Central Plains Schutzhund Club
is located at Buena Vista Kennels in Grasswood, SK
contact Cathy or Barry Gay at sunshadows@shaw.ca
or 306-477-1919
Judge Doug Deacon (left) from Vancouver presides at a Schutzhund Trial
The Club meets to train regularly throughout the year, both on our training field as well as an indoor facility in the cold months. The goal of members is to train their dog toward 3 increasingly challenging levels of Schutzhund competition; SchH 1, SchH 2, and SchH 3.
New members generally start by taking at least 2 levels of obedience classes from Buena Vista Training Systems, since the obedience principles required in Schutzhund are exactly the same as those taught in our obedience classes. In fact, many of our members are involved as instructors. Since a typical training session at club involves each member working with his or her own dog, the kind of coaching needed to accomplish good obedience cannot be taught unless established members forgo working with their own dogs. Hence the requirement to take the obedience classes.
Club member, Dea and her SchH 3 dog, Shocker, at a Schutzhund demonstration at the Saskatoon Exhibition.
The Sport involves training our German Shepherds to track, do obedience, and do 'criminal' apprehension work, much like the work done by Police Service Dogs. There are proscribed exercises in each level of the sport and in each of the three phases that a dog/handler team must accomplish in a trial in order to achieve their title. Each level requires more and more difficult challenges.
BBarry working a young SchH 1 candidate to develop a hard, full bite.
A. The tracking phase - SchH 1 dogs must follow a track of approximately 300 paces and discover and indicate two wallet sized articles. The dog may stop at the article and sit, stand or lie down to show the find. There are 2 right angle corners, so the track direction changes twice. A perfect score is 100 points, based on how accurately and smoothly the track is followed, the corners found, and the articles indicated. The handler lays his or her own track in level 1 while a 'stranger' lays the tracks for levels 2 and 3. Level 2 is similar to level 1, but longer, while level 3 tracks have 4 right angle turns and 3 articles to find. Each level requires thae track to be aged longer before the dog begins its search.
B. The obedience phase - Again, each phase is more difficult, requiring more complex exercises to be shown. Overall, judges look for speed and high drive, along with exuberance and joy combined with precision in the work.
SchH 1 requires heeling off leash in a pattern with different speeds and halts, and moving through a group of people. A halt-sit during motion and a down with a recall follow, and then there is retrieving work. A retrieve on the flat, over a meter jump, and over an angle wall follow. Finally, the dog must do a 40+ paces send away with a down. In addition to these on-field exercises, the dog must show a long down with the handler 40 paces away while a second dog demonstrates all of the above exercises on the same field.
Mervin and Eddie (SchH 3) show the focus needed for top obedience.
C. The Protection Phase - SchH 1 dogs must search 2 hiding places; one empty, one with a suspect in it, and bark to indicate they have found the person hiding. Level 2 dogs search 4 and level 3 dogs search 6. The suspect is guarded as they are removed from hiding, and when they attempt to escape, the dog must stop them by biting and holding them until the release command is given by the handler. At that point, the dog is attacked by the suspect and again, the dog must engage in the fight with vigor. Finally, the suspect goes into hiding some distance away and comes out of hiding when called and then refuses to stop when told. The dog is sent to apprehend him and he attempts to bluff the dog from attacking. When the suspect stands still finally, the dog must release the sleeve when told.
Barry being guarded by Eddie. The dog may not touch the suspect unless he tries to run away or attack.
Barry's attempt to escape signals Eddie to stop him from getting away.
Retrieving the dumbbell over the 1 meter jump during our September '09 trial
Enthusiastic heeling exercise during the trial
Helper Mark is guarded by Tamara and her Doberman