Before I totally commit to AKC and with the encouragement you have given, I've decided to try again find a Schutzhund organization and/or trainer that seems compatible with my thinking.

Tomorrow morning I'm visiting a Schutzhund club at the invitation of one of its members (I think)who is a DVG judge and apparently has a bunch of experience. Had a good discussion and it appears this person's approach is much closer to what I want.

Would someone give me more perspective on the DVG(I think LV/DVG in the U.S.). I know it's an all breed German Schutzhund Organization, but where does it fit into the mainstream of Schutzhund? Is it a respected organization and are it's trials respected? Are the dogs that compete respected?

All information will be appreciated.

Doyle

The DVG is very popular on this board. They're dedicated to working dogs. Many people who have been unhappy with what's been going on in the various organizations seem to strongly back the DVG.

This is what I've learned from reading different people's perspectives on the board.

Hello Everyone:
Doyle, I read this post and the other post that you recently listed and thought that I would share some information from my own experiences with you that might help you to make a decision on what and where to train.

About ten plus years ago while searching for a good club and dog prospect, I visited and watched trials for a few different clubs in my area and made mental notes of what I liked and didn't like and how the handlers handled their dogs and how the dogs scored and their overall character and capabilities, etc. There are only a few clubs in my area and most of them cater to the show dog circut and are not serious about working dogs. When I did find the club that I wanted to join, I had to wait about a year before I could join since they were at the maximum number of club members that they allowed (limiting members is something that I didn't know they did).

In any event, during that year what I did was, go and watch training sessions and then went home and tried to duplicate what I saw at training on my puppy. I got a bunch of books and tapes (from here of course) and did a lot of the foundation work myself. I went to seminars without my puppy and looked and learned and then I went home and tried some of those techniques on my puppy.

For the most part, things like tracking in boxes and straight lines, ball and tug work (prey drive building), socialization, general home OB, coming when called, the sit the down the bark on command, etc. These are all things that you can do by yourself without the benefits of a belonging to a club that you aren't 100% sure about or paying a high priced trainer.

I wouldn't get all caught up just yet, just visit as many clubs and you can, meet some people, observe how they training their dogs and sooner or later you will find a club that you will "click" with. Of course there are better methods out there, but if I made mistakes on my dog, I would rather be the one making mistakes than for someone I don't really know who is trying out a not so clever training method on my dog.

Train Smarter not Harder,
Brandon

Remember the only thing that 2 trainers agree on is what the 3rd trainer is doing wrong.

doyle, check your PM's

The DVG is the second largest orgainization in America. They have a nice program going.

Helper certification process, all-breed atmosphere, and have a number of good trainers.

A lot of the top competitors will run in both USA and the DVG.

The DVG is also the largest SchH org in the world and LV America sends a team to the DM every year. They have always done pretty well internationally.

http://www.dvgamerica.com

The fact is that when training at the club level, you may run into the same politics in any organization (bickering). If your intrest is to train dogs, then find a club that the membership is in it for that too. I have seen just as much garbage go on in DVG as USA (at the clubs level) So one is no better or worse just because they belong to thier respective parent club.

As far as be a respected organization, it just depends on who you ask. But as a whole DVG is more for training then USA or WDA, but none apply a set way of training or adopt a specific method. The only thing that I will say in DVG is that they do teach a specific style of decoying for thier trial decoys (most guys adopt it) ; where as in USA there is no real set style.

You can have alot of fun in any club; it just depends on who your TD is.

Michael,

What is the style that the decoys have? I know they have different levels as to whether a helper can work a local, regional, or national event, but other than that I am not very familiar with it. I do not have a DVG club very close as it is all USA clubs around me. Also, how are the helpers chosen for their National or Championship events? Is it the same type of tryout like at the USA National?

Ron Angst

With alot of the decoys, they all drive the dog the same way, postion themselves for the out the same way, etc.........while there are differences in how athletic a decoy is, they are pretty much taught to drive dogs the same way. For example when a DVG decoy drives dog, it is normally done with the decoys body pivoted right, (if he is left armed) and his legs are pointed straight and the wrist part of the sleeve is closer to the hip of stomach of the decoy. They have a certain style that is for the most part pretty much seen with alot of them.

I am not sure how they choose the decoys for big events , but there is no try-out like USA........you know who the decoy is long before the trial. I think the KG Head's nominate a decoy or two from thier KG. Maybe someone else knows how that goes. I am not certain on the selection process, but I do no it is not like USA.

You know, honestly, I have never paid much attention to the DM or who goes unless I know them. I'm not sure if it is a "Team" that goes or not. Or more directly if they call it a Team.

Not very good for a DVG fan huh? I'll find out.