DOGGIE DOG BLOG

Posted by: David Harris

Video by: David Harris

Diesel’s training has been primarily focused on the goal of getting Schutzhund 1, 2, 3 titles in rapid order, once he is old enough to compete.  But, since he cannot even show for the most basic of Schutzhund titles, the BH (traffic steady companion dog) test, until he is fifteen months old and the Schutzhund 1 until eighteen months old, we have gotten bored. Diesel was also getting bored practicing the same routines over and over, so for a little extra spice we decided to enter Diesel into an AKC Obedience trial.  Diesel knew the behaviors, but had not been trained in the routine and his owner had never set foot in an AKC ring before.  With a few weeks to practice we got to work putting together a routine so that both Diesel and Lee could get comfortable with the exercises.

In many ways a CD (Companion Dog) title from the AKC is easier than a BH.  There is no sit or down-out-of-motion and the down-stay is much shorter, but in several aspects a CD is much harder than a BH.  One way AKC Obedience is harder than Schutzhund is that even in a small AKC show there will be ten times the level of noise and dog distraction as compared to a Schutzhund trial.  As you can see in the accompanying video clip, at one point Diesel is required to do a stand-stay off leash.  While his owner is away and the judge moves into position for an exam of the dog there is another dog doing a retrieving exercise in the very next ring!  Another big factor that makes AKC Obedience more challenging than Schutzhund is that you only get one chance to pass an exercise.  For example, in the BH routine, if you call your dog and it does not immediately come then you can repeat the command.  You will lose points, but you will not fail.  In AKC you will fail if your dog does not come on the first command.  In the BH routine, if your dog crawls, sits and then lays back down or generally mucks up the down-stay, you will pass as long as your dogs stays.  But, in AKC if your dog breaks a stay, then you will fail to qualify for the entire routine.  So, the basic exercises are a bit harder in the BH, but in AKC you have no room for error.

So, there are pros and cons in both sports.  AKC requires a level of precision and consistency while Schutzhund rewards the overall attitude of the dog team with a little more lenience in rule enforcement.

I like both sports, they both provide an excellent forum for people to get out and test their skills and their relationship with their dog.  Nothing separates the wheat from the chaff quicker than testing before an impartial judge.

So quit talking about competition and get out there and test your skills in battle!  You will then know where you are good, where you are great and where you need more work.  I have been to hundreds of dog events and have titled well over one hundred different dogs, but I still learn something new about myself, my training methods and my dogs at each event I attend.  Never stop learning and you will never stop having fun!

Video Link: http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=JqRhjziNrm4

I look forward to your questions or comments.

David