Schutzhund : Theory and Training Methods

Rating:
Summary: Super Intro to the Schutzhund World
Review: I learned so much from this book, so many things, too many to list. There are great tips and training advice to help train your dog correctly for the tracking, obedience and protection. There are nice photos and some diagrams to go by. I recommend this book to any Schutzhund enthusiasts that are beginners like myself. This book introduced Schutzhund methodically.

Rating:
Summary: Schutzhund : Theory and Training Methods
Review: I personally found the book very well focused and extremely helpful when explaining the Sport of Shutzhund. The Author's opinions were well stated and overall it was a great book on Shutzhund. The only thing is it isn't exactly a book I would reccommend to a novice to the sport of Shutzhund. The author uses termonolgy that may be hard to follow for some new to the dog world. But it is a great book for people interested in learning more and advancing through the stages of Shutzhund!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent introduction to dog training, not just schutzhund.
Review: One of the better dog training books in that addresses the handler's responsibilities to "read" the dog and to distinguish between the dog and the handler's ego. This book also has a nice section on puppy selection. Overall, well written, thoughtful, and sensible.

Rating:
Summary: Schutzhund Training, Language Problem
Review: The book could be a great manual for Schutzhundtraining, if there was no language problem. The author uses only the English language for all commands. However it is quite common to train these dogs in German. Most top dogs are imported from Germany and have been trained in German for years. Schutzhund is also a German standard for dog training and has its origin in Germany. So far, at least in LA, I have not seen a Schutzhund that responds to English, all the Schutzhunds, I have seen respond to German only. The author should use German (or at least German and English) for the commands.

Rating:
Summary: Great--But Not For Beginners
Review: There aren't many books about Schutzhund available in bookstores or on the Web, and so Barwig & Hilliard's excellent volume must often function both as a manual for serious trainers and an introduction to the sport for the curious. It is in the latter regard that "Schutzhund: Theory and Training Methods" leaves something to be desired. There is no real overview of Schutzhund as a recreational activity, nor is there any well-reasoned explanation of why anyone would want to pursue a Schutzhund career with their dog. A curious non-participant who reads the book would probably decide that Schutzhund is much too arduous and complex to be any fun at all. While Schutzhund certainly is demanding, the rewards of training and owning a Schutzhund-titled dog--the "process", one might say--is where the joy lies. The authors could have made a much better case in this regard.

On the other hand, this book is a gold mine for the serious trainer. While different training directors espouse different methods for schooling dogs in Schutzhund, Barwig and Hilliard consistently advocate time-honored methods in all three Schutzhund disciplines (tracking, obedience, protection) that are neither too trendy nor too harsh. A dog (and handler!) with the basic "equipment" to compete in the sport would not likely go wrong by following any of the advice given here. Considering the bewildering array of training methods that already exist in the Schutzhund world, this is a remarkable accomplishment in itself. And when coupled with the authors' accessible prose style, this is an important book that should not be overlooked by any Schutzhund trainer--or any curious reader willing to read between the lines.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent book: A must have!!
Review: This book is truly a joy to read. The book offers the reader great insight to the rigors of training a Schutzhund dog. Ms. Barwig gives excellent "experienced based" techniques for training a Schutzhund dog. This is a must have for anyone interested in the sport! A great buy!

Rating:
Summary: Schutzhund
Review: This book offered a clear explanation of what Schutzhund is, and what it isn't. The training technique is easy to understand, and their mention of what to do with a problem dog is particularly helpful. A great book for anyone interested in Schutzhund, or even wishing to obedience train a pet.

Rating:
Summary: Fine overall primer on Shutzhund
Review: This is a fine book on Shutzhund if you desire a general overview of each of the 3 phases, general trial requirements, etc. The authors do a good job of presenting the sport, its background, and its requirements in a logical order. Do not look here if you seek depth in training technique.

Rating:
Summary: Fine overall primer on Shutzhund
Review: This is a fine book on Shutzhund if you desire a general overview of each of the 3 phases, general trial requirements, etc. The authors do a good job of presenting the sport, its background, and its requirements in a logical order. Do not look here if you seek depth in training technique.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent explanation
Review: This is a great book to make yourself more familar with the sport of schutzhund and what the rules are. It is great on basic methods for training and explains in great detail how the sport first came about as a way of preserving quality working dogs. I highly suggest this book to anybody interested in schutzhund.