K9 Schutzhund training: a manual for IPO training through positive reinforcement

257 Pages·2014·4.79 MB·English

by  Gerritsen

K9 SCHUTZHUND TRAINING
Other titles in the K 9 Professional Training series
K9 Behavior Basics, 2nd ed.
K9 Scent Training
K9 Search and Rescue, 2nd ed.
K9 Personal Protection, 2nd ed. (forthcoming 2014)
Other K9 titles from Brush Education
Aggression Control
Decoys and Aggression
K9 Complete Care
K9 Explosive Detection
K9 Fraud!
K9 Offi cer’s Manual
K9 Professional Tracking
K9 Scent Detection
K9 Suspect Discrimination
K9 Working Breeds
Police Offi cer’s Guide to K9 Searches
K9 SCHUTZHUND TRAINING
A Manual for IPO Training through
Positive Reinforcement
Second edition
Dr. Resi Gerritsen
Ruud Haak
K9 Professional Training series
Copyright © 2014 Resi Gerritsen and Ruud Haak
14 15 16 17 18 5 4 3 2 1
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Editorial: Meaghan Craven
Cover: John Luckhurst; Cover image: Marcel Jancovic/Shutterstock 79465981
Interior design: Carol Dragich, Dragich Design
Interior images: Ruud Haak: pages 6, 33, 37, 38 up, 50, 66, 67, 68, 72, 79, 87 both, 107,
129, 170, 177, 184, 205, and 240. Markus Mohr: pages 5, 11, 26, 28, 29, 38 down, 42
both, 45, 47 both, 52, 56, 58, 60, 77, 81, 82, 83, 89, 90, 94, 99, 101, 102 all three, 113, 118,
120, 122, 123, 126, 131, 141, 144, 147, 152, 159, 160, 165, 168, 172, 183, 197 both, 206,
209 both, 213, 215, 216 both, 217 both, 218, 228, 232, 234, 235, 239, and 241.
Illustrations: Chao Yu, Vancouver
Printed and manufactured in Canada
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Gerritsen, Resi, author
K9 Schutzhund training : a manual for IPO training through positive reinforcement / Dr.
Resi Gerritsen, Ruud Haak. — Second edition.
(K9 professional training)
First published: Calgary : Detselig Enterprises, c2000.
Includes bibliographical references.
Issued in print and electronic formats.
ISBN 978-1-55059-556-7 (pbk.).—ISBN 978-1-55059-557-4 (epub).—
ISBN 978-1-55059-558-1 (pdf).—ISBN 978-1-55059-559-8 (mobi)
1. Schutzhund (Dog sport). 2. Schutzhund dogs—Training. I. Haak, Ruud, author
II. Title. III. Title: Canine Schutzhund training.
SF425.85.S35G47 2014 636.7'0886 C2014-903443-1 C2014-903444-X
Produced with the assistance of the Government of Alberta, Alberta Media Fund. We
also acknowledge the fi nancial support of the Government of Canada through the
Canada Book Fund for our publishing activities.
Contents
Preface ................................................................................................vii
Introduction: The IPO Trials ...............................................................xi
Phase A Tracking
1 Tracking Basics ...................................................................................3
2 The Different Parts of Tracking ......................................................21
3 Training with Tracking Equipment ...............................................31
4 Tracking with Treats .........................................................................41
5 Tracking with Toys ............................................................................48
Phase B Obedience
6 Obedience Basics ..............................................................................65
7 Obedience Exercises ........................................................................74
8 Basic Position and Off-leash Heeling ...........................................85
9 Sit, Down, and Stand Exercises ...................................................100
1 0 The Retrieving Exercises ...............................................................111
1 1 Send Out and Down Under Distraction ....................................126
Phase C Protection
1 2 Protection Work Basics ..................................................................139
13 The Different Parts of Protection Work .....................................155
14 Advanced Decoy Techniques .......................................................169
VI CONTENTS
15 Raising Dogs for Protection Work ..............................................195
16 Training without a Decoy .............................................................207
17 Building Up Protection Work .......................................................221
Bibliography ....................................................................................237
About the Authors ..........................................................................239
Preface
Since 2000, when the fi rst edition of K 9 Schutzhund was published,
the methods for training dogs—including Schutzhund training—
have changed. Today, positive reinforcement is the accepted method.
With this in mind, we have rewritten K9 Schutzhund to help
you train your dog for IPO (Internationale Prüfungs Ordnung;
also called Schutzhund) levels 1, 2, and 3, employing the newest
methods based on classic and operant conditioning. The meth-
