Working Lines

1997/98/99 National WPO Champion
SG–Alk v. Osterburg Quell SchH3, DPO2, WPO, KK1a
OFA Good, GS-46794G46m-T elbows, GS-EL6171-T

A Few Words Regarding
Schutzhund...

Early in the breed's development in Germany, it was determined that before any dog could be bred, it had to pass a working test to determine its trainability and courage, as well as its adherence to the breed standard. The Schutzhund degree (Schutzhund meaning "protection dog") is still the most common working degree earned by dogs in Germany and other countries requiring a working degree before certifying a dog as breedable. (Still to this date, the GSDCA does not require a dog to have a working title in order to be breedable.) This is a sport for owners who are willing to be truly dedicated to their training, but the pay off in the end is very satisfying and creates a strong bond between dog and handler.

Schutzhund training helps develop the dog's natural instincts to a high level. Self-confident dogs, doing work for which they are well trained, are happy dogs. Wagging tails, sounds of excitement, and strong pulling on a leash all show an observer at a Schutzhund trial how much fulfillment dogs find in this work.

Since the sport of Schutzhund is designed to show the German Shepherd Dog's most desirable characteristics, well trained dogs are most often excellent companions for the family. The German Shepherd Dog that possesses mental stability has trust and confidence in itself. This sound temperament allows it to be at peace with most if not all surroundings.

In addition to sound structural efficiencies for long, arduous work,
the FCI standard for the German Shepherd Dog calls for mental stability and
a willingness to work. The dog should be approachable, quietly standing
its ground, showing confidence and a willingness to meet overtures
without itself necessarily making them. It should be generally calm,
but eager and alert when the situation warrants. It should be fearless,
but also good with young and old (....yes, CHILDREN).

The German Shepherd Dog should not be timid or react nervously to
unusual sounds or sights. A dog that is overly aggressive because of
fears of people and events can be extremely dangerous. Actually, the
Schutzhund sport is designed to identify and eliminate such dogs from
breeding stock.

Schutzhund competition requires a dog to pass 3 separate phases each with a maximum score of 100 points and a total of 300. They include: tracking, obedience, and lastly protection. As one can see, the protection work is only 1/3 of the total package. If a dog does not receive a minimum of 70% of the points in tracking and obedience and 80% of the points in protection (or if the dog fails the pretrial temperament test) it is not awarded a degree that day. Then, it must repeat the entire test, passing all phases of the test at another trial.   In all phases, the judge is looking for an eager, concentrating, accurate working dog.    High ratings and scores are given to the dog that shows a strong willingness and ability to work.

Properly done with a dog of temperamentally correct dog, Schutzhund is extremely enjoyable for the dog and its handler. It satisfies many drives in the dog allowing it to chase, bite and defeat a foe.   All of which is completed under very strict and controlled guidelines. It can enhance a dog's self-confidence and bring energy and enthusiasms to its work.   Done improperly, it can destroy a young dog's confidence, or as a worst-case scenario, create an unmanageable and dangerous animal. Thus, one can see that the trainers and helpers of any Schutzhund organization should be carefully selected.

Schutzhund clubs frequently offer not only the Schutzhund (SchH) training, but more and more are offering other internationally recognized degree that requires no bite work.    Some also offer breed surveys and conformation shows with judges from the German breed club: Verein fur Deutsche Schaferhund (SV). The USA (United Schutzhund Clubs of America) and the WDA (Working Dog Association - GSDCA affiliate) offer SV regulated shows in the United States.

Schutzhund is valuable to the breed. Any registered German Shepherd that has earned a Schutzhund degree has demonstrated sufficient ability as a working dog to qualify for breed evaluation. The breed evaluation is a very detailed examination of the dog's structure, temperament, and pedigree and requires both a certification of good hip joints and sufficient performance on an endurance test (the "AD"). Dogs that do well in the breed evaluation receive a Körklasse I (recommended for breeding) or Körklasse II (suitable for breeding).   This is a recommendation and evaluation by a trained and recognized expert SV judge as to the worthiness of the dog for breeding.    Along with conformation and health screening, Schutzhund helps to maintain the quality of the breed at a high level.   Thus, there is a very high level of assurance that puppies born of Schutzhund dams and sired by Schutzhund sires are more likely to be of reliable temperament. Most likely, they will possess high intelligence, steady nerves, extreme endurance, great strength, and sound structure.

