good thing or bad thing

[Purdue#1]

I have a aussie that i plan on training for agility, discs, obedience and herding. i was looking into schutzhund, and i'm wondering if any aussies compete in it. I've heard they have. Will they become agressive guard dogs or dogs that will protect you when you tell them to, and how would you train them?

 

[sam]

I have a friend that trained her aussie in schutzund. She didn't go on to compete or anything but she's a dog trainer and she's enjoyed training and competing in many sports and believes she's learned new things from each one.
The sport doesn't really appeal to me personally, but its really all about obedience and control and I admire the training that goes into that. I certainly don't think Sch training is going to "make your dog aggressive". I'll let some of the serious Sch people chime in about wether the dogs become more serious about protection or not. Aussies have a natural protective streak so that's already part of their make up.

I do think that the sports we do affect our dogs in other aspects of life ie when we started herding training with my border collie he started bossing the cat around at home - it sort of released his inner bossy side. Dogs that do flyball often become more barky because at a flyball tourny there's a constant and intense barking because the dogs are al riled up and excited.
It's also interesting to see how training for some sports affects others- my herding training has improved certain things for us for obedience but also made some things more difficult. I find it hard to do more than a couple things with each dog.

 

[Brandyb]

To be honest, most schutzhund trainers will not take on any other breeds besides the ones most well known in the sport (ie. germans shepherds, malinois, dobermans, rotties, bouvier, giant schnauzer, and mixes of the above) and a lot of times german shepherds are the preference. They like to ustilize the large, high drive, working breeds. I myself, have never heard of an auzie in the sport, however, it would be interesting to see some less well known breeds compete in the events.
A tonne of training is involved in the sport of schutzhund, and no, unless improperly trained, and or not finished, schutzhund will not make your dog aggressive.
However, schutzhund does not just consist of bite work. Tracking and obedience are all part of the venue. There is a lot more involved, and obedience is the number one factor in this sport to succeed. You can have a dog with a perfect full bite, with no movement and no shyness, who is a whiz at the "attack" portion, but if you don't have a solid foundation of obedience you don't have control over the dog who you need to eventually "out" from its target. Obedience is the key even to the protection phase of the sport.
I would contact a couple local clubs and see what their polocies are on training, what breeds that they take, and what their particular training involves. I would also suggested going to watch some trials to get a feel for what really is involved and how others handle their dogs. Most schutzhund dogs are conditioned right from puppyhood, building upon the drives as young as 8 weeks.
I know that Auzies excell in agility, disc, obedience and herding, and it might just be better to stick to those venues. You really need to research the sport, go to trials, speak with trainers and trialers alike amd really find out whats involved. Once you get to the bite work portion, you really don't want to stop mid-way through training without being fully able to control this drive. It takes a lot of work to excell at this sport.
Hope this helps a bit. Good luck!

 

[MelissaCato]

I think Schutzhund is the fastest growing dog sport in America @ present. Now add the 2007 AKC WDS to the table and instant American participation. This is a good thing for AKC, I think. Not only for temperment tests but for Politics and people of different culture to participate without prejudice.
AKC is making it hard because the start of the 2007 trial period for WDS is breed specific, and only a 3 year time limit. This is a set back for trainers, because we are forced to change breeds and or petition to add breeds through Parent Clubs. Some dogs IE: Cattle Dogs, American Staff Terriers, any able breed for that matter, it's the trainer who makes the dog. And that dog being Bully, Collie, Mastiff, Hound, or "other"..only betters that breed in question.

..it takes a certain "high drive" of a human to control the "high drive" of a K-9 when it comes to Schutzhund to be safe and effective. Or all H*ll can break loose @ an event. It just doesn't seem that temperment tested @ a show event to me. My opinion. So, in some cases, some people might disagree with this "type" of "training" hence prejudice.
.. health will benefit with this training regardless of breed.

If you take a look at the breeds greatly involved in the sport in America today, they are all initially foreign bred. I would think this explaines the popularity in these breeds today in America. Hence the not so popular breeds.

it all depends on the goals of the trainer and the individual dog in training and of course which country your in. Different breeds have their different strengths and weaknesses, it's up to the trainer to choose which "he/she" will train to compete and on what level with what ever breed.
Here is a link to a Cattle Dog in K-9 Sports, FR is his fancy.
http://www.pbase.com/cattledog/poe_schutzhund

This is one of two Cattle Dogs I know of internationally that better the breed in this "type" of interest. If I could find the link, I've seen a Boston Terrier in action and very impressive. I think many people under estimate the canine. And not enough credit to the "team" in question.

... Soooo, I would think the aussie has potentual given the right trainer. Good Luck with your choices.

Melissa.

 

[Purdue#1]

Thanks. Does anybody know of and clubs in the southern indiana/Northern kentucky area? I found one that says any working breeds, But most are for GSDs.

 

[MelissaCato]

Thanks. Does anybody know of and clubs in the southern indiana/Northern kentucky area? I found one that says any working breeds, But most are for GSDs.

Purdue, are you training your own dog? Or are you shiping your dog to a trainer?

 

[Purdue#1]

If there's a trainer within a reasonable difference from where we live i might see if they could train him. if not, i will try to train him myself.

The person that did his obedience training also does agility wih our 4-H dog club. I will be in her group. i will try and ask her if she knows of any Schutzhund trainers in the area that works with aussies.