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Chris, Hilfe & Roger
Chris, Hilfe and Roger

We would like to thank Chris Barton for his time and being an excellent helper (biteman). He is dedicated to the German shepherd breed. As we teach him how to train, his willingness to learn is high like the German shepherd breed itself. Training is fun, interesting and rewarding for not only the German shepherds, but the trainers too.

Chris, Queno and Roger
Chris, Queno and Roger

Chris, Queno and Roger
Chris, Queno and Roger
Hard sleeve, full mouth grip.

Chris, Queno and Roger
Chris, Queno and Roger

 

 


V  Yassko von der Roten Matter daughter
V Yassko von der Roten Matter daughter


Hilfe
Hilfe


Hilfe displays Extreme drive and working skills
Hilfe displays Extreme drive and working skills (BULLET PROOF TEMPERAMENT)

 

 

Chris & Hilfe
Chris and Hilfe


Chris & Hilfe
Chris and Hilfe

 

 

15 Week Old Baer Warming Up
Fifteen week old Von Himmel male pup "warming up"


German import - Wendy vom Bergmannshof
German import - Wendy vom Bergmannshof


German import - Bella de Louis Keep on tuggin
German import - Bella de Louis "Keep on tuggin"

 

 


Helper Chris doing protection work with Hilfe
Helper Chris doing protection work with Hilfe


Helper Chris doing protection work with Queno
Helper Chris doing protection work with Queno

World Class German Shepherd Breeder  - Importer
West German Sieger Lines
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Hilfe flying bite
Hilfe flying bite

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UNDERSTANDING SCHUTZHUND

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SCHUTZHUND TRAINED GERMAN SHEPHERDS FOR SALE click here....

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Schutzhund is a performance event that tests a dog's character, intelligence, courage and athleticism. Titles can be earned at three levels: Schutzhund I, II and III (abbreviated SchH I, etc.). To earn a title at each level, a dog must demonstrate proficiency in tracking, obedience, and protection work by successfully completing a series of exercises in each phase in a single trial. The dog must also score a minimum of 70 of the possible 100 points in each phase.

Schutzhund: German word meaning "Protection Dog". It refers to a sport that focuses on developing and evaluating those traits in a dog that make them more useful and happier companions to their owners.

While dogs of other breeds are also admitted to Schutzhund trials, this breed evaluation test was developed specifically for the German shepherd dog. Schutzhund is intended to demonstrate the dog's intelligence and utility. As a working trial, Schutzhund measures the dog's mental stability, endurance, structural efficiencies, ability to scent, willingness to work, courage and trainability.

This working dog sport offers an opportunity for dog owners to train their dog and compete with each other for recognition of both the handler's ability to train and the dog's ability to perform as required. It is a sport enjoyed by persons of varied professions, who join together in a camaraderie born of their common interest in working with their dogs. Persons of all ages and conditions of life, even those with disabilities, enjoy Schutzhund as a sport. Often, it is a family sport.

Schutzhund is the most complete form of training ever devised for the working dog. Why? Schutzhund training is geared to the development of a working dog's natural character. This produces the ultimate in family protection and / or competition in Schutzhund trials and AKC obedience.

The tracking phase includes a temperament test by the overseeing judge to assure the dog's mental soundness. When approached closely on a loose leash, the dog should not act shyly or aggressively. The track is laid earlier by a person walking normally on a natural surface such as dirt or grass.

Let's Train
Let's Train!

The track includes a number of turns and a number of small, man-made objects left by this person on the track itself. At the end of a 30 foot lead, the handler follows the dog, which is expected to scent the track and indicate the location of the objects, usually by lying down with the object between its from paws. The tracking phase is intended to test the dog's trainability and ability to scent, as well as its mental and physical endurance.

Tracking is basically the development of a German shepherd's natural abilities and instincts and encourages confidence in himself. Tracking is very enjoyable for the dog and handler and helps to develop a happy, relaxed bond between them.

The obedience phase includes a series of heeling exercises, some of which are closely in or around a group of people. During the heeling, there is a gun shot test to assure that the dog does not openly react to such sharp noises. Steady nerves is a must for a well-bred German shepherd. There is also a series of field exercises in which the dog is commanded to sit, lie down and stand while the handler continues to move. From these various positions the dog is recalled to the handler. With dumbbells of various weights, the dog is required to retrieve on a flat surface, over a one - meter hurdle and over a six foot slanted wall (looks like a triangle). The dog is also asked to run in a straight direction from its handler on command and lie down on the second command.

Finally, each dog is expected to stay in a lying down position away from its handler, despite distractions at the other end of the obedience field, while another dog completes the above exercises. All of the obedience exercises are tests of the dog's temperament, structural efficiencies and very importantly, its willingness to serve man or woman.

Obedience makes a dog a more enjoyable house companion as it develops his character and confidence and adds to the personal pride between man and dog. Schutzhund obedience looks at a handler and dog as a team and puts much more emphasis on a stable working relationship. This makes a dog more reliable in every day situations.

