Schutzhund and the German Shepherd Dog
What is Schutzhund/VPG?
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Schutzhund is a German word meaning "protection dog". It refers to a sport that focuses on developing and evaluating those traits in dogs that make them more useful and happier companions to their owners. Schutzhund work concentrates on three parts. Many are familiar with the obedience work of the American Kennel Club's affiliates and 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 actively involved in the sport of Schutzhund and often follow similar criteria for breeding purposes, 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. In 2004 Schutzhund was changed to Vielseitigkeits Pruefung fuer Gebrauchshunde (VPG).
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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. |
The Schutzhund
Titles
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The BH or companion dog title is a pre-requirement for Schutzhund titles.
All breeds and sizes are eligible with the minimum age requirements of 15 months.
There are three levels of the Schutzhund
test:
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In addition to the Schutzhund temperament tests, the United Schutzhund Clubs of America offer three training degrees: the FH 1 and FH 2, advanced tracking degrees; WH, or basic protection degree which includes basic obedience, and the AD which is an 12.5 mile endurance test and includes obedience. USA also offers six seperate obedience and tracking titles that reflect the routines for SchH 1, 2, & 3 levels
The Schutzhund
Trial consists of 3 parts:
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History
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).
Part 1: Tracking
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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.
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Part 2: Obedience
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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 its owner.
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Part 3: Protection
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The protection phase tests the dog's courage, physical strength, and agility. The
handler's control of the dog is absolutely essential. The exercises include a search of
hiding places, finding a hidden person (acting as a 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 dog's handler from the opposite end of the trial field. The
dog is sent after the decoy who is threatening the dog with a stick and charging at the
handler. 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 possesses the proper temperament for
breeding.
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SchH1/ VPG 1 (top
of page)
For SchH1 the dog must be at least 18 months old and pass an initial temperament test by
the judge. The dog must heel off leash, demonstrate the walking sit, the walking down, and
the long down under distraction, as well as the send-out. It must retrieve on the flat and
over a hurdle, and over the 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.
SchH2 / VPG 2 (top
of page)
For SchH2 the dog must be at least 19 months old and must already have earned its SchH1
degree. It must again pass all of the obedience and protection tests required for the
SchH1 degree, but those tests, for SchH2, are made more difficult and require greater
endurance, agility, and, above all, control. There is an additional walking stand exercise
required. In tracking, the SchH2 candidate must be able to follow a track laid by a
stranger at least 30 minutes earlier.
SchH3 / VPG 3 (top
of page)
For SchH3, the master's degree, the dog must be at least 20 months old and must have
earned both the SchH 1 and the SchH2 titles. Again, the tests now are made far more
difficult. All exercises in obedience and protection are demonstrated off leash. The
Walking stand is replaced by the 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 SchH1 and 2, 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 SchH3 team is a beautiful illustration of the
partnership of human and dog.
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