Schutzhund is a dog sport that was developed in Germany in the early 1900s to test whether German Shepherd Dogs (GSD) act and perform in the manner that the breed was intended, rather than simply evaluating a dog's appearance. Today, many breeds other than GSDs can compete in Schutzhund, even mixes, can compete in Schutzhund today. The most common breeds are GSDs, Rottweilers, Belgian Malinois, Doberman Pinschers, Giant Schnauzers, Bouvier des Flandres, Dutch Shepherd Dogs, and the like. Schutzhund is a demanding test for a dog and few dogs can pass a Schutzhund test. Schutzhund training, like the sport itself, has evolved over the years. It is physical. It is mental. The demands are great, but the sport also offers competition and new friendships. In short, it is what all recreational sports should first be: good exercise, fun and full of rewards. 

Phase I - tracking, requires the dog to track footsteps over mixed terrain, change direction and show absolute accuracy and commitment to finding the track. It must also find dropped articles and indicate their locations to the handler. Often this is done under less than ideal circumstances with difficult over, bad weather conditions and an aged track. Many find tracking to be the most satisfying experience in training, when only the handler and dog are working together. It is certainly the most peaceful part of Schutzhund.

Phase II - obedience. There is heeling, both on and off lead. The sit in motion, down in motion, stand in motion, recall from down, Some exercises require the dog to work under the noise of a firing gun. In addition to the normal dumbbell retrieval, the dog must retrieve over a one meter jump and a six foot wall. Down stays and a long send away conclude the test.

Phase III - protection. The final test that is the most misunderstood by the general public. This is protection work is controlled protection. The most important point to understand when watching a protection routine, is the relationship between dog and handler. The dog must never bite the trial helper, unless either the dog or the handler is attacked or if the dog is givena command. Then it must attack fully and without hesitation. But here the real difference becomes apparent. The dog must stop biting on the command of the handler and guard the trial helper without further aggression. Often people confuse Schutzhund protection training with police dog or personal protection work. The Schutzhund dog is capable of the feats of never being aggressive except under those specific situations it is trained to face, and even then it must always be under the absolute control of the handler. The above tests are difficult enough, but to make it even more demanding, they all happen in one day (sometimes two days if your lucky) during competitions some time that are held all over the country. Each dog is judged by a complex point system that then determines the winner of the trial. When a dog successfully completes the first trial, it is awarded a title of Schutzhund I. It can then progress to Schutzhund II and, then to the ultimate, Schutzhund III. Each level makes ever greater demands on the dog and training in all three areas. Any Schutzhund Enthusiast will tell you that a high scoring Schutzhund III dog is the ultimate working dog. The truth of the matter is the ultimate working dog is actually the dog that proves itself on and off the Schutzhund field, be sound in temperament and still able to be a family member, that is the ULTIMATE WORKING DOG!