Schutzhund was developed in Germany in the early 1900s by Max von Stephanitz (regarded as the Father of the modern German Shepherd breed) and a group of colleagues to test the suitability of German Shepherd Dogs for police dog training.

The test was later adapted and refined to become the benchmark breed standard for large working breeds, and later evolved into an international sport. Schutzhund channels a dog's drives and instincts into desirable behaviours and activities, providing a creative outlet for all its natural abilities.

To see a Schutzhund trainer and his dog work is to watch a team in harmony with itself, where each half is complementing the other.

In obedience, a Schutzhund dog is not subservient to his handler but an eager partner in executing a challenging routine. The literal translation of the German word "Schutzhund" is Protection Dog. Many people confuse this term to mean "attack training", whereas protection actually means to identify a genuine threat and to repel it - not to instigate an attack. Schutzhund actually teaches a dog when NOT to bite. 

The integral purpose of the test is to set a standard for mental stability, endurance and agility, and proper functional structure.Any unstable dog, motivated by fear and territoriality, that operates from a highly defensive position, can be attack trained in a matter of weeks. One of the first steps to understanding Schutzhund is to understand that it is NOT related to guard or security dog training. Dogs suitable for Schutzhund are sensitive, high performance athletes - selectively bred specifically for their sociability, trainability and reliability. Obedience and controllability are the prerequisites to be seen in any good Schutzhund work. Hundreds of hours go into training for the sport, so enthusiasts are conscientious in selecting dogs with optimal potential.

A Schutzhund dog must not only be able to handle the rigorous training demanded of it, but be able to live in a family situation, be stress resistant to travel, as well as be an ambassador for their breed as a good canine citizen.

In New Zealand Schutzhund provides mainstream canine enthusiasts with an outdoor, social outlet for young and old. Approximately 45% of Australians own dogs and a great percentage of these are from the large working dog breeds. As a breeding tool, Schutzhund aims to eliminate the fear-biter and other faults in temperament and physical structure from these breed's lines, whilst Schutzhund clubs providing owners with the ways and means to better read and manage their powerful companions. Internationally the fastest growing competitive canine sport, in Europe and the United States it already enjoys widespread support from canine enthusiasts and organisations.

Schutzhund is not only a good recreational hobby, it provides a safe testing platform to evaluate our dog's temperaments - a window from which to view their character, as well as to measure their inherent working ability. Schutzhund was specifically designed for dogs with working ability. By allowing a dog to develop his natural drives and instincts and providing the means to utilise these in a defined, competitive environment, Schutzhund builds confidence and competence in both the dog and the handler. This not only develops the handler's training skills but renders the dog a more enjoyable companion by making it more reliable in everyday situations.

A prerequisite for taking part in a Schutzhund trial is that a dog must first pass a BH, or Companion Dog trial. Here the dog is tested for its general self-control and sociability, and the standard of its basic obedience is evaluated. After passing a BH trial, the team is free to move onto more the advanced phases of training, the Schutzhund trial. This consists of tracking, (Part A) obedience (Part B) and character testing (Part C) routines. There are three levels of achievement incorporating these disciplines, namely Sch.H 1,Sch.H. 2 and Sch.H. 3. Each handler starts out with 100 points for each phase. Points are deducted for errors by the presiding judge and the requirements become progressively more demanding as the difficulties increase with each level. At all times control is mandatory and standardised! Schutzhund is a simulation used to test soundness and the correct working drives of the large working breeds.Sadly, the Australasian canine world focuses more on the preservation of dog showing than providing suitable infrastructures that could guarantee the functionality and stability of their breed's character.

The question that arises, is what sacrifices are canine organisations prepared to make to gain a system that is designed for the betterment of individual breeds rather than merely dog showing as a past time? What is inside a dog's brain should be equally as important as what is inside its mouth, and then spelled out clearly. Obviously the Germans tackled this question several decades ago and have evolved their present system of Schutzhund, together with all the inherent infrastructure. A dog will bite when he feels like it, usually in a moment for which he has not been prepared. Not being trained in this area his stress threshold is lower and consequently is liable to bite much more quickly than a dog that has learned greater control. Self control requires a stable mentality, and like any other feature of a dog this must be selectively bred for.

A test for evaluating the quality of the dog's temperament and working ability makes just as much sense as a test for evaluating the quality of the dog's conformation.Inferior, or more importantly, the superior examples of the breed can be readily identified by an authoritatively conducted Schutzhund test. Some laymen confuse the C work in Schutzhund with teaching dogs to attack people. Nothing is further from the truth. Decades of experience show dogs trained at Schutzhund don't undergo Jekell and Hyde personality changes and don't become attack prone. To suggest this is much like saying a motor company's car crash testing program produces cars more prone to crashing. It is only someone completely devoid of knowledge about motor cars that would think this and be not a little sceptical about getting into a car after witnessing one of these "crash" tests. So it is with Schutzhund. There is no comfort or place in this sport for a dog that bites without provocation, but much admiration for the dog that is obedient, good natured towards humans, self confident and stands firm as fearless protector of person and property when assaulted.

Worldwide, and over decades, Schutzhund has proven the best possible testing platform for breeders to properly evaluate the character and working ability of their large working dog breeds.Weak, vicious and unstable character is only product of poor breeding practices. Breeders can't select for traits they never test. This is why in Germany, Schutzhund titles are compulsory for all breeding stock. Decades of experience have demonstrated to German canine organisations and local government the multi-faceted benefits Schutzhund clubs provide to the wider community. As a result each town provides its Schutzhund groups with suitable training grounds and in many states Schutzhund-titled dogs receive reduced council fees and insurance rates. Germany and the USA are the most litigious nations in the world. Yet members of their Schutzhund clubs number well into the hundreds of thousands. In their modern world there is no place for any sport that creates dangers for their general community. But when it comes to community safety, the Schutzhund trained dogs impeccable record speaks for itself.