The protection phases tests the dog's courage, physical strength and agility. The handler's control of the dog is absolutely essential. The exercises include a search of hiding places, finding a hidden person (acting as a human decoy) and guarding that decoy while the handler approaches. The dog is expected to pursue the decoy when a escape is attempted and to hold the grip firmly. The decoy is searched and transported to the judge with the handler and dog walking behind the latter at the decoys right side. When the decoy attempts to attack the handler, the dog is expected to stop the attack with a firm grip and no hesitation.

Chris & Hilfe
Chris and Hilfe

The final test of courage occurs when the decoy is asked to come out of a hiding place by the dog's handler from the opposite end of the trial field. The dog is sent after the decoy when he attempts to run away. Just when the dog is about to catch the decoy, the judge signals the decoy to turn about and run directly at the dog, threatening the dog with a stick. All bites during the protection phase are expected to be placed firmly on the padded sleeve and stopped on command and / or when the decoy discontinues the fight. The protection tests are intended to insure that the dog is neither a coward nor a criminal menace.

Protection as trained for Schutzhund requires that the dog have a reliable temperament and show courage without viciousness. It is much more and complex and must not be compared to attack training. The competition dog must make his own decisions and use judgment. He works completely off lead and at a distance from his handler. He is trained to alert and bark at the helper until there is aggression or an escape attempt. At such time, he must bite and hold but release automatically when the helper ceases fighting. This provides a safety factor against overdone aggression with little control. Because the dog must have a stable disposition and intelligence, this will result in a more trustworthy and reliable pet who loves his family and will give his life to protect them.

There are three levels of the Schutzhund test:

For Schutzhund I, the dog must be at least 18 months old and pass an initial temperament test by the judge. The dog must heel on the leash and off, demonstrate the walking sit, the walking down and the stay tests, as well as the send out. It must retrieve on the flat and over a hurdle. In tracking it must be able to follow a track laid by its handler at least 20 minutes earlier. There are also protection tests.

For Schutzhund II, the dog must be at least 19 months old and must already have earned its Schutzhund I degree. It must again pass all of the obedience and protection tests required for the Schutzhund degree, but those tests for Schutzhund II are made more difficult and require a greater endurance, agility and above all control. There is an additional retrieve required over the six foot slanted wall. In tracking, the SchH II dog must be able to follow a track laid by a stranger at least 30 minutes earlier.

For Schutzhund III, the master's degree, the dog must be be at least 20 months old and must have earned the SchH I and SchH II titles. Again, the tests are made far more difficult. All exercises in obedience and protection are demonstrated off leash. There is an addition of a walking and a running stand. In tracking, the dog must follow a track that was laid by a stranger at least 60 minutes earlier. The track has four turns compared to the two turns for SchH I and SchH II, and there are three objects rather than two, that must be found by the dog. The picture of obedience presented by an excellent Schutzhund III team is a beautiful illustration of the partnership of a human and dog.

SCHUTZHUND... MISUNDERSTOOD BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC

Most of the time the general public misunderstands the protection and Schutzhund work. A misconception about protection training is that it is attack dog training. NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH!!! When watching a protection routine you will see an excellent bonding between the dog and handler. The dog displays a willingness and happiness to work. The dog must never bite the helper unless the dog or the handler is attacked. When that happens, the dog must bite the protection sleeve without hesitation.

The Schutzhund dog must be friendly and approachable. It does not regard a person as an enemy, until the person displays signs of hostility or aggression towards him or his handler. The Schutzhund dog is trained with love; he and his master work together as a team. The Schutzhund dog is not a danger to society and should never be put in the same category as an attack dog.

A quote from Captain Max Von Stephanitz, "Trust is a sine qua non, and obedience is the foundation of every training: both go hand and hand, and both are inseparable. Blind and servile obedience is not rooted in trust, but fear and only rebels when out of reach of the whip. Such service we do not command from our dogs, but an obedience that is joyful and willing, founded in love for the master, and such founded on the satisfaction of a natural craving, which therefore must be consolidated by a wise training by the earliest puppyhood. With a young dog that is obedient in this sense, who waits upon the eyes and mouth of his master, who comes joyfully when called, even from his feeding dish, or from his companions at play, because he knows he will be rewarded for his obedience by a kind word and by an affectionate pat, by a special tit-bit, or as the highest reward by sharing in the activity of his master: With such a dog everything is possible later on, for the joy in work is combined with its accomplishment. This, as the outpouring of the power accumulated in the dog, is the result of sound nerves and a serviceable body build: and here again it is a matter of breeding, training both directed to a special purpose with a definite goal in view".

Chris, Queno and Roger
Chris, Queno and Roger

Roger and Queno
Roger and Queno
"I have my toy now!"

Roger Showing The Fuss
Roger & Queno Von Batu

Schutzhund Obedence
Schutzhund Obedience


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