Schutzhund Clubs are organized by regions through the U.S., and there are numerous clubs in most areas of nearly all states. Regional Directors are also available for information and guidance if one is interested in starting a new club.

The United Schutzhund Clubs of America (USA) is a member of the World Union of German Shepherd Dog Clubs, and sends a team to the World Championship each year.

In addition, the USA sanctions regional championships and two major national championships. It also sanctions conformation shows and championships for the German Shepherd Dog including the USA Sieger Show located in a different location and sponsored by a different club each year.

The USA is responsible for scheduling visits from foreign judges and administers its own judges program. Also, the USA also maintains a "Breed Registry" for German Shepherd Dogs consisting of pedigrees for five generations. This organization follows the VDH rules for Schutzhund.

***

For More Information About Schutzhund...

USA
United Schutzhund Clubs of America
3810 Paule Avenue
St. Louis, Mo 63125 USA
ph: (314)638-9686

SV
Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde (SV)
Hauptgeschäftsstelle
Steinerne Furt 71/71A D-86167
Augsburg, Germany
tel: 0821740020

***

and...

(The below post has been copied and presented with permission from the author.)

"I feel it only fair to say that a Schutzhund trained dog is not
necessarily a hazard. A dog with CORRECT drives and CORRECT temperament
trained in the CORRECT manner should never be a threat to anyone's safety.
Having spent some time doing Schutzhund in Germany and a little here in the
states and being around many SchH dogs I know a little of whence I speak.
These dogs can be delightful and challenging to live with yet totally sound,
controllable and trustworthy. The problem is not 'the dog'. The problem is
'the people' who take a dog with FAULTY drives and FAULTY temperament and
train it in a FAULTY manner, and then create a monster. Yes, this does
happen and sometimes otherwise good, stable dogs are ruined by bad training.
I don't believe most Americans truly want or need an import with the high
drives or a personal protection dog or a Schutzhund trained dog (and the two
ARE different) -American or German. Schutzhund should have a 'sport'
mentality for the dog and the owner and does under correct training.

I personally have mainly American show lines but also have German/American
crosses just because I enjoy the challenge of their high drives and energy
but I would think long and hard before going to totally German lines and
selling those that I did not keep into the average American pet home. NOT
because they are dangerous in and of themselves but because they do require
more in the way of training, discipline, etc on average just to keep their
energy level and higher drives under the right level of control. Let's
face it. Most American pet owners do not have the time or the knowledge to
handle high drives and very high energy in a large, physically active dog.
I will not engage in an American vs. German debate. I feel we should stop
focusing so much on the dogs, who have no say in any of this anyway, and
focus on the human element which has total control over the future of the
breed on both sides of the ocean. The dogs are what we make them to be. All
of us. Whether form, temperament, health or function, we the human part of
the equation are ultimately responsible for what the GSD is."

Herding

JAZZherding.jpg (74695 bytes)

Susan Sullivan's "HCh Jazzman O'Firethorn HGH" , an American line dog, demonstrates the GSD's herding ability and it's effortless movement.

German Shepherds Often Possess Three Of These Traits:

Keenness: This represents their degree of interest in the livestock. One needs an extremely keen dog so that it will work large flocks of grazing sheep. Dogs with a low level of keenness are easily distracted. Dogs bred primarily as tending dogs need a very high degree of keenness. They are bred so that the slightest movement would excite the dog. Give a GSD too much stimuli and they may go into overdrive.

Alertness: Tending dogs need to be very alert dogs. They need to be always scanning their surrounding. They will often react at the slightest movment.

Aloofness: The GSD was bred for this because it should not be of the personality of a Golden Retriever. The sheepherder cannot have his dog leaving its work to run up to and great people, animals etc. Many people may mistake this aloofness as unfriendliness when they are acutally being neutral. Some may also think the GSD is shy when they turn away when they are actually seeing aloofness, a brief interest in the stranger. Usually the interest lasts long enough to determine if the stranger is a threat or not.

German Shepherd Dogs In Herding

Herding With German Shepherds

American Herding Breed Association

The HGH "Tending Style" of Sheep Herding

Working Dogs.com - Herding Articles

Redstone Group - Herding (links and titles)