Figured I would share some pictures of my Dutch doing his French Ring Sport training

[Lana's_mom]

Here is my Dutch Shepherd Puppy at just under 6 months old right now doing his french ring sport training. He is coming along nicely. Sorry that some of the pics are a little blurry.

[Annarose15]

Nice! Love that dog!

[Mike41793]

x2 i love him! Looks like his coat is much shorter than a german sheps coat, i like it.
Why does the guy training him have a bat though?

[HaikyFin]

Excellent - I love to see a dog work! Especially a Dutchie.

Why does the guy training him have a bat though?

Not gonna hit him with it. It's a tool used in Ring (and other protection sports) to make sure the dog has the proper nerves to handle that kind of intimidation. Schutzhund (dunno as much about Ring) was originally used as a sort of test to see what dogs were fit for breeding as protection/working dogs, and what weren't. Now, it's only a sport. I've seen a Schutzhund video where the decoy menaced a GSD with a bat and the dog took off - not sure how you get into competition with a dog who can't handle that.

Beautiful dog - wonderful sport you've chosen! Is he working in anything else?

[Lana's_mom]

Mike41793 - It is not a bat It is a clatter stick, a piece of bamboo that is split multiple times and makes a lot of noise. They do touch the dogs with it, but not very hard, just enough to prove that the dog has the nerve to continue to work through it.

HaikyFin - I am planning on doing tracking, narcotics and anything that he is able to do This boy needs to work, and thrives on training. I have big plans for him.