Is Schutzhund an athletic sport? - Page 1

I would like to hear peoples opinions and direction to documentation as to whether Schutzhund is an athletic sport.

Uhm... Yeah it's an athletic sport for the dogs.

If the majority of the trainers did not  eat, drink beer and smoke so much then I assume they could  receive some value out of the work and exercise that comes with Schutzhund. However due to this lack of discipline the only one that gains is the dog because besdes all the exercise he is also usually on a controlled diet, doesn't eat and drink out of control and gets plenty of rest.

there is a lot more to being in good condition beyond just the exercise part.

I personally think it is a very demanding sport for the both dog and handler physically and mentally and have hooked up with a personal trainer to get myself back into shape and I have to say it's made a world of difference!!

I can now make it up and down the field during obedience without being winded....

We expect our dogs to be in great shape and be athletes and we don't require the same of ourselves.....

Besides that picture of me and my little girl was enough to make me physically ill!! Yes, there is some vanity in it but I am still a healthier person 18 months later!!

Denise 

Had to laugh at this as this is why I didn't go into SAR with my dog.  I am 53 and I think it would kill me to try and run though a mile of heavy woods trying to keep with her..

Geez, ProudSP, I'm 52 and am in better shape now than I've been for a long time!! Don't you know 50 is the new 30!!! C'mon age is just a number!!

I refuse to act like an old dufferette!

Denise

LOL WHo said anything about acting like a duffer(ette)?  I still get my Iron Butt award every year for riding the Harley over 1000 miles in a week but as the song says "I ain't as good as I once was but I'm as good once as I ever was."

I don't think Schutzhund is as physically demanding (for the handler) as some others (SAR in particular) - however I know after doing 5 minutes of obedience with my young dog yesterday evening I was exhausted and drenched in sweat - hot and humid - it was a workout!  But I know Schutzhund itself isn't the way to get yourself in shape or lose weight (unfortunately)  Great workout for the dogs, though.

molly

that is a RELATIVE QUESTION .asked without any defintion of the word sport. what goes one mean by SDPORT ? Schutzhund is more so a 'Character Test ' . Whether you think that it more a sport or pastime is a matter of your outlook and also relative to other like dog activites. i have worked  police dogs that  tire after running 6 blinds but then again compared to the other eurpean GSD sports Sch is not as challenging nor is it demanding on the dog ! What was meant by sport.?  Similarly i have seen Sch dogs trained that would bite .. and only bite a sleeve [ and IMO that is ok for so called SPORT.. probalby better for the average person ] but then again i have seen GSDs trained to be keyed on the agitator , himself, more real to life[ not always IMO what you would desire for pure fun and  IMO that is not sport} .

Alphapup

You crack me up!  Anybody who has been on this board for two days, knows you think SchH is inferior to your tough dog training, which I have know idea which sport you train. 

ScH is a sport.  Anytime you have people competing against each other it is a sport.  Golf and bowling are considered sports. Just because it isn't the most athletic sport, doesn't impune the sport itself. 

I think you need to stay on topic a bit.  Who gives a rats ass whether you've seen a dog that was sleeve happy.  It is called shitty training.