Bouvier des Flandres

Selecting the Schutzhund Dog

Although many individuals within a particular breed may be suitable for the rigors of Schutzhund, generally dogs from the following breeds are most consistently able to perform the work.

Airedale Terrier

Airedales were used extensively for police work in England and Europe before World War II.

Belgian Groenandael, Tervuren and Malinois

Belgian shepherds were used extensively as messenger dogs, ambulance dogs and security dogs during World War I. Today the Malinois especially is favored by many working dog trainers of France, Belgium and the Netherlands, and the breed is rapidly becoming more common in Schutzhund trials both in Germany and America.

Bouvier des Flandres

The Bouvier was often used for police work in Europe. Today, the greatest number of working‑quality Bouviers are bred in the Netherlands, and at least one police department on the Eastern seaboard of the United States has imported several of these animals.

^{Boxer. (Richard Tomata’s and William Scolnik’s Ch. Happy Ours Fortune de Jacquet.)}

^{Belgian Groenandael. (Charley Bartholomew’s Gillian de Loup Noir, Schutzhund III, Ring I.)}

^{Rottweiler. (Kathy Jo Megan’s “Diego.”)}

^{Belgian Tervuren.}

Boxer

At one time the Boxer was second in popularity only to the German Shepherd Dog in German Schutzhund clubs. They are used as guide dogs and also in the West German police and military.

Doberman Pinscher

Dobermans have seen much service with both the police and military worldwide. They are quite popular in Schutzhund in the United States, and the Doberman Pinscher Club of America was one of the early supporters of American Schutzhund.

German Shepherd

German Shepherds are used extensively by the military and police and as guide dogs for the blind. They are the most popular breed worldwide for Schutzhund as well as most kinds of service work.

Giant Schnauzer

Although comparatively rare, the Giant has been used a great deal in Europe by police departments and Schutzhund enthusiasts as well.

Rottweiler

Probably the oldest of the working breeds, the Rottweiler dates back to the Dark Ages. They are used in both police and military work and in the last few years have become exceedingly popular in the United States.

Other dogs that should not be overlooked for use in Schutzhund work are the Australian Shepherd, Chesapeake Bay and Labrador Retrievers, Bull Terrier and Staffordshire Terrier, as well as some of the giant breeds.

It is not the breed of the dog that is important, it is its character. Von Stephanitz summarized the qualities of the ideal working dog and noted the following requirements: “Joy in work, devotion to duty and to master, mistrust and sharpness against strangers and unusual things, docility and obedience, teachableness and quickness to understand.”