I became interested in Schutzhund in January 1999.  Badger was 14 months old and turning into a very bad canine citizen.  Despite usual socialization activities, such as taking him to the local grocery store and spending time in the parking lot healing around people and cars, Badger was becoming more aggressive and unmanageable.  When I stopped to talk to a neighbor with well-behaved German Shepherd dogs about what to do, he invited me to come to the club training sessions to learn how to handle Badger.  At that time I didn't know my neighbor, Jim Sullivan, was introducing me to the sport of Schutzhund and the camaraderie of the Kenai Schutzhund Club.

For the first few months I was focused on helping Badger to a heightened level of obedience.  When he started to behave I became more interested in the protection and tracking parts of Schutzhund.  It became clear that Badger, from a show dog line, didn't have the innate drives necessary to be successful at the protection work, but he did get his BH and AD titles in 2001.  Badger enjoys the bite work, but has his own unique way of relating to the helper, which may not help him pass the protection part of the SchH1 title.  We are planning to work toward that goal, however after our first attempt, I may limit his involvement to the tracking and obedience titles.

 

Along with Badger, in early in 1999 I started working my other German Shepherd dog KC (pictured at right).  She was already well behaved, and at five years old was getting past her prime for Schutzhund.  But, I began working with her too as she enjoyed the obedience, tracking and protection.  In the club's July 2001 trial KC got her BH title.  Unfortunately, her arthritis was getting worse so I decided to retire her.  Although I think she would be able to do the tracking titles if we chose to work on those. 

 

Right after Christmas 2000, our club trainer welped a litter of puppies.  He chose one for me that I brought home in February 2001.  Zena (Prinzessin Zena vom Schlacht) has good drives and has been a joy to work with.  I introduced her to the basics of Schutzhund with the help of our club trainer and club members.  I'm hoping to get her BH Title in 2002.