Reviewed by Jessi S. Clark-White

1999 Hardback

Published by Howell Book House

Advanced Schutzhund is a valuable, if somewhat poorly titled, addition to the Schutzhund trainer’s bookshelf. In the initial chapters it would seem that this book is written for newcomers to the sport; however it soon becomes evident that the reader is expected to have a fair amount of knowledge of both Schutzhund training and trial rules.

The book opens with a chapter on “Selecting and Raising the Schutzhund Candidate” which appears to have been written for the rank beginner. It contains brief instructions on selecting a breed, the decision between a puppy and an adult, choosing a dog, and living with a Schutzhund dog. While the information is sound, it is incredibly sketchy and I would certainly hope that no one chooses a Schutzhund dog on this advice alone!

The next chapter, “How Dogs Learn,” is a brief but useful overview of the scientific principles which underlie dog training. This is followed by a discussion of the various factors which motivate a dog to perform. Most advanced Schutzhund trainers will not find it necessary to read this section, but it serves as an excellent introduction for the beginner.

The remainder of the book is devoted to polishing, problem solving, and (occasionally) teaching the Schutzhund III exercises. This is the point where the reader is expected to suddenly become very knowledgeable about Schutzhund training! While the material is always useful and clearly presented, the authors now assume that you are proficient in teaching the foundations of the Schutzhund exercises and simply need problem solving advice.

This portion of the book discusses tracking, then proceeds to obedience and protection work. Humane, positive, and often creative problem solving advice is offered throughout. Reading this book is akin to attending a Schutzhund seminar; you will get lots of advice on various exercises, some of it basic, some of it advanced. Some things you may already know well, but you might find the perfect answer to some of your training questions.

One aspect of this book that I found very useful is that almost all of the training methods utilize positive reinforcement. This is unusual within the current Schutzhund/police literature, and anyone who would like to use a positive approach to Schutzhund training will be reinforced for buying this book!

Advanced Schutzhund concludes with a brief chapter on national/world competition and some final philosophical comments from the authors. This section contains little information about actually competing, but if you mentally substitute the title “Traveling with Your Dog” you will find it very useful.

Overall, the book is well written and certainly worth reading. You will find a wealth of training advice, provided you can ignore your baffling progression from novice pet owner to world championship competitor.