and
there are three objects, rather than two, that must be found by the dog. The picture of obedience,
strength, eagerness and confidence presented by an excellent Schutzhund III team is a beautifully
illustration of the partnership of human and dog.
The Three Parts of a Schutzhund Trial
The tracking phase includes a temperament test by the overseeing judge to assure the dog’s mental
soundness. When approached closely on a loose leash, the dog should not act shyly or
aggressively. The track is laid earlier by a person walking normally on a natural surface such as dirt
or grass. The track includes a number of turns and a number of small, man-made objects left by this
person on the track itself. At the end of a 33 foot leash, the handler follows the dog, which is expected
to scent the track and indicate the location of the objects, usually by lying down with it between its front
paws. The tracking phase is intended to test the dog’s trainability and ability to scent, as well as, its
mental and physical endurance.
The obedience phase includes a series of heeling exercises, some of which are closely in and around
a group of people. During the heeling, there is a gun shot test to assure that the dog does not openly
react to such sharp noises. There is also a series of field exercises in which the dog is commanded
to sit, lie down and stand while the handler continues to move. From these various positions, the dog
is recalled to the handler. With dumbbells of various weights, the dog is required to retrieve on a flat
surface, over a one-meter hurdle and over a six-foot slanted wall. The dog is also asked to run in a
straight direction from its handler on command and lie down on a second command.
Finally, each dog is expected to stay in a lying down position away from its handler, despite
distractions, at the other end of the obedience field, while another dog completes the above exercises.
All of the obedience exercises are tests of the dog’s temperament, structural efficiencies and very
importantly, its willingness to serve man or woman.
The protection phase tests the dog’s courage, physical strength and agility. The handler’s control for
the dog is absolutely essential. The exercises include a search of hiding places, finding a hidden
person (acting as a human decoy), and guarding that decoy while the handler approaches. The dog is
expected to pursue the decoy when an escape is attempted and to hold the grip firmly. The decoy is
searched and transported to the judge with the handler and dog walking behind and later at the decoy’
s right side. When the decoy attempts to attack the handler, the dog is expected to stop the attack with
a firm grip and no hesitation. The final test of courage occurs when the decoy is asked to come out of a
hiding place by the judge from the opposite end of the trial field. The dog is sent after the decoy when
he refuses to listen to the handler’s command to stop. The decoy then runs directly at the dog
threatening the dog with a stick. All grips during the protection phase are expected to be firmly placed
on the padded sleeve and stopped on command and or when the decoy discontinues the fight. The
protection tests are intended to assure that the dog is neither a coward nor a criminal menace.
What is the Judge looking for in the Dog?
At all three stages --- Schutzhund I, II and III --- each of the three phases: obedience, tracking and
protection, is worth 100 points, for a total of 300 points. If a dog does not receive a minimum of 70% of
the points in tracking, 70% of the points in obedience and 70% of the points in protection --- or if the
dog fails the pretrial temperament test ---- it is not awarded a degree that day and must repeat the
entire test, passing all phases of the test at a later trial. In every event, the Judge is looking for an
eager, concentrating and accurate working dog. High ratings and scores are given to the animal that
displays a strong willingness and ability to work for it human handler.
The Schutzhund Trained Dog in the Home
Since Schutzhund is the demonstration of the German Shepherd dog’s most desirable characteristics,
dogs well trained in Schutzhund are usually excellent companions in the home. The German
Shepherd Dog --- like any other working dog that possesses mental stability --- has trust and
confidence in itself, allowing it to be at peace with its surroundings.
In addition to sound structural efficiencies for long, arduous work, the standard for the German
Shepherd Dog calls for mental stability and a willingness to work. The dog should be approachable,
quietly standing its ground, showing confidence and a willingness to meet overtures without itself
necessarily making them. It should be generally calm, but eager and alert when the situation
warrants. It should be fearless, but also good with children.
The German Shepherd Dog should not be timid or react nervously to unusual sounds or sights. A dog
that is overly aggressive because of its overall fears of people and events can be extremely
dangerous. The Schutzhund sport is designed to identify and eliminate such dogs from breeding
stock. Because Schutzhund training gives the owner a great deal of control over the dog the owner is
able to let the dog have more fun. Not only is Schutzhund training itself enjoyable for the dog, but the
Schutzhund trained dog knows how to please its owners, creating a stronger bond between dog and
owners.
