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Introduction to Schutzhund
While spending a few years educating ourselves on the breed, we were invited to the Phoenix Schutzhund Club and the sport of Schutzhund also known as German Dog Sport. Schutzhund is a multi breed dog sport which not only includes rottweilers, but also German Shepherds, Malinois, Dobermans and other working breeds. Schutzhund involves three phases—tracking, obedience and protection work. We have included many photos and Schutzhund websites to help educate others on the sport and these three phases. It is a team sport involving dog and handler. Since 2003, we have both made Schutzhund a big part of our life. Jim was introduced to the sport first by learning helper work. He has worked very hard over the past few years to advance himself to become a USA National Level Schutzhund Trial Helper. Jim has participated in many trials including many club trials, regional and national level events such as the AWDF and the USA North Americans, just to name a few. With the help of friends made in the sport we researched and found our first two working line rottweilers from ADRK breedings in Germany.

Schutzhund (German for "protection dog") tests dogs of all breeds for the traits necessary for police-type work. Dogs that pass Schutzhund tests should be suitable for a wide variety of tasks: police work, specific odor detection, search and rescue, and many others. The purpose of Schutzhund is to identify dogs that have or do not have the character traits required for these demanding jobs.
Some of those traits are:

Schutzhund training tests these traits. It also tests physical traits such as strength, endurance, agility, and scenting ability. The goal of Schutzhund is to illuminate the character of a dog through training. Breeders can use this insight to determine how and whether to use the dog in producing the next generation of working dogs.

History of dog breeds commonly used in Schutzhund
The German Shepherd Dog (GSD) was developed from working herding dogs around 1900 as an all-around working dog. Within a few years it was clear that the dogs were losing their working ability. Schutzhund was developed at this time as a test of working ability for GSDs. Only GSDs that had passed a Schutzhund test or a herding test were allowed to breed and thus have their progeny registered as German Shepherd Dogs. This is true in Germany to this day. It is only by testing the working ability of every generation that the strong working characteristics of the GSD have been maintained. Dogs of any breed, even mixes, can compete in Schutzhund today, but the most common breeds are GSDs, Belgian Malinois, Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, Giant Schnauzers, Bouvier des Flandres, Dutch Shepherd Dogs, and the like.

Description
There are three schutzhund titles: Schutzhund 1 (SchH1), Schutzhund 2 (SchH2), and Schutzhund 3 (SchH3). SchH1 is the first title and SchH3 is the most advanced. Additionally, before a dog can compete for a SchH1, he must pass a temperament test called a B or BH (Begleithundprüfung which translates as "traffic-sure companion dog test"). The B tests basic obedience, sureness around strange people, strange dogs, traffic, and loud noises. A dog that exhibits excessive fear or aggression cannot pass the B and so cannot go on to schutzhund.

The Schutzhund test has changed over the years. Modern Schutzhund consists of three phases: tracking, obedience, and protection A dog must pass all three phases in one trial to be awarded a schutzhund title. Each phase is judged on a 100-point scale. The minimum passing score is 70. At any time the judge may dismiss a dog for showing poor temperament, including fear or aggression.

In the tracking phase, a track layer walks across a field, dropping several small articles along the way. After a period of time, the dog is directed to follow the track. When the dog finds each article he indicates it, usually by lying down with the article between his front paws. The dog is scored on how intently and carefully he follows the track and indicates the articles. The length, complexity, and age of the track varies for each title.

The obedience phase is done in a large field, with the dogs working in pairs. One dog is placed in a down position on the side of the field and his handler leaves him while the other dog works in the field. Then the dogs switch places. In the field, there are several heeling exercises, including heeling through a group of people. There are two or three gunshots during the heeling to test the dog's reaction to loud noises. There are one or two recalls, two or three retrieves, and a send out where the dog is directed to run away from the handler straight and fast and then lie down on command. Obedience is judged on the dog's accuracy and attitude. The dog must show enthusiasm. A dog that is uninterested or cowering scores poorly.

