Schutzhund Clubs In Perth

[Randomite]

Hello,

I've been trying to see if there are any clubs in Perth? Been checking out the AUSC and Schutzhund Australia website but I can't seem to find any info. Tried looking to the forum but didn't come up with anything either. Maybe I missed some old posts? Can someone redirect me pls?

I'm not actually from Australia..but I'll be visiting for a while some time next year. Would be interesting to see what the scene is like :D I just enjoy watching the dogs work...and of course, working them if I can lol

[Jeff Jones]

There are no Schutzhund clubs in Perth.

If you are interested it would be better for you to visit NSW - Victoria or Queensland.

[Randomite]

There are no Schutzhund clubs in Perth.

If you are interested it would be better for you to visit NSW - Victoria or Queensland.

Thanks Jeff. If there are no clubs....are there any small unofficial groups actively training?

[Rusky]

From the GSDAWA website

Finally it was GSD DAY! The 24th of November 1976! We were able to bring our dogs across the border unsterilized!

Kingsmans' Witchcraft came home, Mystical came in officially too. Some were so determined to throw off the yoke of suppression that even tattooing was no longer "in." It was up to another 5 years before the GSDA of WA officially started tattooing the puppies under the GSDCA Scheme.

With the BAN lifted, the number of GSDs increased dramatically. Another two German breeds became VERY popular, the Dobermann and the Rottweiler. With these three powerful breeds and their following of work oriented enthusiastic owners, came the serious upsurge of Schutzhund training in WA. Suddenly obedience was no longer good enough. The German imports all had their training titles of course, and in the Eastern States, we had several Schutzhund Clubs before the two in WA started up.

We had worked very hard to promote obedience. Worked extremely hard to promote our beautiful breed, the German Shepherd Dog. We had demos, hospital visits, Nursery and Kindergarten days where our dogs proved that this breed is gentle and trustworthy, that their teeth were merely for catching balls and sticks and delicately nibbling fleas - bite? Not our GSDs. We were successful in promoting the peaceful image and tractable disposition of the easily trained German Shepherd Dog.

The ban was lifted. Our dogs no longer had to be desexed. They no longer HAD to be on lead at all times. The threat of muzzling laws were ever upon us, but on the whole we were happy in being able to own, breed, train and show our wonderful German Shepherd Dogs.

Now we were actually told by newcomers, men and women who had not had to fight our battles, who did not live through the frustration of having their SHOW DOGS DESEXED when they came to WA, that "Canine Obedience kills the dog's sparkle!" These folks were "newies" who with perhaps 2 or 3 years of dog ownership behind them, had enjoyed a couple of American books on Schutzhund training and fallen in love with the sport. Who wouldn't? It's a great sport! However, at a time when we had only just been permitted to import and breed the GSD our aim was "Breed Improvement", we dreamed of X Ray Schemes to combat HD, of Breed Surveying to help us attain the desired type and temperament. Now we were told by new dog owners who did not have years of successful obedience training under their belts, that a real dog MUST have Schutzhund training. That Obedience ruins the dogs, any dog can track, etc, protection work is REAL training."

They enjoyed the adrenaline rush of protection work. So did their dogs. They lacked the skill to enhance their dogs' natural obedience. They dampened their dogs' enthusiasm for obedience work because they lacked the handling skills to make obedience work enjoyable for their dogs.

There are thousands of men and women taking part in Obedience, Agility and tracking with their dogs. There is a handful who are actively engaged in man work. They do not want to give up their adrenaline rush. They want their thrills.

If only they knew that working their dog in the obedience ring, in Agility or Tracking can make you go weak at the knees, make the blood roar in your ears and be as scary as bungey jumping!

There are some people who are involved in Security Work. They need to have their dogs protection trained. Out of respect for the GSDA of WA and the many members who fought for the lifting of the ban, they refrain from Schutzhund training as a sport. For them, it is enough to know that the dogs are operational, and we thank them. For competition purposes, and if you have a good dog, you LOVE to compete, these guys show off their dogs in - have you guessed it? Obedience, Agility, Tracking!!!

These dedicated members, respecting the views of their Government which is still not pro-dog, their Kennel Control, which does not support Schutzhund, and their Clubs, which through necessity have to abstain from any participation in Schutzhund training, these skilled dog handlers and lovers of the breed, make the sacrifice of not indulging their passion for protection work.

All over Australia, the German Shepherd Dog owners, trainers, breeders, work on breed improvement. We submit our dogs to stringent tests, we are willing to make many sacrifices for the good of the breed. We are the guardians of the breed. We can not participate in a sport that would give the anti dog brigade the ammunition to bring back draconian laws of muzzling, permanent leash control and heaven forbid, sterilization.

For years, we have requested that our members do not participate in Schutzhund work. We even have the Presidents of WA's two Schutzhund Clubs, one with just over ten and one with just under twenty members, very very keen dog lovers who ARE skilled in training and experienced in working with German Shepherds, Dobermanns and Rottweilers, as members of our Association. We have had training demonstrations of protection work, obedience and tracking by these valued members and keen Schutzhund exponents on our very own Club grounds, and liked what we saw.

WE do not need to be converted. We would also love to become involved in this great sport, but as it would be politically very, very unwise, we can not and we will not. Therefore I have asked these gentlemen when they joined us, to please remember that we do not embrace Schutzhund training, and they have assured me that they will not indulge in this sport while with the the GSDA. This they promised to honour.

Did you know that in Victoria, laws are being formulated which make the owning of imported dogs rather difficult if they have a Schutzhund title? THEY MAY BE DECLARED DANGEROUS DOGS! This means they must live in an escape proof kennel (Cage). They must be muzzled when off their property. They must always be on lead. Did you know that a declared Dangerous Dog can not be kept in the house, as a family pet? Sitting in a car, a Dangerous Dog should be muzzled as cars can be opened by strangers. In NSW. the Dangerous Dogs have to wear a RED COLLAR and lead to show that they are dangerous.

Our well trained Schutzhund dogs are dangerous dogs? NO WAY! However, in order to protect our breed, we must be circumspect. Egos and Ethics affect our training, PLEASE WORK WITH US! The adrenaline rush is very addictive, and it's harder to give up than smoking or a cold beer, but please do not destroy what the GSDCA and its Member Clubs have built up over the years" just for a change", a SchH thrill!

[Jeff Jones]

There are no Schutzhund clubs in Perth.

If you are interested it would be better for you to visit NSW - Victoria or Queensland.

Thanks Jeff. If there are no clubs....are there any small unofficial groups actively training?

Not that I know of.

You could send an email off to Dennis at Aachen Kennelshttp://www.aachenkennels.com/ he used to be very heavily involved in Schutzhund.

Edited July 6, 2008 by Jeff Jones