Question about Schutzhund

[jc24965]

I have been watching various videos on Schutzhund and I have noticed that the dog goes for the arm that is wearing the sleeve protector and not the arm that is containing the weapon, which means the attacker is more likely to injure the dog with the weapon. Where real personal protection dogs or police dogs are trained, they are taught to go for the arm that is carrying the weapon. This seems to make more sense.

Maybe someone can explain to me why this is not done in Schutzhund training? Or maybe it is and I've just not seen it??

Thanks

[Shrap]

Schutzhund isn't about training a protection dog. It's about showing the dog has the attributes needed

[jc24965]

Got it, thanks

[Stuart]

Schzuhund is a sport, and in this case the sleeve is the reward that the dog is trained to go for,...and is given at the end of the day.

I am sure that Ash [ vislor ] will be able to give you a better answer, but I would think that maybe a Police, or protection dog would get a little more or different training before being released to those authorities

Its a good question though, one I have never thought of

[kita]

I don't think you would get many people willing to play the 'criminal' in Schzuhund if the dogs went for the unprotected arm!

Plus you would run out pretty fast as every time a dog connected with the 'criminal' they would have to go out and get medical attention!

Sue

[Vislor]

All of the above answers are absolutely correct. The sport is designed to grade dogs on their working traits, so in protection as long as the dog attacks with intent, speed and power but is also showing absolute obedience to the handler, then you know the dog ultimately will protect (as opposed to just bite like any other raving loony dog on the end of a lead, the obedience and control is what keeps the 'status dog' idiots out of the sport).

Schutzhund is very cleverly designed in its simplicity, which is why I think it's an excellent spectator sport. However, a lot of people misunderstand the point of it.

[Vislor]

Also if a well trained schutzhund dog ever did have to bite 'for real' (god forbid) even if the criminal did have a weapon, the speed and power of the attack would easily overwhelm anyone no matter how tough they are. Ask a police dog handler who has had the experience of a real bite and they'll tell you, once the dog has made contact there's nothing a man can do to stop it.

It's like in the movies when you see people get shot and then carry on fighting, it would never happen like that in real life.

[jc24965]

I didn't mean for the dog to go for an unprotected arm. It just seemed to make sense to me that the dog should be trained to go for the arm with the weapon - in which case, both arms should be protected during training. As someone said, Schutzhund is not about training a protection dog so it's irrelevant really. It was just an observation on my part.

I am a total newbie and not at all familiar with Schutzhund but I am trying to learn and understand. We all have to start somewhere

[Vislor]

Originally Posted by jc24965

Schutzhund is not about training a protection dog

Its not all about training a protection dog. Its about training a working dog, which involves protection work.

Most Schutzhund Dogs definitely would protect.

[jc24965]

Will get a book about it. Have seen this one on Amazon: Schutzhund: Theory and Training Methods by Susan Barwig. Does anyone know of it? The reviews says it's a good book.

Thanks