I was just wondering what a beginner at Schutzhund should expect at a Sch club, would the primary focus be Obedience and aiming for a Bh? I went to take a look at the Central Florida Police & Schutzhund Club tonight, being a tues night there was only one other person there. I wasn't quite sure what to expect so I just stuck around, demonstrated the work I'd done with my dog, and ofcourse, he was all over the place sniffing at his new surroundings where other dogs had been, but I'm pretty happy with the amount he did listen once he was focused on me. My dog wasn't interested at all in the toys she had there (rubber ball on a rope and a rubber tug-like toy) and I had only brought hotdogs myself, but my dog was too interested in his new environment to pay attention to any toys, and I'm sure he wore himself out barking in the crate before he could come out and play. But i've read many articles on the Leerburg website, i'm working from the Drive & Focus DVD, and ordered "the first steps to bite training" earlier today, I'm wondering if it is better for me to work my dog in his own environment until I'm done with the bite training DVD and the "preparing the dog for the helper" DVD, and THEN take him to a Sch club or work with a private helper to continue his training?

I know Obedience is an important part of Sch, a dog that isn't controllable is not a good thing, but I always thought that such things were taught side by side with drive training using tugs and his toys with quick motions. I'm not sure that going for a Bh first is the way to go.

One of the techniques I was told to use tonight was to hold a hotdog in a position with both hands that makes it look alot like its my.. uhm, thing I don't want my dog to bite... and then have the dog "drive me", basically step backwards and let the dog nibble at the hotdog n try to keep him interested in the hotdog while following me. Is this a good way to start a dog on heeling? I assume that is what she was intending.

I'd like to hear some feedback on this, right now I feel I'm best off just focusing on training with the Leerburg videos until it's time for a helper, then decide on which club to join or try to find a helper to work with me one on one. I'm not much of a "club" person as it is, I'm doing this for personal enjoyment to keep my dog mentally active and do something we'll both enjoy.

Always aim for the top. Train for the 3 and see how far you want to go. I have never understood why people only train for the first title. I know it comes back to bite me later on. The club that I am in are quite the champions at training for the brevet and struggle with the upper levels due to going for the brevet and not training for the 3. As far as a club goes, that depends on what you want. Some clubs train a lot and some are not so serious. Try to meet everyone and see if you feel comfortable there. If you really are not serious about the training, then take that into consideration when you join a club. Some clubs are very serious.

hes right i always train for a 3 and never pattern train thatll bite you if the handle makes a mistake and the dog catches it. the only thing i say watch for in a club is jelouisy our club has it bad we have a guy who comes out with no dogs but he has the best if you know what i meen then we have another guy who has american bulldogs and a pressa and they dont do the work as good as my shepherd and the malinois so he just trys to bring drama. and be carefull cause some helpers and trainin directoe think that there dogs have to be the best so theyll mess up yours

You have to remember that there are 101 ways to train for each little exercise.. and everyone will do it differently! Some ways, of course, will work better than others on some dogs.. some won't work at all.. !!! Depends on the dog.

It is hard to make judgement without being there.

I too want to see a club aim for the top. Some clubs are highly competitive, some just chug along with a lot of dogs and never really get anywhere.

In a club I want to see the TD actively finding out what "works" for each specific dog, not sticking to one way to train everything. I want to see the handlers being taught more than the dog. I hate a club where the TD or more experienced members take the dogs leash for more than a few seconds to show the way something is done.

Take a look at the other members dogs, and the TD's dog.. do you like how they work? Do the dogs look happy and spunky in their work? Do the other members/TD attend other trials or seminars? Are they open to other training ideas or stuck in their own little box? Is there a "plan" or "program" for each dog? Or do they just come out and train "willy-nilly"?

I personally hate pattern training also, but that does not always mean a "bad club", some of the top SchH dogs do the whole routine as a huge pattern trained OB routine and do very well by it!

Use your own judgement, get out to as many clubs as possible and compare.. then decide what is best for you and your dog.

Good luck!

Schutzhund clubs are like girlfriends or x-wives - they all have their own personality and you have to find what fits your temperament.

I wrote an article on this on my web site - in my list of training articles. Go and rtead it http://leerburg.com/articles.htm

I have been to that exact same club about a year ago. When I was there (also a tuesday night) there 3 people that showed up with their dogs. Maryanne Morse had a german shepherd that was ScH 3 and he looked alright (I'm fairly inexperienced when watching schutzhund dogs) but I think she said she bought him as a trained dog.

The other people had Mals that were a little crazy and immature. They were doing that same hot dog exercise and I believe it was to teach the dog to drive into the handler for the front. Not necessarily for the heel.

They only did obedience that night, and I too wondered about protection and tracking. The club seems fairly low key, and not super serious, although I remember the members talking about going to nationals and stuff like that (albeit to watch I think). The people were all very nice and talked a lot to me about what they new. There wasn't a whole lot of active "teaching" going on when I was there. It was pretty much like each person worked there dog for 10 minutes or less and every now and then someone would say something like "bring him in closer" or the like from their chair.

That's about all I got. Let me know what you decide as I too will be facing that same situation (to wait and train him myself or start going to a club right away) with my puppy when I get him in August.

I may go check out a saturday morning session since more people are supposed to show up then, but I'm probably better off working off the leerburg videos as far as I can, then seeking a private helper or joining a club that I feel can help me more with the direction I'd like to go. I'm sure the First steps to bite training dvd will give me alot more insight in what to look for too.

Jeff, when you have your pup we should get together some time, perhaps we can help eachother out or find a helper that'll work with the both of us.

Or check out Schutzhund Club of Orlando on Sunday nights <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />