Why SchH?

[Sammie]

I was visiting the GSD Web Board and saw an interesting topic. I thought I would bring it up here.

The question was, "Why Schutzund?"

Why do you train in SchH? What do you like about the sport? How did you get involved in the sport?

[Orville Story]

I believe there are many different reason people train in the sport of Schutzhund. Personaly, I enjoy working within two different Schutzhund Clubs. I love to watch the progress made on the other members dogs. It is interesting to see the different problems in different dogs and how the owners overcome the problems. Also since Schutzhund is how we test the temperament of our breed, I have come to appreciate the temperament of the dog that can do the sport well. The most important reason is the self satisfaction one gains when you and your dog are working together like a team. Taking the hours and hours of training to the field, nerves on end, going over the routine in your head, trying to remember your dog's name, trying to remember your name, as you enter the field.

If a person loves competition, lives for dogs, enjoys other dog people then Schutzhund is the best sport.

[BostonRott]

I find the sport, especially the control involved, fascinating.

I like the precision work required in the tracking (as compared to AKC tracking).

I like the bounciness allowed in the obed. as compared to some of the flat robots in AKC obed.

And I love the drive/happiness that exudes from my dog on the protection field.

I find training fascinating, watching that light come on after you've been working on something..........and of course, what could be better than spending all day training your dog, hanging out with other dog people, and finishing it off w/ BBQ and a few cold ones??

[WorkinDogz]

Why live? Why breath? http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/smile.gif

[Sammie]

Good point WorkinDogz....Doesn't get much simpler than that... http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/biggrin.gif

I'm really enjoying reading all of the other posts...thanks. http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by Sammie (edited July 17, 2000).]

[mark clark]

i love the rottweiler,and if i can't train then i won't own a rottweiler,schutzhund is a form of breed test,that is what its for,so if i choose to no longer want to breed test any dog that i have anymore then i will not have a rottweiler,i feel that if you are part of a organization[usrc,arv,adrk]and you
for the breed do not want to get a breed test on your dogs then you should not be in the breed,this is my opinion and what i believe for myself and for others.

[damp]

It all started by the merest chance. I went to obedience class with my first dog back in 1983. After the class, the trainers and helpers trained their dogs. I didn’t really know what they were doing, but I was fascinated of seeing them work their dogs. Then I decided, that my dog at least should be just as obedient as theirs (he did http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/biggrin.gif). Suddenly, nearly without knowing it, I was training track and protection.
I love the teamwork with my dog… the feeling of complete trust in my dog at the track, the solidarity in the obedience, and the enormous outlet of energy in the protection work. Even I don’t sleep at nights before trials and competitions, I love it.
I win a little victory every day, when my dog gets better and we work out problems, and the day we pass, it is all worth.
I love the teamwork we have in our club. Every one is willing to help others. When my training fellows pass a trial, we all have part in each other triumph and share the victory of ecstasy, and even we are mutual competitions, all can be happy on behalf of others. (It is never a shame to lose to someone there is better!!) http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/wink.gif




[This message has been edited by damp (edited July 17, 2000).]

[Chymag]

Thats how we found it, total accident. We went for obedience with our two year old female and brought our four month old male along, we were there for four hours. They saw him and said, yup head right down to that field over there with him and we'll even give her a try at it to. She didnt make the cut but three months later we are still going every week. Its also a great place to socialize your puppy, these people know the importance of getting them exposed to as many adults, kids and other dogs as possible. Definatly the best thing, without a doubt that I could have done for him, I only wish I had found it earlier for my girl.


[This message has been edited by Chymag (edited July 18, 2000).]

[Katarina]

Schutzhund provides a great outlet, not only physcially but mentally for both the dog & handler. The end result does not do the team justice as the process that it took to get there! The learning experience alone is priceless. But, I do love obtaining those great scores, too!

[Katarina]

Mark Clark

If you can't train schutzhund you wouldn't own a rottweiler? A rottweiler is not all about schutzhund. Rottweilers are tended to be versatile, to be able to do many different things. Carting, Obedience, Agility, etc. As I agree that Schutzhund does provide a venue to test the dogs temperment, that doesn't mean the dog is any less worthy if it isn't SCH titled. That is why Rotties are not meant for everyone. It is for those who want to WORK with them. http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/biggrin.gif

[Sammie]

Katarina:

I agree. http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/smile.gif

[czechrott]

I believe that Schutzhund is a very import breed tool for all of the working breeds. Because Schutzhund is the most popular of all of the working sports, it offers some uniformity, thorough the world. (I'm not downplaying the importance of Ring, KNPV, etc. http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/wink.gif )

What a great sport, to be able to combine the three major aspects of a working dog into a competition.

TRACKING:
This developes or showcases the scenting ability of the breed, and the concentration & teamwork associated with it. It's practical aspects are seen in Police, Military & SAR work.

OBEDIENCE:
It can be argued that this is the most important phase, because without it, there would be no tracking, or protection work. This phase has an influence on all the others. It showcases the ability of the breed to work closely with a handler, as a team. It also shows the intelligence, and athletic ability of the breed. The practical applications for this are endless. It is your lifeline to the dog.

PROTECTION:
This phase is what separates the "working" breeds from the others. To do this requires courage, hardness, fighting drive & protection drive, steady nerves, and a clean head. This phase offers someone the opportunity to judge those afore mentioned traits, and determine which dogs are desireable for breeding. The practical applications of this are seen in Police, Military, & Security [Personal protection].

To see a dog complete these three phases in one day, whether it's very hot, very cold, or pouring rain, is truly an excellent test, and an excellent tool to be utilized by breeders.

As a trainer, I find the challange of training in three different aspects very refreshing. I'm also a big fan of contact sports, but my football days are over. Doing helper work provides me that "Contact sport" outlet.

[Zudnic]

I agree with every single thing written above me.

Personaly I have to compare this to why I raced my car on the weekends. The car I have was built to do this, so why buy it if your not going to use it. Besides the carbon build up just cruising on the blvd, ruins it.Seems to me a Rott is the same, with the added bonus of getting a loveing best friend as well.I loved doing this the entire process. My love for my car make started at about 8 yrs. old at 12 I discovered detailing and Concours events at the club by 16 my desire to race kicked in. The thing I hated the most was the idle chit chat and snobery that was involved at my club. I found a new club a off shoot of the main club with others like me, who did not care that driveing on the track causes heavens forbid a paint chip. Well you get the idea. I like spending time with my girl, I do not care for my car anymore. I do however miss my club, but going there would mean not being with my girl. SchH to me is the only way we can have fun together, doing what she was meant to do.

OK my 1yr.old may or maynot be good at SchH but she will more than likely excell at one or more aspects of it. So she will do fine to help me get into the first level of training involved to compete in this area. I found a school that has a SchH handling training program. The same club that I want to join meets at there training facility. The instructor was the former head of the RCMP's dog and handling training from 1960 to something like 78. I'm checking him out with someone who is very high in the RCMP, to ensure that he was involved as high as the claims.The school also helps select dogs suited for the training you want to do. You choose the breeder and they help you select. They can also help choose adults if you wish. Basically this is how I'm getting into it. I should add this last part. just in case I still want to do this but my girl doesn't want to go high, unlike a car she cannot be forced. I will still love her, she can play with the other club members dogs that are there for social aspects, while her stepkid and I play, see it doesn't matter I was wanting to get another anyway before I wanted to get into SChH.

[mark clark]

to answer your question katrina,yes that is the way i feel,their are to many pups that are put out every single year,for folks who say they just want a loving family dog or pet.we have to many of these pets now,their are hundreds and thousands of rottweilers i think at rescues,if people had to get breed tests on their dogs in order to get akc registration papers,the population of rotties
born in this country would be cut in half.you don't have to contribute to the problem by buying these dogs from these breeders who breed for the family own dog,you can get just as much love from a rescue dog.the way i feel
keeps me from being that type of person and breeder,because when its all said and done for me and this breed,i will walk away knowing that i did not exploit this breed that i love so dearly.and further its so refreshing that the man that i breed my male to is withholding all papers on the pups,until they have their breed test,this is something that all breeders that breed for show/work or should i say,that will sell a puppy from their litters of that title should do,if this person did not do that with the pups i would not have breed my male to his bitch,period.

[Katarina]

,their are to many pups that are put out every single year,for folks who say they just want a loving family dog or pet.we have to many of these pets now,their are hundreds and thousands of rottweilers i think at rescues,if people had to get breed tests on their dogs in order to get akc registration papers,the population of rotties
born in this country would be cut in half.

[/b]

It would more than cut the population of rotties in half! While I applaud your concerns, Mark, you must realize that in the real world that would never happen. Aside from that, I never said people should just breed pets quality rotties. I said that not everyone should have a rottweiler, because they were meant to do things, whether that be Obedience, Tracking, Agility, Herding etc. Rottweilers require work. All of my dogs have been trained and have titles. One of them has a SchIII. To exclusively say that the dog is not worthy of breeding because it did not pass a breed test does not tell the whole story. Why? Because there are dogs that pass a breed test that are NOT necessarily worthy of being bred. I've seen that many of times. You stated that you respected the person you dealt with in breeding your dog because of him withholding the registrations, what qualified YOUR dog to be breed worthy? It takes two parties to make puppies. How many of those puppies will be working and how many will be pets? My experience is that there is no way that ALL puppies will wind up in a "working home". My first Rottie was "show prospect" turned into "pet" due to health issues and I did the right thing by neutering him.

But then again the topic wasn't about breeding or the "breed test (ZTP) it was about..."Why SCH?

[This message has been edited by Katarina (edited July 19, 2000).]