Search

.com Forum · Real Show Dogs

Replies in this thread : 6

Author Topic : Schutzhund
 Hearts Ablaze
Basic User
Posts : 26

System.__ComObject
6/19/2017 10:34:20 PM reply with quote send message to Hearts Ablaze Object to Post   

Hi everyone,

I recently got a GSD puppy from German working lines and would really like to compete in Schutzhund with her when she is older. She's still really young (she will be ten weeks tomorrow), but I will take any advice I can get when it comes to this sport. I've trained dogs in Agility before, I have two Border Collies but I feel like this will be very different. Any advice is greatly appreciated!
 Super Uber Kennels
Basic User
Posts : 1,000+

Basic User
6/20/2017 1:59:56 AM reply with quote send message to Super Uber Kennels Object to Post

Is there a local club in your area? If so, I would probably contact them. I have no personal experience with this sport, but knowing how much I work at training my dog for AKC obedience, I always imagine the protection sports must require 10x more commitment. The club in my area has this to say (and it seems like very honest information/advice):

"Keep in mind that less than 10% of the puppies we see will be able to obtain Schutzhund titles, regardless of breeding and origins. It takes a special dog and handler to be able to do Schutzhund. The handler must be dedicated to the sport to succeed. You cannot get your dog ready for trials in one session per week; the time commitment makes it almost impossible to have other hobbies. Schutzhund is a difficult sport; there is a lot to learn, we expect you to watch other members closely, decide whose training methods you feel comfortable with, and ask them plenty of questions. We will help you, regardless of how much work your dog needs but we will also let you know if the sport is not a good fit for you and your dog. It does not mean that your dog could not do well in other sports. We try to be honest in our assessment, but remember it is not easy for us to tell you what you may not want to hear, we do not take any pleasure in explaining your dogs nature and faults, so please leave your ego at home. It is very important for your future training that you know and understand what your dog is capable of and what he is not."

More suggestions from this club can be found here:
www.dfwworkingdogs.com/first_visit.html

Good luck with your puppy! happy :)
 Hearts Ablaze
Basic User
Posts : 26

Basic User
6/20/2017 9:51:01 AM reply with quote send message to Hearts Ablaze Object to Post

Thanks! Worst case scenario, we'll probably try tracking and/or agility. I know it may be a difficult sport and require a lot more commitment than Agility, but I'd still love to give it a shot. happy :)
 chocolateteapot
Premium Member
Posts : 138

Premium Member
6/20/2017 12:24:02 PM reply with quote send message to chocolateteapot Object to Post

It's fashionable to call it IPO nowadays, but it will always be Schutzhund to me. I've done it with one of my dogs, DDR/CZ lines - it was very hard work, great fun - but not to be undertaken lightly - you need a very high degree of obedience, far more so than in obedience shows, where the dogs often work well in the ring but don't obey at all outside the ring! The dog has to obey whatever the distractions, they also need to be fit and sound.

Congrats on getting a pup from working lines - you are halfway there in that respect - if a dog can't work, it's not a Shepherd!!
 Hearts Ablaze
Basic User
Posts : 26

Basic User
7/4/2017 5:28:22 PM reply with quote send message to Hearts Ablaze Object to Post

this post has been edited 1 time(s)

Awesome, thanks. I need to post some pictures of her soon. She turned 12 weeks old today.

-----
Last edited by Hearts Ablaze on 7/21/2017 1:37:56 PM
 Targaryen
Premium Member
Posts : 14

Premium Member
11/3/2017 9:13:01 PM reply with quote send message to Targaryen Object to Post

I do schutzhund/IPO, and I would say way more than 10% of dogs bred for work can get titled. I am talking about dogs that have SchH/IPO,french ring, etc titled parents. It would be a much lower percent of dogs if the titles are farther back in a pedigree. I love it, but it is almost a lifestyle. It doesn't make your dog dangerous or anything if the training is right, so don't feel bad if you do it for a while and decide it isn't for you.
 ESAN
Basic User
Posts : 460

Basic User
11/4/2017 1:53:57 AM reply with quote send message to ESAN Object to Post

In my country Schutzhund/IPO is way more popular than Agility, partly because it has a lot more history and because a lot of the working breeds need the IPO1 title to become show champions. I would say a puppy from working lines has more than 50% chances to do well in the sport, but aside the hard work the character of the puppy matters a lot. She has to have a lot of inborn drive and a high degree of obedience, and in my opinion these are inherited traits of character that can only be little influenced by training. So at this age I would say she needs to like and chase her ball like crazy (and you could start developing her focus at you using that) and not be spooky. Try and get her socialised well, with different enviornments, people and noises.

Replies in this thread : 6

Post Reply

 



Did you know?
The second obedience title is a CDX, or "Companion Dog Excellent", which is earned through competition in the Open obedience class.