Schutzhund training

[redshepherd]

There can be a pretty strong negative stigma about IPO/schutzhund/bitework in the general public who aren't well-versed in dog sports, training, and behavior. So agree with the comment above!

It's definitely the best idea to start with a bitework club, unless you already has years of first-hand experience with training bitework (of any category) with a reputable club. Second, is that "famous" does not necessarily equate "reputable" or even a trainer that you will enjoy working with. First thing's first though, success in the sport will very much depends on the breed and individual dog's temperament and genetics. Do you already have a dog that you'd like to start working with, or is it just a tentative question/thought? How comfortable are you with possessive aggression/resource guarding, defensive aggression, fight drive, suspicion, prey/hunt drive, etc. in a dog (assuming a future dog that you'd LIKE to start in bitework)?

As for "liking" the sport itself, it will depend on the club and trainer. Each club (for all dog sports, not even just schutzhund) has a culture, and in in the end it is important to find a club with a trainer that you enjoy working with and will work with you based on your goal in the sport.

Remember that a lot of these dogs that are bred for SchH/IPO, Ring, and personal protection are valued for their quickness to react/low threshold, civil aggression, confrontation, willingness to escalate in a fight, etc. and those traits aren't usually limited to the training field. Of course a good German Shepherd knows control as well, but you will also need to work with your dog to teach him what is and is not his job, and in the end you still won’t be changing the dog’s genetics. Some of the traits that make for an amazing working dog also make him a fantastic pet, while others will make him a challenge to live with... This is just assuming you're thinking about a future protection breed... but I'm going on a bit of a tangent here. Just more info to think about!

ETA: Forgot to mention, I am talking about personally working in the sport- not sending the dog out somewhere to "learn" and come back. I would never trust that kind of plan, as you will have no clue how your dog is being treated, what methods of training they cater to, what the extents of his behavior/instinct is, etc.