The Schutzhund Trained Dog for Police Work
A dog that performs well in Schutzhund work is obviously a very good candidate for police work. Police
dogs, like other service dogs, must have temperaments with a good foundation of intelligence and
utility. A minimal amount of additional training makes many well-trained Schutzhund dogs ready for
active police duty. Such fearless police dogs can also work around children and in crowds without
worry on the part of their handlers.
Choosing a Puppy for Schutzhund.
In every breed, the pedigree is the key to knowing the potential of the puppy. Schutzhund revolves
around working lines --- generations of dogs that have proven themselves and produced similar
characteristics in their offspring. These characteristics include not only the physical structure of the
dog, which is very important, but also its temperament.
Selecting the bloodlines from which you want your puppy may require advice. Information from breed
surveys can help. Of course, it makes sense to discuss your objectives with reputable and
experienced Schutzhund handlers or enthusiasts.
Once you have determined that the bloodlines of the potential dam and sire are of high quality, you
should observe the parents, especially the Mother, if that is at all possible. The dam will be the main
influence on the young pup for the first six weeks of its life. If the dam is nervous or unsure, chances
are this uncertainty will be transferred to the offspring.
If you are able to see the litter, watch the puppies together and also separately, to try to determine
which is the best puppy. Obvious structural defects or health problems should be watched for.
It is important that the puppy have intense instinct to stalk the prey --- a ball, a toy, etc. --- and also be
the leader in the sense of bullying the other puppies. The puppy should not show fear when away
from its littermates. It should not need to stay with the mother. The puppy should be adventurous and
active, playing with objects shown to it by someone in the enclosure, but it should be independent
enough to take that object and go off on its own as well.
It is independence and confidence, combined with the positive contact with the pack leader (the dam,
at this time) that will develop into the traits of trainability that you need.
Raising a Puppy for Schutzhund Work.
Puppyhood is the most critical period for the development of the characteristics you want to
encourage. Your local Schutzhund club can advise you about nurturing and socializing your growing
puppy. (Please see end of article for information about local Schutzhund Clubs.)
A puppy learns from it experiences, so you want to provide only positive ones. It should be provided
with opportunity to explore and investigate new situations and new people, but always in a non-
threatening way. Remember that your goal is to build confidence in the young animal. Your aim is
NOT to dominate or oppress the young pup.
Exposure to different environments is crucial to the general education of the dog and also to assure it
that the world is a safe pace. If something appears to make the dog unsure, give it the opportunity to
investigate it slowly, but do not force the issue.
It is imperative to avoid situations where your dog would be dominated by another older or stronger
dog, or by another puppy. You also want to avoid having to discipline or correct your puppy and thus
dampen its spirit or damage its self-confidence. You can do this by never leaving the pup in a situation
where it can cause damage to your valuables or find itself in a dangerous predicament.
The final area of development is that of drive encouragement. The natural behaviors that you want to
encourage are playing with the ball, tug of war, hide and seek, pulling toys on a string, pursuing you
rapidly when you run away, and finally defending itself, its family and its home. The latter really only
shows itself between the ages of nine and eighteen months as the pup begins to mature by barking at
strangers or intruders.
It is better to leave for later formal obedience training with a young dog. The character of the puppy is
not sufficiently strong to withstand the corrections involved in obedience training. Acceptable manners
at home and in the car and “play“ training, like learning to sit for a food reward, with NO corrections
involved, is advisable. Real obedience work should begin only after the dog is well on its way in the
protection training.
Schutzhund Around the World
The first Schutzhund trial was held in Germany in 1901 to emphasize the correct working temperament
and ability in the German Shepherd breed. Originally, these dogs were herding dogs, but the
industrialization of Germany encouraged breeders to promote the use of their dogs as police and
military dogs. The Verein fur Deutsche Schaferhunde (SV), the parent club, became concerned that
this would lead to careless breeding and undesirable traits such as mental instability, so it developed
the Schutzhund test.
