Schutzhund dog training is tough training for any dog. In fact, some people consider it the most difficult. As such, not all dogs can take this training. Find out what Schutzhund dog training is all about and find out if your Jack Russell terrier has the characteristics to undertake this training.

Schutzhund dog training originated in Germany in the early 20th century as a dog sport. As you may have guessed, Schutzhund is a German word and means “protection dog”. At the time, law enforcement authorities in Germany were efficiently using German Shepherd dogs for police work. However, after having some problems with their dogs, they decided it was better to test their German Shepherd dogs first to see if they had the traits needed for that kind of work rather than judging their dogs based on their appearance. They then came up with Schutzhund training and used competitions to make the selections and the trials.

Originally, only German Shepherd Dogs were allowed to enter Schutzhund competitions because Schutzhund training can be quite demanding for a dog. Therefore, not many breeds or dogs were up to training or able to pass it successfully. Fortunately, many breeds, including those in the terrier family, have the traits that allow them to pass the test, and over time many other breeds were allowed to compete. Once a dog passes the test, it will usually be suitable for control type of work, including scent detection (for example, for drugs), search and rescue, and many others.

As such, unless they are enthusiastic about this type of specialized dog training or are in the business related to law enforcement, most Jack Russell terrier owners are not interested in Schutzhund training. your dog. This is due to the amount of discipline, work, time, and energy that both dog and owner must put into this training in order for their dog to pass the test successfully.

However, if you are still interested in having your terrier go into Schutzhund training, here is an initial checklist to see if your terrier has the necessary traits suitable for Schutzhund dog training:

* Is your terrier willing to be trained or put through hard training?
* Does your terrier give up easily when he encounters trouble?
* Is your terrier brave?
* Does your terrier have a desire to work hard and is he willing to work hard?
* Is your terrier smart and capable of making wise decisions?
* Is your terrier able to bond strongly with the handler?
* Is your terrier patient?
* Does your terrier have a protective instinct?

Go through the list above and then you can decide for yourself if your dog is suitable for training. This is because to undergo Schutzhund training, a dog is generally expected to have the traits listed above. In addition to that, he must also have other physical characteristics like agility, stamina, strength, and a keen sense of smell. Although the demands can be high, the great thing about Schutzhund dog training is that after your dog performs it, all of these capabilities are further enhanced and sharpened in your dog.

If you think your Jack Russell terrier can do Schutzhund training after going through the initial list, I suggest you join a Schutzhund club that is located across the country. Membership in a Schutzhund club is necessary because the club will also assess the requirements for your terrier and advise you accordingly if your terrier is suitable for training.

This is because the Schutzhund is very tough training and not all dogs can keep up. If you force your dog to undergo training when he is not willing to do so, then you may be subjecting your dog and many people, including yourself, to stress and frustration.