PS> Patrick...Where are you at in Orlando? I'm in the area as well...

Apparently I misread the article on the Davidson murder.I was under the impression that one of the dogs were ScH trained and since I'm about to begin that faze of my training I wanted to make sure I wasn't making a mistake.I fully agree that an untrained dog dog is more dangerous than a trained one,but I've also never trained a dog in this manner.
As I re-read the article it does state several times that she was thrown out of several clubs and I guess I see why.
Thats why I like this forum,I'm able to get the info I need from qualified people BEFORE I make any decisions.Next time I'll read more carefully.

Michael,

All our dogs are SCH titled multiple times, with one in training for the 1. The house dog is SCH2 and has been dealing with the 27 month toddler since day 1. No problems. She bosses him around and tells my husband's retired competition dog (95 lbs and pretty intense male) - DWIGGY - be quiet! or KENNEL! And he listens.
<img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Current competition dog is pretty intense in the protection work, civil - at the Nationals in San Jose, came off the field, saw Cara - ran up to her and licked her face. Some people were surprised.

But, we have never and will never leave any dog alone with her. That is normal.

-A SOCIAL WORKING DOG-
Striking a Balance through Schutzhund

The most important thing any person can know about dogs is that they are animals. Of course dogs are domesticated and therefore far less dangerous than wild animals, but in the end they are still animals with instincts very similar to their wild ancestors the Canis Lupas-the Grey Wolf. Remains of dogs have been found as far back as 10 to 15 thousand years ago among human families so there has been a long period of training and selective breading in play to further facilitate their co-existence with humans as well as their utility in assisting us. Schutzhund is a recent and proven structured way to facilitate the continued co-existence and utility of dogs.

No type of training will insure that a dog will be able to maintain acceptable social behavior in all instances, but certainly training and testing of that dog and most importantly of its parents can decrease the chances of unacceptable behavior. How much training will improve the ability of the dog to control itself in various social environments will always be limited by that dog’s genetic mental predisposition or temperament as we call it.

Schutzhund is a dog sport that was developed in Germany in the early 1900s to test for desirable working traits and behavior so as to identify German Shepherd Dogs that were suitable for breeding. The same goal of testing for desirable working traits and behavior to identify dogs that are suitable for breeding is the primary purpose of Schutzhund today. Think of Schutzhund as a recent, but important step in improving and continuing the domestication of dogs. Few dog sports are as well structured and as wide spread in helping to improve dogs as a species.

A Schutzhund dog must be the very picture of control and predictability in order to excel at the sport. The higher the Schutzhund title the more tests of that dog’s self-control and obedience it has passed. Aggression toward the handler, judge, or spectator as well as any sign of an inability to be controlled by its handler will results in automatic disqualification from a trial and in some instance suspension from the sport for that dog and trainer.

So, will Schutzhund training in and of itself tell you whether that dog will be good with children? No, but what it does do is take dog owners out of working in the dark in terms of wondering what kind of dog we are about to purchase to be around our children by looking at the parents' titles. Thanks to Schutzhund, we now can know with reasonable certainty that we are purchasing a dog that is high in drive and that will require training to become obedient, but is at the same time very capable of outstanding obedience. The more a dog owner is able to achieve with his dog in obtaining Schutzhund titles the less unpredictable that dog’s reactions will be.

Schutzhund training is as much a benefit to the owner/handler as it is to the dog itself as it helps identify the dog being trained individual weaknesses and strengths in terms of behavior. Believe me even after a few months of training your dog you will learn a great deal about him or her that you would not have learned absent the training.

So, in the end it is my firm belief that Schutzhund is a valuable thing in terms of striking a balance to achieve a better domesticated utilitarian dog. Obedience and experience with your dog will lead to improved predictability of your dog’s actions. Schutzhund training will help you to recognize certain behavior that will dictate whether it is capable of being with children and also help you identify unacceptable behavior while socializing your dog to your children. As long as you are present with your small children and have taught your children regardless of age to respect the dog I do believe that a Schutzhund trained dog is as good a family dog, if not better, than any other large breed dog not trained in Schutzhund.

Personally for me Schutzhund training is for control and socialisation, thats why I train the programe, I don't enter tests, with my dogs but trained the schutzhund pattern both obedience and Protection aspects mostly because my dogs were less frustrated, I had better control
thanks to the obedience portion, and I could assess their temperaments, "weaknesses and strengths", so it is not just for competitive purposes in my case, it can be a huge load of fun for dog and owner,Also it depends on the dogs inherent genetic disposition as to whether shutzhund training will enhance whats is there, Some dogs if trained incorrectly will show aggressive tendencies, you are as good as the training and advice you get, No one can 100 %
guarantee anything in life. I reccommend you have your pup assessed by a person who has a good reputation and experience if not sure. I don't think you will go wrong, A trained dog is far more predictable than an untrained dog. My 2 beans worth <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Hi Michael,

I'm sure you know this and it's been said in one way or another in the post but have yourself and your dog evaluated by a seasoned professional and if there is any doubt about your ability to handle your dog, or any doubt about the temperament of the dog then your answer is clear.

I got my dog as a family pet initialy and it was only after I got the dog I found out about Schutzhund. I desperately wanted to train my dog to this level but the fact is he is unstable and not suited to the sport. Make an informed choice but above all don't stop working your dog in other ways if this isn't for you.

John