Schutzhund Training.
 

Anyone into this Schutzhund Training?

http://www.youtube.com:80/watch?v=CXVQyW5ju8w

"Dear ********: I am writing to update you regarding one of the puppies you sold to my wife and I in Oklahoma about five years ago. My wife and I are ************. I wanted to let you know that Elek has accomplished something very big in the dog world last week. Elek and I competed at the 2009 DVG National Championship held in Denver Colorado last week and we placed 6th for the VPG 1 level. This is a big deal for several reasons. First, as far as the records show, Elek is the first Briard to ever compete in a DVG National event and therefore the first Briard to ever place in a National event. Second, as far as the DVG records show, he is the only Briard in the U.S. to obtain the title VPG 1 in the sport.

This is a sport filled primarily with German Shepherd Dogs and Malinois. It is rare to see another breed of any kind, especially at the National level. At the National event last week I had many people come up to me after we competed and compliment me no my dog and wondered where in the heck I managed to find a Briard like him. One of the best comments I received from several people, was that it looked like Elek was having great fun doing the work, as well as doing a good job. So many of the dogs don't look happy, but Elek just loves doing what he does as long as it is active work. I had trainers from Florida and Canada who have been in the Schutzhund sport for 30 plus years talk to me and couldn't believe a Briard was doing this kind of work at this level this well. It is very hard to find a shephard or malinois that can do the work, let alone a Briard.

One of the Judge's that Judged the Nationals was from Germany and he gave Elek a score on the protection work of 92 which put Elek in the top 10 out of 50 competing dogs, all of which were shepherds or Malinois. This is all very good and unheard of in the sport.

I have been training Elek seriously in the sport for the last 4 years and everybody that comes in contact with him just can't believe what a wonderful dog he is and how well he can work. Elek has been fabulously obedient, learns quickly and once he learns something it is in his mind forever. People that have been in this sport for many years that are in our club, continually comment on what a unique and intelligent dog he is and simply can't believe how great his temperament is in all respects on and off the field.

I also want to let you know that Elek has been a fabulous family dog since day one. I have an 19 year old step daughter, 3 year old daughter and 1 1/2 year old son and Elek has always been great around all of them. I have a spayed female shepherd who has picked on Elek from day one in a playful way and he has tolerated her games with a smile on his face at all times. I have a lot more stories about Elek's life I could tell you, but I am running out of time right now.

If you are interested I would like to send you some pictures of Elek from the Denver Nationals when I get them and I can send you a picture of the awards ceremony that he is in that will be published in the National DVG catalogue next month.

Elek is one in a million and my family and I love the joy and happiness and lifestyle change he has made in our family.

Hello *****: Here is a really good video on You Tube of Elek and I at the Nationals in Denver. This video is of both the obedience and protection routine. Take a look at it and let me know what you think. If you have questions about it let me know I will be happy to explain anything you might have questions about. I still plan on getting the pictures onto a cd to send to you, but to tell you the truth, this video on you tube is actually better than the professional video that I paid for.

I don't know enough to know if there is some way to permanently save the you tube video, but if there is you should do it. I am going to mess around and see if there is some way for me to permanently save it for the future.

Let me know what you think. You should be proud of your breeding, because there is only one dog in a thousand that can do this stuff at this level (probably less than that in reality). Even these people I know that do "big time" German Shepherd breeding at a high level don't get many in 20 years that do this at a high level of competency".

Re: Schutzhund Training.
 

I've trained dogs using the Schutzhund method. I really like the interaction promoted in the animals. One teaches the dog to observe and think about what is going on in the environment. The training technique relies heavily on modifying the instinctual behaviors of the dog, and the reward is targeted to other instinctual behaviors.

Schutzhund training is quite fun for the dog and the owner. If the dog is not having fun during a training secession, "ur doing it wrong".

Re: Schutzhund Training.
 

I trained dogs in Obedience and tracking. I also taught training classes for a decade.
I was asked about protection training by a lot of students. From what I have been told by friends who do Schutzhund training the dogs need a very stable temperament and strong obedience background before they begin training.. It intense training amd requires commitment on your part...

My personal thoughts on any protection training is if your dog has a strong relationship and is included in the fnaily unit he will protect you when the need arises. If I were going to attempt protection training i would hook up with a training club and let them help you find a qualified instructor.

It was very common when I was teaching obedience classes to get students who had bought big, bad dogs who could not control hem and were afraid of their own dogs. Seek qualified instructors.