Wolfpack Working Sport Dog (Schutzhund/IGP)

As a working dog club, WPWD's members are active in the working dog sport of IGP (formerly known as Schutzhund) under the association of DVG - Deutscher Verband der Gebrauchshundsportvereine (German organization of working dog sport clubs).  DVG is the largest working dog organization in the world. It is also the oldest Schutzhund training organization in the world.

Schutzhund (German for “protection dog”) is a dog sport that was developed in Germany in the early 1900s as a breed suitability test for the German Shepherd Dog, to determine if a dog displayed the appropriate traits and characteristics of a proper working German Shepherd Dog. Today, it is a sport where many breeds other than German Shepherd Dogs can compete. It is a demanding test for any dog. In its current form, the Sport is known as "IGP" which roughly translates to international working dog test. 

Schutzhund /IGP tests dogs for a strong desire to work, courage, intelligence, trainability, a strong bond with the handler, perseverance, and protective instinct. It also tests for physical traits such as strength, endurance, agility, and scenting ability. The sport’s goal is to reveal character and ability of a dog through training. Schutzhund is a challenging test of a dog’s character, and not every dog is up to the challenge. Even breeds common in the sport have individuals that do not have the necessary drives or physical characteristics.

There are three phases in Schutzhund training–tracking, obedience, and protection. The sport offers many different titles and tests, but the most common involves all three phases tested on the same day. These are called Schutzhund (or IGP) 1, 2, and 3.

The tracking phase tests not only the dog's scenting ability, but also its mental soundness and physical endurance. In the tracking phase, a track layer walks across a field, dropping several small articles along the way. The length, complexity, number of articles, and age of the track varies for each title.

The obedience phase is done in a large field, with the dogs working in pairs. One dog is placed in a down position on the side of the field and its handler leaves it while the other dog works in the field. Obedience is judged on the dog's accuracy and attitude.

In the protection phase, the judge’s assistant, called the "helper", helps him or her test the dog's courage to protect himself and his handler and its ability to be controlled while doing so. The helper wears a heavily padded sleeve on one arm. There are several blinds, placed where the helper can hide on the field. The dog is directed to search the blinds for the helper.

Before a dog can compete at the 1 level, he must pass a temperament test called a BH (Begleithundprüfung, which translates as “traffic-sure companion dog test”). The BH tests basic obedience and sureness around strange people, strange dogs, traffic, and loud noises. A dog that exhibits excessive fear, distractibility, or aggression cannot pass the BH. The BH is an excellent temperament test for dogs of all breeds, and the requirements are such that any dog of any breed can participate successfully. Having your dog pass a BH test demonstrates that he is of sound character, safe to be around.

DVG and American Schutzhund are the only Schutzhund dog sport club that is not breed-specific. If your dog can do the sport, we accept it.

AMERICAN SCHUTZHUND & PSA

Wolfpack Working Dogs is also an active Affiliated Member of American Schutzhund and PSA (Protection Sports Association).  

Intro to AS 

American Schutzhund believes that desirable working character is constructed of basic elements which rest on the physical and

psychological capabilities of the individual dog. American Schutzhund strongly believes, if we do not continue to pressure, stress, and test our working breeds, we will no longer have the working dogs we have today.  

AS is determined to return Schutzhund back to a state of relevance by providing what we believe to be a more practical and rigorous test. Via testing that encompasses

environmental soundness, article searches, scent detection, obedience and protection, American Schutzhund will strive to test the temperament and genetics of each dog. 

Intro to PSA

The Protection Sports Association (PSA) was conceived and born in 2001 and last year celebrated its 18th anniversary in October of 2018 at the National Championship weekend held in Canada. The sport was the founded by Jerry Bradshaw of Tarheel Canine Training, Inc  and Joe Morris, late of Capital Cities K9 in Baltimore, MD.  PSA hosts trials, seminars, regional and national competitions during a trial season that starts in January and runs through the National Championship in October.  There are four regions: West, Midwest, East, and Canada, each with a director, and 2 assistant directors in each region. The regional directors approve club trials, host the regional events, and oversee the competitions. Judges are available to travel to events by invitation of the hosting clubs.

We strive to provide a competitive outlet for obedience and protection training in a scenario-based program of dog sport. There is a mandatory entry level certificate, called a PDC, that must be achieved by all competitors before going on to the competitive levels of PSA 1 through PSA 3.

Trials are normally held as weekend 2 day events, but many trials are held in conjunction with IPO or Ring Sport events as well. PSA Judges are required to go through an apprenticeship under two senior judges as well as the Director of Judges. Decoys working trials are certified by PSA, through regional directors and the PSA Director of Decoys, as knowing the trial routines, being physically fit to perform, and safe to catch the dogs.