Dog Health Questions: Schutzhund training a dog?

I'm a fan of powerful dogs, and, in the future, would love to have dogs trained in Schutzhund. I have read up on the basic concept, but would love some more in depth detail from someone with experience, such as what age is best to start training, what breeds are the best to work with, what traits to look for in potential dogs, etc. Just basically everything and anything. Any help that isn't directly copied off of some website is greatly appreciated, I am looking for people with personal experience. Thanks!

Dog Training Has Many Benefits

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The original Schutzhund dog is german shepherds! The breeder that created the first german shepherds wanted a sport to test his dogs and prove their worthiness. Thus Schutzhund was born.

I would suggest finding a local schutzhund club, talking to them, and attending their training meetings. Although you can easily train the obedience and tracking parts of schutzhund on your own and with other trainers, the protection part should be worked on with someone very familiar with schutzhund and protection training. A club will also help you find a good dog, when you decide you are ready. Although you can technically work with just about any breed (watching a bernese mountain dog waddle across the schutzhund field is just so funny), the dog needs the right drive and sound temperment and physical body structure to do it. Most schutzhund clubs have at least one or two members who are trainers as well, and they will be most helpful in getting your dog.

As for training, start as soon as you get the puppy. 4 months, IMHO, is way too old to just be starting training (if you've had the dog from an earlier age, that is). Studies show that dogs can start learning as young as 4 weeks, so starting basic obedience when you get an 8 week old puppy is perfectly fine. I got my 2 year old shepherd at 7 weeks, and by 9 weeks he knew sit, down, stay, and come. You also want to start basic puppy classes as soon as possible (usually around 10 weeks old). Socilization is vital, especially to the commen working and herding breeds used in schutzhund (shepherds, malinois, and dobermans).

Dog Training Basics - Important Tips to Remember

• you can use "guard dog" or "protection dog" for the german "Schutzhund". :-)


• Start taking your dog to obedience classes at say 4 months. Do not expect huge things at this early age. This is socialization for your dog, which is VITAL for stability.
  
  Obedience is the first step. After you have an obedient/reliable dog, then bite work and tracking. Get a dog from "working lines" and not "show lines".
  
  You must have a stable dog to be successful in Schutzhund. Generally, they have to pass a temprement test before they are allowed to do Schutzhund. Breeds like the Doberman, Rottweiler, German Shepherd Dogs, Boxers, Belgian Shepherd Malinois are very good at the sport.


• I am just starting my dogs in Shutzhund training. They definitely need to have basic obedience at the very least down. You have to be able to fully control your dog. The best breeds for it are dogs with High drive. High drive dogs love to work which is excellent when it comes to that sort of training. Some of the best breeds I've seen doing it are German Shepards, Cane Corso and Pits. What breed are you interested in? It is so much fun to see how much the dogs enjoy to be worked!
  
  ADD: The breeds you listed would definitely excel in the sport provided they come from reputable breeders! If you are interested in the sport your best bet would be to contact breeders in your area who will help you find a breeder with the best working lines. That way when you do go to buy your dog you will know exactly where you should get it from :) That breeder should also be able to help you with training, finding a trainer and helping you throughout your dogs life.


• Stanley Coren's intelligence of Dogs. find the top 10most intelligent dogs that require 5 or fewer repetitions to learn a new command & get the 1st one 95% of the time or better. number 1 is boarder collie, there is also german shepherd, retreiver, rottweiler, etc... look for a dog that is neither dominant agressive or the submissive runt. look for the in between who seems alert & stout when someone rings the doorbell or a stranger approaches. i like bigger dogs like rotties & u should know while books like "rottweilers for dummies" suggests socializing ur dog early & often, apparently if ur like me & want a good guard dog then u should not even allow a stranger to so much as touch ur dog until they're 4 months old. just family & friends, otherwise their schutzhund has been known to decrease. if a stranger or someone unfamiliar comes by then crate her & put a blanket over the crate so that familiarity does not breed content. u either want a family-friendly retriever who loves everybody or u want a strong, guard dog that will excell when given the opportunity to protect u & show off.