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We are currently at home in Quakertown, PA. Our club trains once or twice a week throughout the year. Members are encouraged to actively participate in all training sessions and assist in running the business end of the club by working together to create an enjoyable, efficient atmosphere.

All of the current members joined NBSC have been experienced in the sport of Schutzhund. There are a few members with an extensive history in the sport. UBSC is a USA affiliated organization. All of our members are members of United Schutzhund Clubs of America.

NBSC encourages all working dog breeds to participate in Schutzhund. Although each dog and breed brings something different to the training field, we attempt to find and work with each dog’s individual attributes. Some teams, after earning their BH, are unable to obtain a Schutzhund title. In these cases, we work on one or both of the other two phases to earn a Tracking or Obedience degree.

Creating and maintaining a Schutzhund club requires the cooperation of everyone involved. Whether you are a member or just participating for the day, everyone is expected to assist in setting up and cleaning up the field. Our goal is to provide our members and their dogs with a place to gather, learn, prepare for trial and have fun. We are all friends who work well together and provide a support system for each other in our training goals.

Schutzhund, meaning “protection dog,” originated in Germany as a test of temperament and working ability to evaluate a German Shepherd Dog for breeding purposes. It has, over the years, become a competitive dog sport for various working breeds where the handler and dog team compete in the areas of tracking, obedience and protection.

About Schutzhund

Schutzhund, meaning “protection dog,” originated in Germany as a test of temperament, character, trainability, willingness to please, ability to scent, courage, and physical soundness. It was, and still is, used to evaluate a German Shepherd Dog for breeding demonstrating the dog’s intelligence and usefulness. It has, over the years, become an exciting, competitive dog sport for various working breeds where handler and dog team compete in the areas of tracking, obedience and protection. A dog must pass all three phases at the same trial in order to earn a Schutzhund title.

Dedicated Schutzhund dog handlers train their dogs to be social, obedient and protective companions. Training is focused on developing those traits that make the dogs more useful companions to their owners and families. Training a dog in the sport of Schutzhund often takes many years of hard work. It is a learning experience for both the dog and the handler.

A Schutzhund competition offers a variety of degrees and titles at progressive levels. Schutzhund I, II, and III consists of all three phases of the sport. To qualify for a Schutzhund title or degree, each dog must pass a temperament test. Each dog entered in a Schutzhund trial, whether entered for a companion dog degree (BH), a tracking or obedience degree, an endurance test (AD) or a Schutzhund title, must display mental soundness in order to participate. The training and trials are held outdoors year-round. Each team is judged by a standard point system and each level makes greater demands on the dog and handler. In the US, these trials are sanctioned by either USA or DVG and the hosting club and its trainers must be members of the national organization.

Tracking tests the dog’s scenting ability. A track is laid by the handler, or a stranger in the more advanced levels. After a period of time for the track to age, the dog is required to scent the track without help from the handler and indicate articles dropped by the track layer. The dog is scored on its accuracy and commitment to finding the track and the dropped articles.

Obedience tests the dog’s willingness to obey its handler. Sit, down, and stand while the handler continues to move, recall, retrieval, retrieval over a hurdle and a slanted wall, a series of heeling exercises, a send away with down, and a long down while another competitor goes through the same routine are the basic obedience components. During some exercises, the dog must work uninterrupted while a gun is shot.

Protection tests a dog’s courage, strength and agility. Control of the dog at all times is of utmost importance to the handler. Search for the decoy, guarding, pursuing the decoy when he escapes or attacks, and transporting the decoy are the basic exercises in the protection phase. The dog must remain calm and secure during the threat of a stick and must always be under absolute control of the handler.

A successful Schutzhund dog is friendly and a good-natured member of the family. Since a dog must possess mental stability, confidence, and willingness to please to succeed in this sport, they are excellent companions and family members. A timid or aggressive dog does not make a good candidate for this sport. The sport of Schutzhund is designed to eliminate these unstable dogs from the breeding stock.

For those dogs with a sound temperament but the inability to compete in all 3 phases necessary for a Schutzhund title, other degrees focusing on tracking or obedience are something to work toward. Schutzhund can be a fun activity for you and your dog if you have the commitment it takes to be successful.