| Schutzhund... and other competition rings and trials.
The great sport of schutzhund (German word for "Protection Dog") is one the finest trials to test true working dogs. It was created in the early 1900's by Capt. Max Von Stephanitz to preserve the utility and serviceability of the German Shepherd dog. Later, other working and herding dog breeds were accepted in schutzhund trials, until it became a popular yardstick to measure the desired temperament and working traits on a given utility dog breed.
Schutzhund is a very demanding sport that covers three fundamental working tests: obedience, tracking and protection. As the dog earns its first title schH 1 (basic), it can later be trailed for schH 2 (intermediate), and thereafter it can try to obtain the schH 3 (advanced). If the dog is really outstanding, then it can compete in higher standard trials at the international level. It is obvious that schutzhund dogs are outstanding performance dogs that excel from the rest.
I love the sport of schutzhund, simply because any handler and his/her dog that devotes and commits the time to train and compete in schutzhund, demonstrates a honest desire to maintain the working abilities of the true Rottweiler. Our breed is well-known as a multi-purpose capable breed. The Rottweiler can do much more than most other breeds. Only a few dog breeds come close, or can compare to the Rottweiler's traceable proven working history.
Is schutzhund the ultimate dog sport? Well, I think schutzhund is ONE of the finest, there is no doubt. However, there are other quite intense competition rings and trials that are as good or even better, but not less. All of these other rings and trials cover obedience, some include agility, and all cover protection drills. Realize that a suitable temperament, total control, and working abilities, are absolutely fundamental and required for any dog breed to be able to compete in any of these "other" rings and trials.
In Europe the French Ring is very popular and quite tough, known for its amazing drills. Mondio Ring is also very demanding and an "eye-popper" for the viewer. In the Netherlands the KNPV is the "top of the creme" ring, due to the fact that the standards are so high and not many dogs have the necessary intense high drives to compete in it. In England the K-9 Pro Sports League is growing fast. In the USA, as much as the French and Mondio ring are starting to make their mark in popularity, there are also some outstanding rings such as the World Dog Protection Association WPDA, the National Protection Dog Association NPDA, the National Street Dog Protection Association NSDPA, and The Street Protection Ring. You should also look for police dog trials, although the participants are patrol service dogs and their police handlers only.
What makes these "other" competition rings and trials so different? The protection part. While in schutzhund dogs are taught to bite the helper's protected sleeved arm only, in specific rehearsed expected drills; in the "other" rings dogs are trained and allowed to bite the helper wearing a full body protected suit. The dog bites ankles, tights, shoulders, abdomen area, small of the back, arms... in short: the dog is not limited to confront the threat, but the dog is taught to take the fight all the way. The helpers in those rings (particularly KNPV and NPDA among others) do attempt to put the dog into avoidance. The pressure is way higher, the hits are substantially more frequent and felt, and the drills are broaden into more realistic scenarios. The dog is actually expected to be prepared to the unexpected, and go all the way in a real protection mood. These rings realistically measure-up the dog's courage, bravery, and tenacity. If the dog don't have them, it won't make it.
Have these protection competitions a more realistic approach to the real world? Sure they do! The dog is fully trained as an effective protection dog. Is like this, say you want to learn self-defense to protect yourself in case of a physical attack, and you have two choices for training schools: One, has "rules of engagement" from the instructor and limited fighting skills (i.e. no hits below the belt, no grappling, no submission holds, no sweeps, no elbow or knee strikes). While in the other school the instructor teaches hand, elbow, knee, and leg strikes; throws, grappling, and submission holds... Which one of the two schools do you think would prepare you better for a REALISTIC confrontation? Which one would you choose?...
Let's keep in mind that all the "other" rings demand qualified dogs. The dogs have to have a stable temperament, be controllable, and in compliance to its handler. It is nothing at all like you bring a muzzled vicious dog, cut it loose in the ring, and then it goes right at it to "kill" the helper". Far from it! As I emphasized before, the dog has to be even tempered, be fully obedience trained and so responsive, be agile, structurally functional, and fully ready to fight... and still be a fine personal and/or family companion pet!
So as good as the sport of schutzhund is, let's not overlook other amazing, fascinating, and superb dog sport rings that bring so much excitement, while it also maintains the working traits of certain dog breeds. There is more than just schutzhund... but one has to "open one's mind and eyes" to see what real protection and security is all about... Seeing is believing!
[This message has been edited by German Vanegas (edited August 17, 1999).]  |