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Schutzhund, Part 3

© Deborah J. Myers

Just as the dog sport of Schutzhund has three levels and three areas of skill, this series on Schutzhund has three segments. The most difficult Schutzhund skill to master is tracking. The dog must be very focused and determined, as well as being a talented sniffer. Dobermans’ heritage includes both sight and scent hounds, making them good tracking dogs. To complete the tracking test, the dog must retrace where a person has been for a certain distance, including a few turns. The trail is 20-60 minutes old. Two or three “lost” items must also be found. It doesn’t matter whether it’s raining or shining; the tracking test will continue. Some Dobermans don’t like wet, chilly weather because their coats are thinner than their German shepherd and rottweiler counterparts.

Obedience, the next Schutzhund skill, is much like the American Kennel Club heeling exercises, and agility trials. Obedience testing show that the dog will comply with the handler’s commands, including slow, regular, and brisk walking and heeling despite the distractions of gunshots, other loud noises, and people nearby. The dogs must Dobermans are well-equipped for this skill since they are eager to please and their natural aloof natures makes it easy for them to ignore people they don’t know.

The test also includes proving “sit,” “down,” “stay,” “stand,” and recall and send out skills. One of the “stay” tests determines if the dog will stay down for 10 minutes with the handler absent.

Another test within the obedience set is retrieval. For example, the dog must retrieve objects over a six-foot wall (it need not be a clean jump; scrambling is okay) and across an open area.

Protection is the last skill in Schutzhund. The dog must listen to his handler and do exactly as he says. He may not take the initiative to attack; he must only bite the “antagonist” on command. The dog is allowed to hold only the sleeve, and he must release it on command.

The dog must also search and find the antagonist and keep him there until the handler says so. This skill requires a lot of self-control for the dog. Instead of surrendering to his natural prey drive, he must listen to his handler.

As most people would suspect, the Doberman excels at protection. With his naturally high sense of protectiveness, your Doberman will be an eager participant in this skill. The dog’s lighting fast reflexes, running speed, and ample jaws well-equip him for protection.

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