The German Shepherd Dog:
A Truly Multi-purpose Dog
Obedience
- where dogs trial
Tracking - where dogs track
Agility - where dogs run
Endurance - where dogs keep up a steady pace
Herding - where dogs herd
Flyball - where dogs race
German Shepherd Dogs are truly multi-purpose dogs. They are very capable of doing very good all round work in a variety of disciplines and are definitely willing to work for their owners. In areas such as obedience , tracking, agility and endurance they can really excel as they are highly intelligent and have an innate drive to please their handler. By engaging in variety of disciplines, you and your dog will find that you can have fun learning to understand each other. In the process you will never cease to be amazed at the ability of the dog to perform a range of work. The greatest limit will be the amount of time and effort available for training.
Tracking German Shepherd Dogs
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The dog’s ability to track is well known. Man has utilized this ability for centuries. Dogs have helped the hunter to find game and food. In France, dogs hunt for exotica like truffles.
Dogs have been used by police to hunt criminals and by search and rescue workers to find lost people.
The usefulness of the Swiss Mountain rescue dogs and avalanche dogs is legendary. There are international teams of dogs trained to find victims of earthquakes and other natural disasters. German Shepherd Dogs have been amongst the hundreds of dogs working at the World Trade Centre, in unimaginable conditions. The wreckage includes glass and sharp objects, rats are a problem, but still the dogs work.
German Shepherd Dogs have always been in the forefront as a tracking and search and rescue (SAR) dog, not because they have the best sense of smell, but because of their willingness to work.. This working ability is a key factor in why they are used all over the world for services and SAR work.
For the ordinary citizen, tracking dogs can be a competition sport where dogs compete for ANKC titles.
Tracking is something that all dogs can do. It is a natural instinct for a dog to use this sense. From birth a puppy makes its way to its mothers nipple, for a drink. How? The puppy is born blind. It uses its sense of smell.
The dog’s tracking ability is extremely acute, we still don’t fully understand the dog’s capabilities in this area.. The dog’s olfactory sense is much, much more greatly developed than humans. Dogs naturally track for food, we could call this their hunting instinct.
We don’t have to teach a dog to track, we use their natural instinct to teach them that we want them to follow a certain track. In Australia, apart from Police dogs and the armed services, groups of search and rescue volunteers train dogs to find people. From a recreational angle, others train dogs to compete in ANKC tracking trials. All types dogs of varying breeds complete in these trials and German Shepherd Dogs are very successful.
“How do I get involved in tracking?”
The German Shepherd Dog Club of Victoria can help you to get started. The Tracking Club of Victoria, some obedience clubs and some private training schools also hold regular tracking training.
“How do I train for tracking?”
Like all disciplines there are many ways to train the dog to track. You  are not actually teaching the dog to track. They were able to do that from birth. What you are doing is training the dog to follow a designated scent. The most common way to start in tracking is to attend a seminar or course and then form into a small self help group to do regular training. Unlike like obedience or conformation you cannot easily take group training, as the ground and space necessary is quite large and the time taken for each dog is too great to make it viable to train more than a few dogs at a time. Hence most people find it more practicable either to do most of their training on their own or in small groups. Whichever way you train, you will be constantly surprised at the ability of the dog to track and to differentiate various scents.
“Do I need special equipment?”
Dogs are required to compete in a harness and a lead with a minimum length of 10 meters. Harnesses can vary according to preference from a simple figure 8 made with tape and D rings, to a traditional leather harness. Leads need a secure clip and can be made of many materials; preferably lightweight and easy to hold.
“How do I enter tracking trials?”
Schedules will be advertised and entries usually close 2 or 3 weeks prior to the trial date. Entry forms are available from the Victorian Canine Association office. In Victoria, tracking trials are usually held from May to October. Trials are usually held over two or three days and can be held on farmland or bush areas. In Victoria as in all areas of Australia , available land is difficult to access and the club holding the trial will make arrangements with farmers or landholders to access their land under strict conditions. The dogs will often be required to track among stock, usually sheep and cattle and wildlife such as kangaroos are a common distraction.
“What prerequisites are there for entering a tracking trial?”
Dogs must be registered with the Victorian Canine Association . A pass in a Tracking Qualification Test is necessary to be eligible to enter a tracking trial. No obedience qualifications are necessary. There are several Tracking Qualification Tests held during the year and they can also be offered at Open trials..
The test involves a three hundred meter track with one 90 degree turn and the dog must of course find the tracklayer at the end. At this stage the handler is able to nominate the tracklayer.
“What tracking titles are available?”
Tracking Dog (T.D.)
