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American Schutzhund: The Three Phases

By Kevin Sheldahl

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For those that haven't heard a new organization has been evolving in the protection sports arena. American Schutzhund could be described as an Americanization of SchH/IPO. It is the brain child of Deb Zappia and friends. I thought that now that I have been to two judges meetings, a helper training seminar, judged one trial, and was trial secretary for one trial and participated in another I would post my thoughts. Now here's the disclaimer, I'm not in charge of rules and regulations and not an administrator in the organization.

The Three Phrases

Phase A

This is where there is a vast departure from the Schutzhund of old and IGP today. In phase A for AS 1 the dog must search and area of 8000+ square feet for two articles. The articles location are unknown to the handler. This is scored based on the dogs searching, control, drive, directability, and indications. In AS 2,3 phase A is a detection exercise. Thirty blocks are placed in rows for the search area and one find of pseudo cocaine and one of pseudo heroin are placed within the rows. The dog is judged on much the same attributes as an article search. In the AS 3 the search is increased to three finds and thirty items such as luggage, parcels, boxes, etc are placed in rows simply increasing the difficulty of the exercise.

Phase B

The traditional obedience done would be recognized by anyone who has participated in SchH/VPG/IPO/IGP with a few variables. In the AS1 there is a long down with the handler in a blind. This is the only level where there is a long down other than the B/T.

There is only one retrieve in the AS1 and that is worth 30 points and it is a retrieve on the flat.

The send away is worth 15 points in the AS1

The advancing titles build off the AS1 and increase the number of retrieves by adding an obstacle retrieve to each level. The hurdle in the AS2 and the scaling wall in the AS3.

Heeling and out of motion exercises mimic the patterns of SchH of old and include out of motion exercises, group, recalls, front to finish, etc.

The judging is based on coordination wiht the handler, drive, and correctness with emphasis on the dog/handler relationship and drive.

Phase C

Here in the protection phase is where we see a return to a long-forgotten test, the attack on handler from a hiding place. The AS1, has the dog search 2 blinds, Guard and Bark, picked up or called out of the blind, then heeled across the field to an attack with two stick hits and concurrent drive (pressure). The attack is direct not oblique in the presentation to the dog. For those of us that were around when we called IGP Schutzhund this will seem familiar. The AS1 should be a test of the dog's character for work and it is pretty much universally accepted that an attack on handler shows the quality of the dog being tested by a good helper. Once the attack on handler is completed, the dog is told to release the helper and picked up. The courage test (long bite) is then done. Again the attack by the helper is direct, not a stop and catch, nor an oblique route from the dog. Once the drive is complete the dog is commanded to release the helper, then the handler picks up the dog and performs a side transport to the Judge.

Scoring of Courage, Hardness, and Fighting instinct: Here is a true return to our roots. The dog's performance in regards to the aforementioned traits are given a score. 10 being rare and highly coveted, 9 being a strong display of these desired characteristics, 8 being notable, 7 adequate, and so forth. These numbers along with the tests from the Behavior and Temperament test (B/T) which replaces the BH make American SchH valuable as one tool for the breeder of working dogs.

Conclusion

I was fortunate to have been able to participate in my club's AS Trial last weekend. We did a B/T on Saturday successfully and then did a AS 1 on Sunday. I chose the now expiring option to track for phase A and received a 97 from Judge Jan Nielson. We then managed to make some expensive mistakes in obedience but still received a 80. In Phase c we received 95 points and CHF of 8 for a 272/8. It was a fun trial and another of our club Rishard Wood titled his American Bully as well as did helper work for the trial (as did Jon Bourque). We had a great time both days!

I have heard some grumblings out there about American SchH from IGP camps. Please realize that AS is not a FCI sport, it is unaffiliated and frankly, trying to haul it into FCI/IGP politics is just totally misplaced. You wouldn't do it with UKC nose work? or AKC tracking? In fact, I look forward to trialing my dogs in both IGP and American Schutzhund as I believe they are complementary. The more protection sports there are, the more popular they become in an age where some ignorant, animal welfare zealots would shut us down in a heartbeat if they could. So we need numbers to prove our point. Protection sports are good for dogs and good for us in so many ways!

For more information, go to the website.
View the American Shutzhund Youtube.

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About Author

Kevin Sheldahl

Kevin Sheldahl is a retired Deputy Sheriff who began training with police service dogs in 1982. In his career, he trained K-9 Teams for his department as well as neighboring departments as a Deputy Sheriff. He has experience deploying patrol, detection, SWAT and tracking canines spanning the duration of his career. He is credentialed as a Master Instructor, Certifying Official, and Police Dog Judge. Kevin has participated in numerous dog sports such as Schutzhund/IPO, ring sports, and police sports. Currently, Kevin instructs courses in Basic Patrol & Detection in the Albuquerque Metro Area and teaches advanced course at Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton, Wisconsin. View his website here.