Schutzhund: Dog Sport in Europe and USA

Author:: Kelly Ward

Kelly has been competing and training in IGP since 2010. Over the years, she has learned a lot about the sport and the German Shepherd Dog.

What Is the Purpose of IGP?

Schutzhund is a German word that means "protection dog" and was developed in Germany as a breed suitability test in the early 1900s. This evaluation determined if a dog displayed the appropriate characteristics of a working German Shepherd. Today, Schutzhund has evolved into a sport where dogs compete in a very demanding exam.

This exam is now called IGP. Over the years, the name has been Schutzhund, IPO, and now IGP. This exam is very demanding and not all dogs can pass. The IGP evaluation consists of three phases:

Tracking
Obedience
Protection

Contrary to what many say, the exam of IGP is still difficult even though it has changed over time. Yes, it is a sport but can also still demonstrate the necessary traits owners and breeders are looking for in their dogs. The purpose is still to identify dogs that have certain character traits.

Some of those character traits are:

Physical strength
Endurance
Agility
Desire to work
Intelligence
Courage
Intelligence
Train-ability
Relationship with the handler
Obedience

What Else Does It Evaluate?

IGP also evaluates for balance, temperament, and control. The goal is to see the character through training and then in designed stress. These designed stressful situations are weather, locations, environment, and other handlers and dogs.

For example, the competition is not canceled in rain—the trial is held. And all trials are held outdoors. This is an outdoor sport where inclement weather can change at any moment. This can be insightful to breeders to see what a dog "is made of" under designed stress.

The Main Tests

`1. Tracking

The tracking phases tests scenting, mental soundness, obedience, and endurance. The track is laid in a field by a track layer (for IGP1 the handler lays track) and small articles are placed on the track. Time is kept for aging (depending on the track) by the judge and the dog and handler work the track.

The dog must scent and follow the laid track and then indicate the placed articles. Scoring is based on how intense or intent on the track, article indication, etc. Each title has its own length, articles number, and age of track.

2. Obedience

Obedience is worked in handler and dog pairings based on entries. One dog is placed in a long down position while the other pair works and then they switch. The obedience routine is multiple heeling exercises such as the heeling pattern, retrieves, and send-out. Overall, the dog must demonstrate power, enthusiasm, and precision during this routine. This might sound easy but when you add in control, it makes for a difficult routine.

3. Protection

The protection phase has a person on the field called the "helper." The helper's responsibility is to test the dog under the designed exercises for the judge to evaluate.

There is lots of safety equipment used for the dog and person. Again, this program is about control and precision. This is not about violence or biting as many outside the sport tend to misunderstand.

The dog searches the blinds, guards the helper once located, and must be recalled. Then a variety of exercises that are similar to police work and transporting are completed. Like in obedience, the dog must demonstrate power, enthusiasm, precision, and control.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.