Since then, many other countries and working dog organizations have also adopted Schutzhund as a
sport and a test of working performance in dogs. International rules have been established, and they
are administered by the Verein fur Deutsche Hundesport (VDH).
In 1970 the first Schutzhund trial in the U.S. was held in California. Today, the GSDCA-WDA sponsors
trial in all parts of the country and chooses a team in open competition to represent the GSDCA at the
WUSV World Championship. More than 25 countries send teams of competitors to the World
Championship for Schutzhund dogs from the World Union of German Shepherd clubs.
(It is a matter of historical fact that Judge Joe Tackett among other great working dog persons helped
establish Schutzhund in the USA.)
The Value to the Breed
Any registered German Shepherd that has earned a Schutzhund degree has demonstrated sufficient
ability as a working dog to qualify for breed evaluation. The breed evaluation is a very detailed
examination of the dog’s structure, temperament and pedigree and requires both a certification of
good hip joints and sufficient performance on an endurance test (the AD). Dogs that do well in the
breed evaluation receive a Koerklasse I or Koerklasse II. This is a recommendation and evaluation by
a trained and recognized expert Judge as the worthiness of the dog for breeding. Dogs rated
Koerklasse II are “suitable for breeding” and dogs rated Koerklasse I are “recommended for
breeding”. By thus screening dogs in order to select the suitable specimens for breeding, Schutzhund
helps to maintain the quality of the breed at a very high level. Thus, there is a very high level of
assurance that puppies born to Schutzhund dams and sired by Schutzhund dogs are more likely to be
of reliable temperament, high intelligence, steady nerves, extreme endurance, great strength, and
sound structures.
Do Dogs Enjoy Schutzhund Training?
If trained in the right manner, dogs enjoy working, as anyone who attends a Schutzhund competition
can see. The joy of the dogs in working with their handlers is evident.
For thousands of years, dogs have adapted to serve humans in a mutually beneficial relationship.
While dogs could move quickly, hunt prey, and protect flocks and their owner, the humans could
provide food, shelter from the most severe elements, and protection from larger predators, besides
tending to the dog’s injuries. A dog’s reason for being is to serve humans.
Schutzhund training helps develop the dog’s natural instincts to a high level. Self-confident dogs,
doing work for which they are well trained, are happy dogs. Wagging tails, sounds of excitement, and
strong pulling on a leash all show an observer at a Schutzhund trial how much fulfillment dogs find in
this work.
For More Information About Schutzhund:
The GSDCA-WDA (German Shepherd Dog Club of America- Working Dog Association, Inc.) is a
national organization which was formed in 1982 and which offers both Schutzhund trials, Breed Shows
and Breed Surveys using SV and SV trained judges. We also choose the team to represent the
GSDCA at the World (WUSV) Championship. We welcome all German Shepherd enthusiasts who
are interested in improving the working and structural qualities of the German Shepherd Dog.
The GSDCA-WDA publishes a bi-monthly newsletter (which includes information about training, a
breeders directory, etc.) and offers several booklets and videos on raising German Shepherd puppies
as well as several aspects of training. In addition to local club trials and shows, the national
organization sponsors an annual Schutzhund Championship, an annual Conformation
"Championship" (The North American Sieger Show), and an annual Universal Championship which
combines a Schutzhund Trial and a Breed Show on the same weekend. WDA individual membership
is $50 per year (plus a $5 initiation fee); the family membership is $75 per year (two people, same
address) plus the $5 initiation fee.
For more information regarding membership or to request a membership application contact the
GSDCA-WDA Office, Joy Schultz,
732 Lindley Blvd., Deland FL 32724
Tel: (386) 736-2486 E-mail: wdaoffice@cfl.rr.com
WDA clubs are organized by regions through the U.S., and there are numerous clubs in most areas of
nearly all states. They are an excellent source of information. To contact a club or the Regional
Director for your area, visit our Member Club page on the WDA website. See our link page
The Good Shepherd Schutzhund Club is a GSDCA-WDA non-profit club serving
Houston, Texas, and surrounding rural areas. Judge Joe Tackett is the
Training Director. We would love for you to visit and/or join and be a part of
our family. For more information e-mail:
Judge Tackett: joe@schutzhundk9.com.
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