'A partnership of discipline and love': Locals train dogs in Schutzhund tracking, obedience and protection

Schutzhund is the German word for "protection dog."

It's also the name of a sport in which different breeds of dogs compete, and it's growing in popularity.

Schutzhund originally was developed in Germany in the early 1900s as a way to test the suitability of a German shepherd dog to do police and security work and search and rescue.

The basis of the competition are the sorts of tasks police dogs are trained to develop, and it's beyond a typical dog's set of tricks of fetch, roll over, beg, heel, sit and stay. The rigor of the competition tests a dog's trainability and ability to acquire an attitude of courage and intelligence, its sense of protection and strong bond with the handler, an acute sense of smell and the desire to work.

The competition essentially falls into three categories: Tracking, obedience and protection. It's sort of like a canine triathlon. To be classified as a schutzhund, a dog must succeed in all three areas in a single trial.

Ashley Allstun holds onto Bella, her Doberman Pinscher, as the dog attacks a bad guy, played by Zach Snyder, during Schutzhund dog training Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015 in Jackson. (Fred Lynch)

Schutzhund enthusiasts pose for a photo, from left, Ashley Allstun with Bella, Zane Eichman, Debbie McLane with Anna, Cleo Johns with Porsche, Nita Eichman, David Crow with Glasgow, Zach Snyder and Trace White with Fena. (Fred Lynch)

At any given gathering of the Capaha Schutzhund Group, one might find about a half-dozen humans and about a dozen dogs. They regularly gather at the K-9 Training Center on Lenco Avenue in Jackson and head out to the fields behind the facility when weather permits. On a recent Sunday, breeds represented were German shepherd, Doberman, Rottweiler, pit bull and Malinois, also known as a Belgian shepherd.

While the group is not directly affiliated with United Schutzhund Clubs of America, local members often participate in the organization's competitions, which are held locally and regionally and on national and global levels.

"It's basically a group of consenting adults, working dogs," says Nita Eichman, owner of the center, where she regularly trains normal pets who may have obedience or behavior issues. She also trains service and therapy dogs.

"It takes a village to train a dog. We rely on each other's experience," David Crow, another group member -- and owner of eight dogs -- says. "Obedience, obedience, obedience. The dog doesn't get to do anything unless we let them. Obedience is like a dance between the trainer and the dog."

Another group member, Cleo Johns, says, "Each dog may be trained in a different manner because of its genetics -- its breed -- its experience and its comfort level around other people and other dogs."

Johns, Eichman and Crow had difficulty making a direct comparison to any human sport or competition.

"Perhaps you can liken it to gymnastics, with its accuracy and finesse. Maybe bodybuilding? Maybe martial arts, with judging on moves and sparring," Eichman offers.

David Crow plays a bad guy as his German shepherd, Glasgow, attacks him during Schutzhund dog training in Jackson. (Fred Lynch)

In a competition, each dog starts a trial with 300 points -- 100 points for each of the three phases of tracking, obedience and protection. As a dog performs with its trainer, a judge may deduct points for deviations.

Johns said the competition may not be so much directly with other dogs and handlers, but simply for the pair to accomplish a "personal best, like a marathoner."

Tracking tests a dog's sense of smell and mental concentration along terrain consisting of different lengths and turns where various articles have been placed. When a dog finds an article, it is to indicate by lying down. Points are deducted if a dog deviates from the course, misses an item or neglects to lie down, etc.

Ashley Allstun holds onto Bella, her Doberman Pinscher, as the dog attacks a bad guy, played by Zach Snyder, during Schutzhund dog training Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015 in Jackson. (Fred Lynch)

Obedience is key, Eichman says. It includes heeling and retrieving and a sendout -- the dog is commanded to run directly away from its handler and then stop and lie down on command.

"If you know you can let them go, you have control," Eichman says.

The element of protection, of course, is linked to the tradition of police work, and tests a dog's interest in protecting itself and its handler, who wears a reinforced sleeve to guard the forearm. The dog must grip the proper part of the arm.

"The dogs are happy and really enjoy the competition and the attention they have from their handler," Eichman says. "It's a partnership of discipline and love."