Comments on: End of Schutzhund?

By: John Burgess

John Burgess — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 01:21:55 +0000

I would like to see the sport continue in the way it has.

By: Jerry

Jerry — Sun, 16 Feb 2014 05:22:47 +0000

What specific comments do you find contradictory?

By: Jerry

Jerry — Sun, 16 Feb 2014 05:11:48 +0000

What is schutzhund’s rally cry?

The Schutzhund USA website says, “protecting and preserving the German Shepherd Dog’s working heritage through Schutzhund training. Schutzhund is a sport that focuses on developing and evaluating those traits in dogs that make them more fulfilled and happier companions to their owners.”

Fulfilled is defined as “satisfied or happy because of fully developing one’s abilities or character.” (Google.com)

By: Jim Baldwin

Jim Baldwin — Sun, 16 Feb 2014 01:21:12 +0000

I too,have been in the sport for 30 years. Although in all that time I have never had a truly good dog…but that aside. Like Mr. Harvey alludes to ,back in the day we didn’t give a rats rear end about points and loved to see a dog on the verge of being out of control in the bitework..not dangerous, just a little wild.
10 point for courage and hardness, 80 in protection suited a lot of us just fine. I ‘ve seen more than one judge back then give a dog 80, pronounced or 10 when the dog was clearly lacking in the out and rebit a couple of times…or so. They would say that the dog has such good fighting drive they cannot fail it..You don’t see that anymore..I guess you can’t if 3 rebites fails you.

By: Michael

Michael — Sat, 15 Feb 2014 13:13:58 +0000

Great article Brian, I myself am new to IPO and I understand a dog needs to be of strong character to deal with the pressure of IPO so when certain elements are been removed surely common sense will tell you the weaker dogs are going to thrive and this cant be good seeing as IPO is fundamentally a breed test and tests a dogs courage, is this a done deal can pressure not be put on the FCI before it comes into practice ?

By: Dean Balouris

Dean Balouris — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 21:15:12 +0000

The SV should have taken a hard look at their breeding program and aspirations for the breed when the Bundespolizie publicly walked away from the DPO program.

Brian, in our day if your dog ran from the helper once, that was the end of the dog’s working career. Everyone in the region quickly heard about it. Now we are treated to the sight of dogs running at the National Championship.

The worst rule change – the beginning of the end – came when the attack on handler out of the blind was eliminated from SchH1. This was a test that quickly washed out the weak dogs and we never had to look at them again.

We can not let others define our sport and our dogs’ temperaments for us. We can not train in secret because our dogs have hardness, are serious, and need firm corrections.

I support what Jim has to say. More of us need to, or find another sport.

By: theresa

theresa — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 06:37:46 +0000

I find some of these comments contradictory. I am in the SPORT OF SCUTZHUND. I know how many years of training it takes to get on the trial field and get titles. People who say you dont need to be in the sport to prove whether you dog has courage or not are similar to those who hav backyard champions.
We hav to hav some test to affirm this. Hence the scorebook.

By: Jan Harkner-Abbs

Jan Harkner-Abbs — Wed, 12 Feb 2014 17:13:50 +0000

The only way we’ll save it is to stay committed to Schutzhund as a breed test rather than a sport.

By: Jan Harkner-Abbs

Jan Harkner-Abbs — Wed, 12 Feb 2014 17:10:51 +0000

Great article Brian.

By: Sonja Youdes

Sonja Youdes — Wed, 12 Feb 2014 13:27:43 +0000

Amen Brian! Just like everything in this country or even in Europe I am sure. If we continue to let “Political Correctness” rule us we lose! Score shouldn’t be the most important in my humble opinion, but the strength and courage of a dog. We will ruin the breed if people stop testing what they are breeding.
Although ours are not all titled we do things to test and make sure they aren’t fearful, as well as overall health and intelligence.
Keep up the same great work you have always done. You have never hurt a dog in your work that I have seen or heard of. You have always been able to read dogs well! Do not give in! Great article.