Recently my husband found out that he has some health concerns so when we decided to get a dog, we went with a GSD with the intent of her being a protective dog for the family and home. We are way too early to to train for this since she is only 4 1/2 months old and I have started the building drive and focus dvd, but have to put it on hold due to teething. My question is, for an adult dog, is it too much to ask or too stressful to train in shutzhund, be a family dog around small children and protect the home? I know this may sound like a silly question, but after reading Ed's articles I am left with the impression that shutzhund training does not mean a dog will be protective of the home. I know that a stressed out dog is just as unpredictable as an untrained dog and I don't want to ask too much. We have just started with laying a track with food and she takes it as a fun game; but do I need to choose which to do down the road? Thank you...Dawn

For what it's worth, and keep in mind I have A LOT less experience in this than a lot of the other people here, I grew up in a household where my mother trained Rottweiler's in Schutzhund. Two of these dogs were also considered "pets". They did protect the house and us as necessary, though there were never any serious threats to house or family outside of the "serious" threats in the training sessions.

My mom NEVER left me alone with the dogs, though, up until I was about 11 and even then the dogs stayed outside and I stayed inside. Small children should ALWAYS be taught to have a healthy respect for ALL dogs including ones that have been "trained" and should NEVER be left unattended with a dog.

All that said, I'd agree that not all Schutzhund dogs will necessarily be protective of the home and the family. Remember that to most dogs Schutzhund is a game with rules.

What do you think folks, am I off base here?

Sabrina

I also should have noted that only one of the "pet" Schutzhund dogs had any formal Personal Protection training. And that was after my mom had taken her as far as she planned to in Schutzhund.

Sabrina

hello; schutzhund does mean 'protection dog' but the sport has changed alot over the years. USA and the SV are more focused on 'sporthunde' with much of the bitework being accomplished in prey because this is less threatening to the public. There is always the problem of the impression that the public gets from exposure to the training and the desire to maintain good relations and not have to deal with legislation that might try to prohibit such training.
In Germany there are still trainers whose schutzhunde are quite capable of personal protection. They are very experienced and know how to handle these dogs. I'm not sure how many trainers there are in this country who might also have REAL dogs doing schutzhund. My dogs are always trained in schutzhund and they are also very REAL. I know that this upsets some clubs that I go to; they don't feel comfortable with this type of dog. Other clubs seem to want the same type of dog. I guess it depends on the region you're in and the trainers available to you, and most importantly, your ability to handle a dog like that. It is a big responsibility and important to everyone in the sport that you not handle such a dog if you are not able.
In most cases of personal protection, the presence of a big dog willing to bark and/or stance, is more than enough deterrent. A dog that will actually bite someone is a BIG responsibilty. You should be experienced, and well-prepared before you try to have this kind of dog. IMO

I have been thinking about the safty issue and just what I need from the protection aspect. We live in a rural town and the biggest threat is from breaking and entering by meth users. Can I combine alert barking in the home, bark and hold and shutzhund? In thinking about the reality of the situation, if a barking 70 lb shepherd doesn't detour someone, it will buy me time to make it to the gun safe. It just seems like a safer route around the kids than the body bites described, and the shutzhund training lets Ruth have the job she was bred for. A dog without a job I understand will make up stuff to keep them busy, either good or bad.
Thank you for your patience.

Dawn here is just my 2 ,newbie cents


1) At 4 1/2 months old you dont know how your dog is going to turn out, for schutzhund , let alone make a serious PP dog

2) I dont need a serious PP dog and you probably dont either, most people dont. A person well trained with a firearm, good security system and showing some common sense can avoid most problems. Hopefully my Gus serves as a great intimadator, and deterrent. I train for PP cause I like the practical scenario type training, muzzles, civil agitation. I dont care about fu fu healing, jumps with dumbells and such.

3) Good luck with your Schutzhund training; I cant help ya on the bark and hold stuff. A good enviromentally stable dog is just that; it can be around kids safely. One member of my club has a good civil mal that is around his 2 youngs sons all the time, no problems;this dog has been trained, working the suit, muzzle, sleeve. Where the dog bites is of little concern ;it is under what circumstances, when will the dog bite. We work alot of OB in protection, while the dog is under stress