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Internationale Gebrauchshund Prüfung is a dog sport that tests a dog's tracking, obedience, and protection skills. It's also known as Schutzhund, which is German for "protection dog".
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Simon has been involved in IGP dog sport since 2014 working and training Rottweilers to the highest level of the sport and competing around the world. His highest achievement to date was representing Team GB at the World International Rottweiler Championships 2024 in Slovakia, finishing 20th individually and as a team finishing 4th! The highest a British Dog Sport team have ever come.
Natürlich & organisch Shabby To Chic!
Schutzhund, German for "protection dog”, currently known competitively as IGP is a dog sport that tests a dog's tracking, obedience, and protection skills, and evaluates if a dog has the appropriate traits and characteristics of a good working dog.
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It was developed in Germany in the early 1900s as a suitability test for German Shepherds, but soon became the model for training and evaluating all five of the German protection breeds, which included Boxer, Dobermann, Giant Schnauzer, and Rottweiler. Though any breed of dog can participate, today the sport is dominated by German Shepherds and the Belgian Shepherd breed.
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There are 3 levels, IGP 1, IGP 2 and IGP 3, 3 being the hardest and more challenging and this is the level you must achieve to be able to compete at National and World Level. Scores are marked out of 100 for each phase and a mark of 70 is considered a pass.
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Before a dog can compete for IGP1, it must pass a temperament test called a BH. The BH tests basic obedience and confidence around strange people, strange dogs, traffic, bicyclists, joggers, loud noises, and briefly tethered alone (such as tethering the dog to a post while its owner goes out of sight into a shop). A dog that exhibits excessive fear, distracted behaviours, or aggression will not pass the BH and so cannot go on to IGP level 1.
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Tracking phase: This tests not only the dog's scenting ability, but its mental soundness, and physical endurance. A "track layer" walks across a field dropping several small articles along the way. After a period of time, the dog is directed to follow the track while being followed by its handler on a 10 metres (33 ft) leash. When the dog finds each article, he indicates it, usually by lying down with the article between his front paws. The dog is scored on how intently and carefully it follows the track and indicates the articles. The length, complexity, number of articles, and age of the track varies for each title.
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This takes place in a large field, with two dogs on the field at a time. 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. Then the dogs switch places. In the field, there are several heeling exercises, including heeling through a group of people. There are two or three gunshots during the heeling to test the dog's reaction to loud noises. There are one or two recalls, three retrieves (flat, jump and A-frame), and a "send out", in which the dog is directed to run away from the handler straight and fast and then lie down on command during its run. Obedience is judged on the dog's accuracy and attitude. The dog must show enthusiasm. A dog that is uninterested or cowering scores poorly.
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The judge has an assistant, called the "helper", who helps test the dog's courage to protect itself and its handler, and its ability to be controlled while doing so. The helper wears a heavily padded sleeve on one arm. There are six "blinds" on the field, and the helper hides in blind 6. The dog is directed to search all the blinds for the helper. When it finds the helper, it indicates by barking. The dog must guard the helper to prevent them from moving until recalled by the handler. There follows a series of exercises similar to police work where the handler searches the helper and transports them to the judge. At specified points, the helper either attacks the dog or the handler, or attempts to escape. The dog must stop the attack or the escape by biting the padded sleeve. When the attack or escape stops, the dog is commanded to "out", or release the sleeve. The dog must out or it is dismissed. At all times the dog must show courage to engage the helper and the temperament to obey the handler while in this high state of emotional arousal. The dog must show enthusiasm. A dog that shows fear, lack of control, or inappropriate aggression is dismissed.
