K9 Schutzhund Training: A Manual for Tracking, Obedience and Protection

Steve Pitt is a Toronto-based freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. He has written many young adult and children's books, including Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox.

Even guard dogs need love. If you do not believe it, then you need to
read this book by Dr. Resi Gerritsen and Dr. Ruud Haak, two of the
world’s leading experts on guard-dog training. A schutzhund is a dog
trained to protect people. Its duties may include tracking criminals,
jumping obstacles, and (as a last resort) clamping teeth around
someone’s extremities and holding on until the trainer tells the dog
to let go. These are not duties for an abused dog. In their foreword,
the doctors write: “People who think they need high-pressure methods
to train a dog, like prick collars or electric appliances, show that
they have no clue how to train a dog well. Training dogs for a hobby or
professionally should always be a pleasant occurrence for both the dog
and the handler. Love for the dog has to come first and the dog should
never be seen as only an object to train or work.”

The text is laid out in well-written, well-organized chapters that
include “The Basics of Tracking,” “Tracking Equipment,”
“Tracking Training,” “The Basics of Obedience,” “Heel, Work,
Sit, Down and Stand,” and “Retrieving.” Dozens of excellent
illustrations and black-and-white photos support the text. One photo
shows a huge dog biting at the well-padded arm of a trainer; the caption
reads, “The graceful and full bite of the Doberman.”

The general information and problem-solving tactics are applicable for
any canine, from Pekinese to pit bull. Although this book is a fine
resource for professional guard-dog trainers and handlers, its clarity
also makes it a terrific choice for those who wish to own a properly
trained and properly loved dog.