In the protection phase, the judge has an assistant, called the "helper", who helps him test the dog's courage to protect himself and his handler and his ability to be controlled while doing so. The helper wears a heavily padded sleeve on one arm. There are several blinds, placed where the helper can hide, on the field. The dog is directed to search the blinds for the helper. When he finds the helper, he indicates this by barking. The dog must guard the helper to prevent him from moving until recalled by his handler. There follows a series of exercises similar to police work where the handler searches the helper and transports him to the judge. At specified points, the helper either attacks the dog or the handler or attempts to escape. The dog must stop the attack or escape by biting the padded sleeve. When the attack or escape stops, the dog is commanded to "out", or release the sleeve. The dog must out or he is dismissed. At all times the dog must show the courage to engage the helper and the temperament to obey his handler while in this high state of drive. Again, the dog must show enthusiasm. A dog that shows fear, lack of control, or inappropriate aggression is dismissed.

The best source of training information is a good Schutzhund club. The overwhelming majority of Schutzhund training is done by owner/handlers at local clubs. Unfortunately, there are very few clubs in the US, making books and videos a vital source of information in that country. In the US, most clubs are affiliated with United Schutzhund Clubs of America (USA), Deutscher Verband der Gebrauchshundsportvereine (DVG), or German Shepherd Dog Club of America-Working Dog Association (GSDCA-WDA). Schutzhund clubs tend to be small, 20 or less members, because there is a limit to the number of dogs that can be trained in one session. Clubs often provide only limited formal assistance with tracking and obedience. To a certain extent, the clubs exist to provide the specialized resources needed to train the protection phase. However, a legitimate club will not permit a member to train only protection. Usually the more experienced members are willing to help the novice with tracking and obedience, though this is typically somewhat informal in the US.

Another function of Schutzhund clubs is to identify dogs that should not be trained in Schutzhund. Schutzhund is a challenging test of a dog's character, and not every dog, or even every GSD, is up to the challenge. The training director of the club has a responsibility to the dog, handler, club, and society to constantly evaluate every dog and to decline to train any dog with questionable character or working ability. Training a dog who doesn't really want to work is stressful and frustrating for all parties involved. It is better to do the research and find dogs from working lines and Schutzhund titled parents.

Schutzhund clubs regularly hold public trials, providing the opportunity for dogs to earn titles and for handlers to assess their training progress. A tiny number of dedicated handlers have trained their dogs to title readiness strictly from books and videos. This is unlikely to succeed in most cases, because it is almost impossible to train the protection phase without a helper. A good club should be considered a necessity for Schutzhund training.

Rottweiler ZTP / Korung / Deutsche Meisterschaft
In Germany and the ADRK, rottweiler type, temperament and health are extremely important. The ADRK system is far superior to any other country in the world in that rottweilers cannot be bred without first passing health clearances, Hip & elbow x-rays, as well as a BH / Temperment test and then finally passing a ZTP or Breed Test. One of the parents must possess a Sch/ VPG title. Every puppy produced in the ADRK is tattooed with a breed book number for identification and a certified pedigree is issued.

The best ADRK rottweilers twice a year can enter the ADRK Korung. This advanced breed test is only passed by a select few males and females and involves temperament, conformation and protection work. Before even entering, dogs must have a ZTP, a male must be Sch/VPG3 and females must be Sch/VPG 1. The dogs that pass the Korung will have the title Gekort on their pedigree indicating they have passed this rigorous advanced breed test. The ultimate is the Lifetime Korung test. A dog that has passed this test has the title, Gekort bis EZA or Lifetime Breeding eligible.

The ultimate Schutzhund working trial in Germany is the Deutsche Meisterschaft or the ADRK Schutzhund Nationals. The best working rottweilers compete in this event every year. The is the top ADRK Schutzhund event and the best working rottweilers in Germany will compete at this prestigious event. We take great pride in our decision to have selected our rottweilers from Gekort / DM level dogs and breedings. Any future breedings at Vom Feuerhaus will follow the ADRK standard.

Commitment
Along with the sport has come our opportunity and honor to meet incredible people and true legends in the breed and the sport. From the United States to Germany, we have both been honored to call many of these people our friends and consider them part of our family. Our friends, Klaus and Helga from the Vom Herrenholz ADRK kennel in Germany is one of the most famous and devoted kennels to the working rottweiler and has dedicated themselves to upholding the working ability, type and temperament of the breed for over 20 years.

Through proper education, pedigrees, training, devotion, nutrition and patience we hope to make our dogs and the breed the best it can be. We hope that you enjoy our website and find it to enhance your knowledge about the breed of rottweilers and the sport of Schutzhund.