welcome to SSC

Why join Spokane Schutzhund Club?
We are a young, but motivated and active club that strives to compete at a high level of Schutzhund. We have a lot of members that are new to the sport, but have a strong desire to learn and better themselves as trainers.

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SSC Board Members

• President : Jacqueline Lungu
• Training Director : Nick Lungu
• Vice President : Ryan France
• Secretary : Michal Preston

What is Schutzhund?

Schutzhund is not for the faint of heart! It is just as much a mental sport as it is a physical sport. When you and your dog are out there on that training field, you must give 100% of yourself in order to succeed. While it is challenging, it is one of the most rewarding sports you will ever have the opportunity to participate.

The most common breed of dog that competes in Schutzhund is the German Shepherd dog, however other breeds are welcome to compete as well. When you and your dog achieve a title, you are proving your dog is of sound temperament, is under control, and has the determination to work! Your dogs mental stability and physical endurance are tested.

Schutzhund started in Germany in the early 1900s to determine if a German Shepherd was suitable for breeding. While it is still very important for a breeding dog to have its titles, today, Schutzhund is also a sport for people who love their dog and want to compete. For many people it is a hobby, a hobby that requires a lot of dedication and determination to succeed.

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News and Events

how to contact ssc

Please call or email us if you are interested in checking out our club. We meet in several different locations, so let us know ahead of time if you would like to visit. We usually meet on Saturday mornings and occasionally on Thursday evenings. Thank you for your interest in our club.

Spokane Schutzhund Club

P.O. Box 148
Otis Orchards, WA. 99027
Office: 509-893-3543
Cell: 503-475-2010
E-mail

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privacy policy

Your privacy is very important to us. Accordingly, we have developed this Policy in order for you to understand how we collect, use, communicate and disclose and make use of personal information. The following outlines our privacy policy.

Before or at the time of collecting personal information, we will identify the purposes for which information is being collected.

We will only retain personal information as long as necessary for the fulfillment of those purposes.

We will collect personal information by lawful and fair means and, where appropriate, with the knowledge or consent of the individual concerned.

Personal data should be relevant to the purposes for which it is to be used, and, to the extent necessary for those purposes, should be accurate, complete, and up-to-date.

We will protect personal information by reasonable security safeguards against loss or theft, as well as unauthorized access, disclosure, copying, use or modification.

We will make readily available to customers information about our policies and practices relating to the management of personal information.

Spokane Schutzhund Club is committed to conducting our business in accordance with these principles in order to ensure that the confidentiality of personal information is protected and maintained.

What is Schutzhund?

Lets get down to the nitty gritty and talk about what Schutzhund really is and how you achieve titles.

The first title you and your dog can earn is a BH which is a basic obedience degree. The handler must be prepared to go through an obedience routine both on and off leash. There is a second phase where the judge of the trial will ask you to do certain things with your dog, for example, walk with your dog while a bicyclist drives by, walk your dog past another dog and walk your dog past a runner. The judge wants to see a stable and secure nature in the dog.

Generally, the next titles that a dog and handler will go for are the SchH1, SchH2, and SchH3. Each title is very similar, but as you move up in titles, there are a few more exercises added to each phase.

The morning of your trial, you will meet for tracking. The tracking field will vary from park grass to dirt to a tall hay field, it all depends on where you are trialing your dog and what kind of access the local club has to tracking fields.

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What is Schutzhund?

It is very important to expose your dog to all kinds of different tracking environments during training because you really never know what you will be trialing on. For a SchH1 track, the handler will lay their own track, it will generally be in the shape of a U, it will have two articles on the track that are provided by the handler, and it must age for 20 minutes before the dog can start its track. This track is required to be at least 300 paces. The first article is to be at least 100 paces from the start of the track and not within 20 paces of any corners.

The second article will be the end of the track. For a SchH2 track, the local club will provide a track layer who will lay the track with his/her own articles. Much like the SchH1 track, the track will generally be in the shape of a U and there will be two articles on the track, but it ages for 30 minutes before the dog can start the track. This track must be at least 400 paces.

The SchH3 track has several more differences than the difference between the SchH1 and SchH2. The SchH3 track is again laid by the designated track layer with his or her own articles. This track has four corners instead of two, has three articles instead of two, and must age for 60 minutes before the dog can begin tracking.

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What is Schutzhund?

There are a couple of different ways this track can be laid, but it is generally in the same shape. (See drawing images on the next page). This track must be at least 600 paces long. When your track has aged its appropriate length and it is time for you to come onto the tracking field, your dog should be on a 33 foot tracking lead on a dead ring on a fur saver.

You must check in with the judge and you can begin your track. You must stay at the end of your leash. The only time you can approach your dog is when it has indicated on the articles. Upon completion of your track, the judge will give you a critique and score. You must get at least 70 points to pass tracking and move on to obedience.

Both obedience and protection happen in the same place back at the clubs training field or at a location that the club has arranged to use. The obedience routine is very similar between the three titles, but there are several exercises that are added on to each title. Within the obedience routine, your dog must retrieve a dumbbell on a flat surface, over a one meter jump, and over a six foot a-frame. Like tracking, your dog must earn at least 70 points to pass obedience and move onto protection. Again, see the next page for the obedience routine drawings.

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What is Schutzhund?

The protection phase is usually the most exciting and the one phase that everyone likes to participate in the most! This phase shows the dogs drive and heart to work through pressure from the helper. The dog must search blinds and follow the direction of the handler while showing a very aggressive bark and bite when the dog and handler are attacked. Like tracking and obedience as you move forward with your titles, there are additional exercise required for each title. To pass the protection phase you must earn 70 points. However, if you want to move on from a SchH1 to a SchH2 or a SchH2 to a SchH3, you must earn at least 80 points in this phase to compete for your next title.

There are other titles you can earn besides the 1, 2, and 3. You can earn tracking titles that start at the basic SchH1 track and you can move all the way up to advanced tracking which is called an FH. The most advanced track is an FH 2 which is very difficult with seven articles, 1800 paces, seven turns and the track is required to age for at least three hours before the dog can start the track. You can also attempt obedience titles where you just do the obedience portion of the SchH 1, 2, or 3. There are many different options for anyone that wants to compete.

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What is Schutzhund?

Most people get very nervous when they trial their dog. It is a natural thing, kind of like public speaking or a championship game! All eyes are on you and your dog and you have a very critical set of eyes in the judge. You will be picked apart phase by phase, exercise by exercise. But if you train right and have a good support system, you can do it and you will succeed!

There are very few things that are as satisfying as earning a Schutzhund title, when all your hard work comes together out on that trial field, it is pretty awesome!

Click here for the offical Schutzhund regulations rulebook.

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