Have a look at these youtube videos of Gary Hanrahan getting mad at a schutzhund trail in December 2007 and driving over the tracks that had been laid for the competition.

What in the world would cause a person do this? This club had permission to use these tracking fields.

Schutzhund USA looked at this and said they were not going to do anything. For years I have said that Schutzhund USA is a corrupt organization that does not deserve the support it gets from good honest sportsmen. If anyone needed proof that this is an accurate statement they only need to look at these video clips on Youtube.

As I understand it - there were 15 people who submitted written statements about this incident and Schutzhund USA did nothing.

This is not a new thing with Mr Hanrahan. What about the time he knocked Mike Caputo (the tracking Judge for a competition Hanrahan had competed in that day) off his bar stool because he was mad about his score. Nothing was done about that either.

Part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2Bbd2MkH2M

Part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzI1cJZWh2c

Part 3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hz7WGcB6ajo

Part 4:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQaWXukJWN4

There were BOI (Board of Inquiry) charges filed for this incident, but the BOI found the video plus the 15 witness statements "inconclusive." What a joke.

There's no room for people like this in the sport or USA. No matter how much money they have, or how many titles they've won. And shame on the BOI and the rest of the USA leadership who lets this type of thing go unchecked.

15 statements and video and it was inconclusive?

I was showing my dog at the National event and in the hotel during the 'bar stool incident' . Sacramento California 1990. Gary and everyone in his flight got a new track. It's just as ridiculous to me now as it was then...(for what it's worth, I failed tracking at that event---didn't get a new track either)

I don't blame people that act like this, because if the organization would uphold the rules for everyone then it would not be an issue. There will always be people who try to skirt the rules for their own reasons, it's just the way it is. Why would anyone be surprised that Mr. Hanrahan would continue to use tactics that have worked for him for decades? If he can intimidate a judge at a National event and then as a result is allowed to have a "do over" why would he be worried about someone filming him disrupting a club trial? The rules obviously don't apply to him and other select members of this dwindling organization.

I'm kind of embarrassed for Gary actually. It's pretty pathetic to watch people behave this way, no matter what their excuse is.

My heart goes out to the club and competitors that were trying to have a trial. I know that when I was competing all those years ago it really meant something to me to get out there and trial my dog. I would have been really upset to show up at an event and have to deal with something like this.

For the vast majority of the dues paying members, this sport is about fun, camaraderie and dog training. Nothing takes the fun out of being at the playground faster than a bully showing up.

If you are involved in the sport of Schutzhund - you need to tell every person you know about these YOUTUBE videos. Every person in the sport needs to watch them.

I have been a member of Schutzhund USA since 1976 and these videos disgust me. This issue is an insult to every person who loves this sport.

The people on the board of directors should be ASHAMED of themselves.

I am not sad that I didn't renew.

Can you imagine being the SchH1 that day. You traveled, laid your track, and were dealing with your nerves only to watch someone who SHOULD be a sportsman, do this?

It is sad.

Wow.......what an example of poor sportsmanship.


I hope that for the people that do not renew their SchH USA membership ( I won't be know - count on it ) that they will mention this incident as one of the reasons for their failure to renew.

The "Board" ought to be *ashamed* of themselves!!

Any organization where the leadership holds itself above or apart from regular membership is doomed to die a slow death. Rules must apply to every single member of the organization, whether they are founding members of the board or the guy that joined two days ago. I feel for everyone who was there that day to trail their dogs.

 Quote: will rambeau

Wow.......what an example of poor sportsmanship.

Exactly, poor sportsmanship. Sad to say that this happens in a lot of organizations.
It irritates the crap out of me, just like the organizations that go for quanity of members and dogs and not quality of members of dogs.
I did not renew with an organization like this. I do not play the "What is good for one, is not good for the other" game, and I also don't play the "snivel and bitch because I made mistakes and therefore did not certify" game. Not to mention handing out certs like they were free candy.

People need to step up, admit their downfalls and work on them as whining around will get you NOWHERE.

I've got what is probably a stupid question, but I imagine other people new to the sport are wondering too, so I'll ask:

As someone who is just starting out and wanting to train, participate, learn and hopefully compete in the sport of Schutzhund, what are the other options?

Is Schutzhund USA the end-all-be-all of the sport in this country? I certainly have no desire to be a part of anything like this, so what are the alternatives? Are there any?

Again, apologies if this question has an obvious answer. Being a newb sucks sometimes but you can't learn if you don't ask.