ods we recommend for teaching your dog tracking, obedience, and
protection exercises are all supported by the excellent results dog
trainers have seen when they use positive reinforcement.
More than ever before, handlers need a clear and well-organized
manual to help them train dogs to undergo IPO trials. That is
why we, with our years of experience as professional dog train-
ers and instructors, went to work on designing a practical train-
ing method. Of course, writing about K9 training is not easy. For
example, some old-fashioned training methods are still in use, and
the heated discussions that arise between proponents of new and
old methods sometimes muddied the waters as we set out to write
this book about modern IPO training.
We persisted, however, and our research (based on practice)
has proven that the new methods described here are very success-
ful. We must emphasize that it is impossible to learn K9 training
VIII PREFACE
solely by reading this or any other book. To successfully train your
dog, you must work with him on a training fi eld under the direc-
tion of a professional instructor and helpers (skilled tracklayers
and decoys). This book is only meant to provide theoretical sup-
port to the work done on the training fi eld.
The new method described in this book does not provide a
fast and easy way to train a dog. All training begins with a bond
between handler and dog. If that bond is lacking, the handler will
fi nd it impossible to work with the animal. Handler and dog must
understand and know each other completely, which is only pos-
sible when they spent a lot of time together. The handler must fi rst
and foremost love his dog; the dog should never be seen as merely
an object to train or work.
When the handler and dog have established a good relation-
ship and communication, it is possible to teach the dog what is
required in certain exercises. Some dogs learn quickly, but oth-
ers need more time. The amount of time needed to train a dog
depends not only on its breed but also on its individual personality
and needs. Handlers must be patient.
Dogs learn best when training is conducted in a low drive, or
when they are not agitated or excited. When in a low drive, dogs
can focus on behaving properly and listening to the dog handler’s
encouragement and commands. For some dogs, such as those that
are easily excited, learning in a high-motivation or -drive envi-
ronment is diffi cult because they become hysterical and cannot
understand what is expected of them. They are aware of every-
thing going on around them and, as a result, will be active without
knowing what they are doing, displaying behavior that is inap-
propriate for the situation. So, take your time, provide the right,
“low-drive” environment, and your patience will be rewarded.
Don’t listen to trainers who tell you that a dog can learn every-
thing in a few weeks. Good K9 training takes months, even years,
but the results will be solid. A dog trained too quickly always shows
that he is performing under duress because of the high-pressure
PREFACE IX
environment in which he trained. Building a good relationship
with a dog, laying the foundation for a long and pleasant part-
nership, takes a lot of time. We cannot emphasize enough how
important that relationship is; the combination of handler and dog
will fail if the pair does not have a strong relationship.
People who think they need high-pressure methods or tools—
pinch collars or electric appliances—to train a dog have no clue
how to train a dog well. Training, both as a hobby and as a profes-
sion, should be pleasant for the dog and the handler. It should be a
successful learning process that yields progress for both parties. If
training becomes a torment for the handler or the dog, then both
parties are on the wrong track.
When training your dog, encourage him to use his natural
characteristics, but don’t exploit them! The harmonious agree-
ment between you and your dog is the foundation for all activi-
ties, regardless of the sport the pair of you engage in. To achieve
harmony, it is important to go into the dog’s world and understand
his abilities. In the end, only someone who is a true friend to his
dog will take a healthy and capable dog to training, trials, and
competitions.
If you have, after reading this book, a better understanding of
K9 training and can complete a fi ne training period with your dog,
with good results at the trials, we will have achieved the goal we
had in mind when writing this book.
Last, but not least, we thank Mr. Markus Mohr from Austria
( www.hstc.at or w ww.facebook.com/HundeSportTrainingscenter)
for all his advice and for the excellent photographs he contributed
to this book. He showed us the enormous advantage of this mod-
ern way of training K9s in the IPO Schutzhund program, and for
that we are most grateful.
Dr. Resi Gerritsen and Ruud Haak
Spring 2014