Tracking Dog Excellent (T.D.X.) and Tracking Champion (T.Ch.)
“How many different tests are available?”
In order to qualify for Tracking Dog (T.D.) there are two tests. Both 800 meters with a minimum of two turns. There will be two articles placed on the track. The dog must find at least one article and the tracklayer to pass. For test one the handler is able to nominate the tracklayer. After this test, all tracklayers will be unknown to the dog.
To qualify for Tracking Dog Excellent (T.D.X.) there are three tests. Tests three and four are 1000 meters with a minimum of four turns and test five is 1200 meters with a minimum of five turns.
The Tracking Champion (T.Ch.) test is 1100 meters with a minimum of six turns.
The age of the tracks varies between a minimum of 30 minutes for Tests One and Two to a minimum of 90 minutes for Test Six and a maximum between one and three hours between the various tests.
Agility and Jumping German Shepherd Dogs
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“How can I get involved in agility and jumping?”
The German Shepherd Dog Club of Victoria, some all breeds obedience clubs and private training schools conduct agility classes.
“What is involved in agility and jumping trials?”
Agility and jumping trials consist of courses containing a series of jumps, contact obstacles, tunnels and weaving poles. Agility is slightly more controlled as the dog has to slow to make contact points such as a table or a scramble. Jumping does not have the contact points and is much faster and courses are more free flowing.
“What breeds are suitable for agility and jumping?”
The rules for agility trials allow for three variations in jumping heights, to accommodate small, medium and large dogs. Some dogs are more agile than others but individual dogs vary in their ability to complete an agility course. German Shepherd Dogs almost certainly would compete in the large dog size which accommodates dogs measuring over 530cm. While German Shepherd Dogs are large dogs they are certainly very capable of performing well in agility and jumping. A team of German Shepherd Dogs has won the National Teams event for five consecutive years.
“How do I train for agility and jumping ?”
Your branch may hold regular agility classes, or you may wish to gain addition training with specialist classes run by the Agility Club of Victoria or by private groups, or you may have some equipment of your own.
It is vital to learn to approach this discipline safely. If a dog is trained correctly there are remarkably few injuries especially when you consider the enthusiasm that most dogs approach this sport. It is definitely a fun sport for both dog and handler and should be approached as such.
“How do I enter an agility or jumping trial?”
Schedules will be advertised and entries will usually close 2 to 3 weeks ahead. Entry forms are available from the Victorian Canine Association office. Agility and jumping trials are sometimes held in conjunction with obedience trials. However, most trials are now held separately and many clubs hold two or three agility/jumping trials on the same day.
“What prerequisites are required for entering an agility trial?”
Dogs must be registered with the Victorian Canine Association. No obedience prerequisites are required. Your dog needs no special equipment. The rules require the dog to run with a flat collar only, or no collar as preferred.
“What agility and jumping titles are
available?"
Agility Dog (A.D.), Agility Dog Excellent (A.D.X) Agility Dog Masters (A.D.M)
Jumping Dog (J.D.), Jumping Dog Excellent (J.D.X) Jumping Dog Masters (J.D.M)
Endurance German Shepherd Dogs
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“What are endurance tests and what dogs are suitable?”
They are a test of the dog’s endurance. The dog is required to maintain fitness over a 20 kilometre distance. Most breeds are suitable provided they are very fit. The handler may accompany the dog on a bicycle or they may jog if they prefer. A very simple obedience test is required at the end of the test, mainly to ascertain that the dog is able to concentrate. Vet checks are held during the test to ascertain heart rates, internal temperature and condition of pads.
“Are there any prerequisites for entering an endurance test?”
Dogs must be registered with the Victorian Canine Association. No obedience prerequisites are required. A veterinary fitness certificate is essential. No equipment is required other than a collar and a lead.
“How do I enter an endurance trial?”
Schedules will be advertised and
entries will usually close 2 to 3 weeks ahead. Entry forms are available from the Victorian Canine Association office. In Victoria, endurance trials are usually held from May to August as they are not permitted in warm weather for safety reasons.
“How do I train for endurance ?”
Generally there is no special training other than keeping the dog extremely fit. A German Shepherd in good condition for other disciplines such as conformation, obedience, tracking or agility will require very little additional fitness training. The dog will need to be conditioned to running beside a bicycle if one is used. It is wise to consult your veterinarian for a health and fitness check before you start training
“What titles are available?”
Endurance test (E.T.).
Copies of the rules relating to these disciplines are available from the
Victorian Canine Association office.
Address: PO Box K9, Royal Showgrounds Ascot Vale, 3032
Telephone: 93762255
And branches of the GSDCV
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