I am in the process of looking for a trainer in SE PA (Philly area) I am looking to have a GSD or Belgian trained in SAR and handler protection. I have hooked up with a few people who can help with the SAR part, but they are not qualified to help with the protection part. I am hoping to find someone with similar views to that of Ed and many of the people on this board. Any suggestions would be appreaciated.

Your first step could be contacting the local SchH clubs in your area. If you're looking just for protection training, period - you'll have a much harder time finding a trainer, and if you do, your chance of getting ripped off is much higher.
You might want to take a look in the forums here on Personal Protection to see what I mean.

SchH USA clubs-
The list for those in Penn state are:
US-1 SchH & Police Dog Club
Chris Carr
12325 Wyndom Road
Philadelphia, PA 19154
215-308-6649


Delaware Valley Police and Schutzhund Club
Mike Andrel
422 S Scott Ave
Glenolden, PA 19036
610-237-9252

Greater Philadelphia Schutzhund Club
John Genovese
15 Bolingbroke Road
West Chester, PA 19382
610-399-8305

Hegins Valley Police and Schutzhund Club
Tim Karchnak
6129 Blue Valley Ave.
Harrisburg, PA 17112
717-541-1462

Hunde Arbeits Verein
Randy Kromer
991 Pear Road
Walnutport, PA 18088
610-767-7480

DVG contacts for Penn state :


HUNDESPORT WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA (11/02/26)

Jeff Platt, President, Trg. Dir.
880 Rte. 519
Eighty Four, PA 15330
(724) 225-0691

Dave McDonell, Vice Pres.
2085 980 Rd.
McDonald, PA 15057
(724) 746-4626


Kurt Rutherford, Secretary,Treasurer
5378 Elm St.
Bethel Park, PA 15102
(412) 835-0799

DVG club is 300 miles from Philly give or take a couple

Lee,
Could be - the only thing I really know about PA is that it's the gateway to Ohio <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
Go Buckeyes!

Can I ask why you would need a dog for personal protection as well as use it for SAR?

I'm going to ask the same question Karen did. Why? VC, Will, Kevin or most on the board here could answer better than me, but IMHO a protection dog responds to aggressive movement towards it's handler. Having seen a number of people react very erratic to SAR dogs, I wonder what the protection dog would do in one of these scenarios. Over protection of it's handler is not accepted in our SAR group.

I don't see a reason to do both. The well selected dog for the type of protection work I want isn't going to be able to do both after the protection training we do.


Getting bit might be better than being lost though. LOL

We discuss that often VC. A big, barking GSD might scare the crap outa someone, but at least they'll be found.

Will, Thanks for the info on the clubs.

As far as those who ask why I want a dog that can do both, let me give a few thoughts and ideas I have. I am new to this and maybe I am asking for too much from one dog. That is why I am asking all of these questions before I spend the money.

SAR will be the main function on the dog. However, as you can see I live near philly- crime is everywhere. I am not a big gun fan. If I can have a dog that will find someone on a call out and then protect me at home, why not? I have talked to a few different SAR groups with varying opinions on the matter. Some will not allow a protection trained dog into the group. Others will if the dog shows no aggresion towards people or other dogs except on command. My understanding is that a dog with stable nerves and properly trained can handle both. I guess that I am trying to get the most I can out of one dog. I have the time to put into training so if I can find the right combination of SAR training and personal protection training, then that is what I will try to accomplish. Do you think I am unrealistic in my hopes?

I don't think it's unrealistic for a dog to do both, but it gets harder and harder to find an SAR group that will let you certify or go to call outs with a dog that's been protection trained, or is a sport dog.

While I feel better giving my dog the training to at least have a reliable "out", my group sees any kind of "bitework" as a doorway to liability. They have their own, special, temperment test (adminstered by a vet :rolleyes: ) that any dog has to pass to be at an "event" which can be a demonstration or parade, as well as a call out.

Since I'm not totally in alignment with my group about handling my dog, my high prey drive girl, who is a tracking fool will most likely be doing dog sport instead.