The History Of Schutzhund As A Breed Evaluation Test Of The German Shepherd Dog
September 30th, 2010 by Schuyler Schober
Schutzhund is a German word that literally translates to protection dog and here we are going to discuss the history of the sport as a breed evaluation test of the German shepherd Dog. This particular dog sport has been testing since early 1900s the capabilities of the GSD and its trait for practical work as required by the army or the police.
Hence, there are three basic phases; namely, tracking, obedience and protection. Tracking tests are for determining scenting abilities and mental soundness together with physical endurance of a dog. Obedience is a self-explanatory term testing its attitude and accuracy. The protection phase involves a decoy for the dog to engage and release at the command of the handler. Learn the proper methods with our free Schutzhund training videos HERE.
The German Shepherd transition from its usual herding duties to become show dogs had negative effects on the breed, which is, they started losing their former working capabilities. Schutzhund was introduced to restore the GSDs working abilities and breeding was restricted only to the GSDs who made it through the trials and tests.
The breeding system for these dogs in Germany never changes. A GSD has to pass the Schutzhund tests and earn titles: otherwise, its offspring cannot be registered as the GSD. This is the perfect way to maintain the capabilities of the dogs for every generation. The abilities passed from the parents degenerate if they are not permitted to carry on their regular habits.
The aim of this test is to exclude those dogs that do not have correct drive, temperament or there is no excitement while training them. Those German shepherd dogs are selected for breeding that exhibit human like qualities.
A dam and a Sire, both trained and titled, give birth to cream litters with the most desirable characteristics people expect from the breed. These include a strong desire to work, courage in the face of maximum adversity, high degrees of intelligence, ability to understanding situations, the ability to receive training by developing a strong bond with the handler, persistent determination and a protective instinct bumped up several degrees.
However, that does not mean turning the dog aggressive. Training is directed to allow the animal to decide when and how to grow aggressive for the right reasons or when given the command. Dog training is about heightening natural instincts and intelligence, not creating a new personality.
The history of Schutzhund as a breed evaluation test of the German Shepherd Dog has an enviable reputation. Its popularity is growing across the world. This is likely to continue for some years yet.
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