Schutzhund dog training is tough training for any dog. In fact, some people consider it the most difficult. As such, not all dogs can take this training. Find out what Schutzhund dog training is all about and find out if your Jack Russell terrier has the characteristics to undertake this training.
Schutzhund dog training originated in Germany in the early 20th century as a dog sport. As you may have guessed, Schutzhund is a German word and means “protection dog”. At that time, the law enforcement authorities in Germany were efficiently using German Shepherd Dogs for police work. However, after having some problems with their dogs, they decided it was better to test their German Shepherd dogs first to see if they had the traits needed for that type of work rather than judge their dogs based on appearance. They then came up with Schutzhund training and used competitions to make the selections and judgments.
Originally, only German Shepherd Dogs were allowed to enter Schutzhund competitions because Schutzhund training can be quite demanding on a dog. Therefore, not many breeds or dogs were up to the training nor were they able to pass it successfully. Fortunately, many breeds, including those in the terrier family, have the traits that allow them to pass the test, and over time many other breeds were allowed to compete. Once a dog passes the test, it will typically be fit for control type of work, including scent detection (for drugs, for example), search and rescue, and many others.
As such, unless they are keen on this type of specialized dog training or are in the law enforcement related business, most Jack Russell terrier owners are not interested in having their dog trained by Schutzhund. This is due to the amount of discipline, work, time, and energy that both the dog and the owner must put into this training for their dog to successfully pass the test.
However, if you are still interested in having your terrier undergo Schutzhund training, here is an initial checklist to see if your terrier has the necessary traits suitable for Schutzhund dog training:
* Is your terrier willing to be trained or subjected to hard training?
* Does your terrier give up easily when he encounters problems?
* Is your terrier brave?
* Does your terrier have a desire to work hard and is he willing to work hard?
* Is your terrier intelligent and capable of making wise decisions?
* Is your terrier able to bond strongly with the handler?
* Is your terrier patient?
* Does your terrier have a protective instinct?
Go through the list above and then you can decide for yourself if your dog is suitable for training. This is because in order to undergo Schutzhund training, a dog is generally expected to have the traits listed above. In addition to that, he must also have other physical characteristics such as agility, stamina, strength, and a keen sense of smell. Although the demands may be high, the great thing about Schutzhund dog training is that after your dog performs it, all of these capabilities are further enhanced and sharpened in your dog.
If you think your Jack Russell terrier can do Schutzhund training after reviewing the initial list, I suggest you join a Schutzhund club that is found all over the country. Membership of a Schutzhund club is necessary because the club will also examine the requirements for your terrier and accordingly advise whether your terrier is suitable for training.
This is because the Schutzhund is very hard training and not all dogs can measure up to it. If you force your dog to undergo training when he is not willing to, then you may be subjecting your dog and many people, including yourself, to stress and frustration.