Schutzhund German Shepherds are definitely dogs for the Armed Forces. You will find this dog breed working in the military, police forces, search and rescue teams, and many border patrols. They also work at airports to detect any illegal drugs or contraband. These dogs prove to be invalueable in difficult situations. That is why they are so sought after by the Armed Forces.
But not all Schutzhund German Shepherds are suited for security purposed. There are some tests that can be conducted to see if the dog has what it takes to get the job. For tracking, a good Schutzhund German Shepherd dog will be able to follow footsteps over any kind of terrain. They should be able to track people or animals reliably and consistently. They must show that they can find a trail accurately and not lose it no matter where it leads. You can also test a Schutzhund German Shepherd by dropping articles along the side of the path as you train him. This test can be very rewarding not only to your dog but also to you.
The second test for the Schutzhund German Shepherd is obedience. In the obedience test, your dog will have to comply with sit, stay, and stand down. However, it has to do this while moving. They also must know how to heel both on and off the lead. The difference in working at a show ring and tracking is the large area involved in outdoor tracking. This can prove to be a bigger task. You can use noises to try and distract your dog from the task at hand. If you can't distract him, you know you have a winner.
The final Schutzhund German Shepherds test is protection. This is very important to the people in law enforcement. During this test, your dog must attack and subdue the attacker without any hesitation. He must bark an alert to the owner and hold the attacker until the handler arrives. This should help you understand what takes place when the military or the police train a dog. It will also help you understand the importance of training them in this way. The dog must stand down on command and release the attacker when ordered to do so. The dog has to be intelligent enough to use aggression when warranted to protect his handler.
Regardless of their training, Schutzhund German Shepherds make wonderful family pets and are extremely good with children. They are intensely loyal and smart. They are the ideal companions for those that like to hike, jog, and climb and will accompany you for several hours without much of an effort. Actually the dog will usually outlast you. The only minor drawback is that they will chase anything that moves. It comes from their herding instinct, so always have a firm handle on your Schutzhund German Shepherds when you take them outside.
