001. Working Trials
Description
This article is from the Working Dogs FAQ, posted to rec.pets.dogs newsgroup. Maintained by Cindy Tittle Moore with numerous contributions by others.
001. Working Trials
This section overviews a number of sports that are related to what is loosely termed "protection work". These all involve multiple components of obedience, tracking, and patrol work, however, not just "protection" training. And as a matter of fact, the different sports described below focus on different elements. AWT rarely emphasize bitework, while Schutzhund has a heavy emphasis on it even though the two sports both have the three components of obedience, tracking and patrol dog work.
Some pointers to online information:
* American Working Trials, kept by Mark and Kim Donnell, donnell@arlut.utexas.edu.
* French Ring Homepage, kept by Neal Wallis, mrmalinois@aol.com.
* Schutzhund Homepage, kept by Linda, linda@net-connect.net.
* Schutzhund Homepage, kept by Ed Frawley, frawley@win.bright.net.
American Working Trials
French Ring
Schutzhund
(See also the Schutzhund FAQ, still under construction.)
Schutzhund dogs are generally considered working dogs, as many of them are subsequently used as patrol dogs and guard dogs. However, there are many people who participate in Schutzhund as a sport, enjoying the training and titling in of itself.
Purpose
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. In Germany, a Schutzhund degree is required before breeding a German Shepherd Dog.
A dog that is unreliable around people will have a difficult time passing a Schutzhund test. In order to enter for a Schutzhund I title, the dog must have passed a the Begleithund test, which is a combination of a CD and Canine Good Citizen test.
History
Schutzhund is a dog training and breeding regimen developed originally in the 20's by the Deutsches Shaeferhund Verein (German Shepherd Dog Club), or SV, in order to maintain the working ability of the breed. While the term Schutzhund means literally "protection dog", the training involves work equally in tracking, obedience and protection. In order to get a Schutzhund degree a dog must pass all three phases of the work. Also, a working title (at least a SchH I) is required for breed survey purposes, and in order to register an approved litter. The first Schutzhund trial was held in Germany in 1901 to emphasize the correct working temperament and ability in the German Shepherd breed. SV, the parent club of the breed, developed the Schutzhund test as a way of maintaining reliable dogs with traits suitable for breeding.
Today
Many countries and working dog organizations have also adopted Schutzhund as a sport and test of working performance. International rules have been established by the Verein fuer Deutsche Hundesport (VDH). The first SchH trial in the U.S. was held in California in 1970. In 1987 the U.S.A. alone sanctioned nearly 300 trials with a total entry of 1,800 dog/handler teams.
Many breeds now participate in addition to GSDs. While there may be individual dogs of a particular breed that may be suitable for the work, the following are most consistently able to perform: GSDs, Belgian Malinois, Doberman Pinscher, Bouvier des Flandres, Rottweiler, Tervuren, Boxer, Giant Schnauzer, etc. Generally, these are larger working breeds with strong prey and defense drives, and temperaments suitable for the tasks of the training.
A Note about Protection Work
The results of this type of training depends heavily on the temperament of the dog and the quality of the trainer. There are enough bad trainers out there that you have to be very careful who you choose. The best avenues for finding a good trainer are through a responsible and dedicated club. Most of these tests include temperament tests as any good protection dog is stable and trustworthy around people. The common image of a ferocious, barely controlled dog has no place in these events and tests.
Protection work in itself does not make a dog mean. In order to do protection work you must have a temperamentally stable dog. An inappropriately aggressive dog is actually not a good candidate for this work. You need a dog with confidence and good nerves. A nervous or shy dog is a poor candidate because it can't take the stress of the training. A protection dog needs both prey and defensive drives. An unbalanced dog is very difficult to train because protection work is the blending of both these drives to produce a calm, reliable dog that understands the work.
A dog must be brought along slowly to build confidence and understanding. A dog should not be hurt or frightened in order to elicit aggression. If neither prey work or defensive postures elicits a response, the dog either doesn't have the proper drives or it is not mature enough to handle the work.
Some owners inappropriately encourage aggression in their dogs outside of protection training. This is wrong. They sometimes do not keep the control over the dog, often delighting in the macho behavior of their dog.
Protection training will not change the dog's basic temperament. It does give you a good view of the dog's total temperament under stress. An edgy dog will always be edgy. A stable dog will always be stable.
Description
There are three major degrees awarded - SchH I, SchH II, and SchH III -- in order of increasing difficulty. SchH I (IPO I) is the apprentice test. A SchH III dog must demonstrate a high level of performance, ability and courage.
The traits that make for a good Schutzhund candidate mostly are innate characteristics that must be bred for. Even among dogs bred out of Schutzhund bitches and dogs, a minority have the ability to reach even SchH I, and a small percentage will have the necessary drive, intelligence and hardness to achieve a Sch III title. In addition to breeding, early development is important. The young pup should not be subjected to strong corrections or experience being dominated by another dog, and all training and play should end on a positive note, with the pup "winning."
The IPO (International Pruefungsordnung) rules, under the auspices of the FCI (Federation Internationale Cynologique), are similar to the Schutzhund rules and the trials are run in the same manner, with the exception that no evaluation of the fighting instincts, courage or hardness of an IPO entrant is performed during the protection phase of the trial.
A summary of the available degrees: Degree Min Age
B Begleithunde 12 months (Companion Dog)
FH Faehrtenhundpruefung 16 months (Advanced Tracking Dog Test)
AD Ausdauerpruefung 16 months (Endurance Test)
SchH A Schutzhund Examination A 18 months SchH I Schutzhund Examination I 18 months SchH II Schutzhund Examination II 19 months SchH III Schutzhund Examination III 20 months
References
_Schutzhund: Theory and Training Methods_ by Susan Barwig and Stewart Hilliard. 1991 Howell Books ISBN 0-87605-731-8
_Training the Competitive Working Dog_ by Tom Rose and Gary Patterson 1985 Giblaut Publishing Company 3333 S. Bannock, Suite 950, Englewood,CO 80110
The Rose book is getting obsolete, particularly the obedience section (Tom now uses much more motivational techniques) but here is still a lot of good theory and practical exercises.
_Schutzhund Obedience: Training in Drive with Gottfried Dildei_ by Shiela Booth. 1992, Podium Publications.
Highly recommended by many.
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