I am gathering info on schutzhund for my young GSD male. I have heard "don't do it--it makes a dog more aggressive" or the "training is brutal and cruel". I need info from people who are in the sport. My goal is to find an outlet for Nandi to enjoy. So let me explain, I got this pup to work in obedience and tracking, herding or any other sports. I feel it is my obligation to him and the breed to work to his potential. Nandi, my boy, may not be suited for Sch (How do I know?)How will I know if its bad for him? I also plan on using him to visit nursing homes, hospitals like I do with my other GSD. Currently Nandi has earned his Tracking Dog title at 10 months and he is doing very well in obedience. We train 4 evenings a week and track on the weekends. He has a good working pedigree (which I state to show that I think he has the genetics for it) He is from Tiekerhook, out of Lanzo and Sagus vom Busecker, and Robby vom Glockeneck and on the mom's side out of Flink wie ein Geolter Blitz. He has a wonderfully stable temperament and is super fun to train. Again I feel this is about what is good for for my dog and the opportunity to achieve his potential. Why would people think Schutzhund is bad and how can I learn more?

Most people with bad things to say about schutzhund (or protection dog sports in general) either know nothing about it or have been exposed to bad trainers/examples. As in life, your best option for forming your opinion will be knowledge. The more facts you have, the better decision you can make. Here is the best link you will ever find. Good luck and good training!
schutzhund

People would think that SchH is bad because they're uninformed. Or sometimes those folks are carrying their own little agenda and feel threatened by something that is beyond their ability to do.
Ask those people that give you those negative opinions about SchH just how many SchH trials or training sessions that they've attended - generally, the answer will be zero.

The best way to learn more is to go see with your own eyes - seek out a nearby club and watch a trial or training session. The skill level of people in various SchH clubs varies, but I've met far more sincere and nice people on SchH fields that I ever did in the AKC events.

Hello, I am a Police Dog Trainer/Handler, but I see alot of Schutzund dogs and have watched alot of their training. In my opinion the sport is prey driven so if your dog is high in prey drive it is worth having him looked at by a good club trainer. The question about your dog becoming aggressive really depends on the genetic make-up of your dog and the training techniques used by the trainer. I will tell you this of the Schutzand dogs I have tested for police work, probably 90% were only working out of prey and did not possess the basic defense foundation we would look for in police work. In other words I could run them off the field.

Find a good trainer in your area and have him evaluate your dog, just make sure you watch the trainer training other dogs and get some references.

As for it being bad for your dog? I dont see how unless you involve him in some sort of unorthodox, cruel training program.

Sarah ,

I can tell you from the Schutzhund groups I've seen in the Minnesota area , I would highly recommend them . They are a great bunch of people , working hard to train their dogs and having fun (handlers and dogs).

I feel their dogs are safer to be around then the "non-aggresive" dog training groups I've seen . They seem to have much better control of their dogs , because (IMO) they tend to treat them as dogs instead of humans and it reflects in their training and results .

I think you should definately NOT do schutzhund. The training is incredibly cruel and brutal.....to the handlers!!!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I can't think of why it would be bad to train in any of the dogsports, period. It is fun, and you and your dog get to do lots of cool stuff together. Now, mind you, not nearly as cool as ringsport, vastly superior to the meddlesome shutzhund. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Of the 3-4 schutzhund clubs in my area, they range everwhere from 95% motivation, to totally barbaric in their training. Finding the right club can be a nightmare for someone new to the sport.

you wrote:

I can't think of why it would be bad to train in any of the dogsports, period. It is fun, and you and your dog get to do lots of cool stuff together. Now, mind you, not nearly as cool as ringsport, vastly superior to the meddlesome shutzhund.

>Hey Jeff

>In Ringsport aren't there a lot of big mean decoys that
>beat up on the poor defenseless little doggies? VBG

>Private joke, Jeff and I train together.

I did find a local club that trains in the winter just about a 15 minute drive from my home (Minnesota Valley Sch Verein). I called a member and I was told to come on over and observe training. Its on the same University campus that I practice VST with both of my dogs. Thanks for the info. My biggest obstacle is that darn day job--takes so much time out of my life. So much dog fun and so little time.

Sarah, hope to see you this Saturday then! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Marina