Schutzhund: Theory and Training Methods (Howell reference books) [Hardcover]

Susan Barwig (Author), Stewart Hilliard (Author)

Book Description

Series: Howell reference books | Publication Date: March 6, 1991

An outstanding analysis of why and how protection, Obedience, and Tracking all play an integral part in Schutzhund training, with emphasis on selecting and raising a dog to suit the owner's needs.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Schutzhund is one of the fastest-growing forms of canine competition in the United States. The desire to have a reliable protector and steady family companion all in the same dog has encouraged interest in the Schutzhund philosophy. Schutzhund began in nineteenth-century Europe as a test of a dog's ability to work for humans. In the early 1900s. Max von Stephanitz refined and redesigned the tests to include obedience, protection and tracking. Schutzhund: Theory and Training Methods, a superb explanation of Schutzhund and its components, shows how obedience, protection and tracking all play an integral part in training a Schutzhund dog.

Authors Barwig and Hilliard emphasize selection and raising of the dog to suit the owner's needs as well as crystallizing the goals and techniques in training for each phase of the process. A unique format guides the reader first through an overview of each component and then into the philosophy and training techniques for all activities.

Beautifully organized and abundantly illustrated, this book will allow the reader to tailor these training systems to suit individual needs, producing a dog of value to many. Schutzhund: Theory and Training Methods is a volume essential to any obedience or Schutzhund fan's library.

About the Author

Susan Barwig is an award-winning author who has, for several years, been part of the American team in international Schutzhund competition. Stewart Hilliard is a well-respected trainer from Colorado. Both are partners in Canine Training Systems. Ltd.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Howell Book House; 1 edition (March 6, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0876057318
• ISBN-13: 978-0876057315
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #39,731 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 68 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great--But Not For Beginners, December 4, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Madison, Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Schutzhund: Theory and Training Methods (Howell reference books) (Hardcover)

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.

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Schutzhund : Theory and Training Methods, December 19, 1999

By 

Dana Williams (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Schutzhund: Theory and Training Methods (Howell reference books) (Hardcover)

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!

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fine overall primer on Shutzhund, July 1, 2002

By 

Chris (Texas City, Tx United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Schutzhund: Theory and Training Methods (Howell reference books) (Hardcover)

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.