Welcome to the
Colorado Springs
Peak Schutzhund Club
Web
Page!
www.CS-PSC.org
Our DVG
affiliated Schutzhund training club is located in Colorado
Springs, Colorado. We welcome all breeds of dogs and love
visitors! Come watch a training session and learn about the
exciting sport of Schutzhund!
What is
Schutzhund?
As stated
by our parent organization DVG:
Schutzhund tests
three specific areas of a dog's training and behavior. The
first, 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
cover, 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.
The second phase is
obedience. Those who are familiar with AKC obedience will feel
more comfortable in this area, as many of the exercises are
similar to those in Open and Utility. There is heeling, both on
and off lead. The sit, down and stand are also done, except when
the dog is moving. But Schutzhund applies its own style to this
work. Instead of a forty foot ring, the handler and dog work on
a soccer sized trial field. 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.
The final test is the
most misunderstood by the general public. This is 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. 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.
Visit
the
DVG Web Site for an excellent introduction to the sport.
Locations
and Times of
our training are on the Location page
Visitors since Jan 23, 2005:
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