Dog Obedience Training For Your Pet Dog

Schutzhund training is a specialist program offered internationally as an evaluation test focused on the German Shepherd dog breed to test the aptitude of individual dogs for protection training. The testing program has existed since early 1900s and is used widely by police and military forces. The program involves a wide range of equipment.

The sport is divided into tracking, obedience and protection phases. Tracking trains the dog to use its scenting abilities, mental discipline and physical endurance. Obedience trains the dog to conform to specific commands. Protection requires the dog to hold a mock human decoy and then release it on command. See these schutzhund training tips for insight on earning titles.

Both a short leash (usually one meter) and a long tracking line (up to ten meters) are needed. The most popular material for a short leash is leather. A synthetic light material similar to biothane is common for the long leash.

Soft dog toys or tugs are used to prepare a pup for the sleeve. They teach a puppy that biting some items is permissible and biting others is not. Good tugs are around one inch in diameter and six to ten inches long. They can be made of various materials such as stuffed leather, fire hose or rope. The tug should not be too stiff as pups enjoy being able to squeeze and sinking their teeth into the tug. Larger tugs are used to begin protection training. A line is typically attached to one end of the rag.

Dumbbells are used for the retrieve. The program sets specific dumbbell requirements for each stage of the program based on weight. Tracking requires a dumbbell weighing 650 grams, obedience 1000 grams and protection 2000 grams. In all cases, a 650 gram dumbbell is employed for the jumping exercises.

Both a standard short leash (usually three feet) and a long tracking line (usually thirty three feet) will be required. Popular materials are leather for the short leash and a light material like biothane that will not retain dirt or become heavy when wet for the long leash. Body harnesses are optional. They assist control since their effect is to position the holding point closer to the center of mass of the dog. A harness should fit snugly but not too tight. As a guide, it should be possible to slide a human hand between the harness and the dog. The harness should have a strong D ring on the top of the back of the dog to attach the leash or line.

Other equipment items include tracking line, blinds, dumbbell ramps and stands, whips, sticks, puppy rags, jute rolls, coveralls, leather aprons, sleeves, sleeve covers, tracking articles, muzzle, and prong collars. Owners wishing to embark on the program are advised to spend some time becoming familiar with all the required items and how best to use them.

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