The Sport
IPO consists of three disciplines - Tracking (/tracking.html), Obedience (/obedience.html) and Protection (/protection.html) or Character Assessment.
The sport Schutzhund (SchH) originated in Germany in the early 1900s as a breed suitability test for German Shepherd Dogs. Schutzhund (which is German for protection dog) is now practised in more than 23 countries around the world and many breeds participate although it is important to note not all dogs are suitable for all three phases of the sport.
A Schutzhund dog must be courageous, trainable, intelligent and have a good work ethic. It must have perseverance along with a protective instinct and it must be able to demonstrate capabilities in all three phases of the sport to reach the highest level - IPO3.
Before a dog can compete at the novice level of IPO1 it must pass a BH (Begleithundprufung) companion dog test. However, to gain an IPO title the dog must qualify in all three phases of the sport.
Sometimes described as 'the triathlon for the working dog', Schutzhund, or IPO (Internationale Prufungs-Ordnung) as it is now called, requires not only a dog that is capable of all three disciplines but also a handler who has the time and dedication to train said dog.
Without this success will not come.
The sport Schutzhund (SchH) originated in Germany in the early 1900s as a breed suitability test for German Shepherd Dogs. Schutzhund (which is German for protection dog) is now practised in more than 23 countries around the world and many breeds participate although it is important to note not all dogs are suitable for all three phases of the sport.
A Schutzhund dog must be courageous, trainable, intelligent and have a good work ethic. It must have perseverance along with a protective instinct and it must be able to demonstrate capabilities in all three phases of the sport to reach the highest level - IPO3.
Before a dog can compete at the novice level of IPO1 it must pass a BH (Begleithundprufung) companion dog test. However, to gain an IPO title the dog must qualify in all three phases of the sport.
Sometimes described as 'the triathlon for the working dog', Schutzhund, or IPO (Internationale Prufungs-Ordnung) as it is now called, requires not only a dog that is capable of all three disciplines but also a handler who has the time and dedication to train said dog.
Without this success will not come.
