HIGH DESERT
WORKING DOGS CLUB
ABOUT US
History of the High Desert Working Dogs Club
Although the club name is new, the High Desert Working Dogs club has been operating since 2005. Some of its members have been working and training dogs for 10-15 years, both here in Arizona and in other states. The club works with a variety of dog breeds, although German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, and Dobermans have been the dominant breeds in the club.
We train following the rules approved by the international organizations that oversee the clubs in the sports of Schutzhund. Our goal is to support the owner/handler of these working dogs so that they preserve the working characteristics of the various breeds. Our members train for many reasons: to ensure a fine companion and protector at home; to provide service or therapy dogs for hospitals and search and rescue; and to compete in local, national, and international trials in the sport.
Our goal is to support the owner/handler of the working dog so that they preserve the working characteristics of the breed. Some of our members are working for the first time with their first working dog; others have been training and learning for many years. However, we all love our dogs and are dedicated to the sports, and to each other. We are committed to continually learning and spending many hours training with our dogs. We conduct our activities as a not-for-profit organization. The Club is also dedicated to educating the public about the care, training, and responsible breeding of these wonderful working dogs.
What is Schutzhund?
Schutzhund is a German word meaning "protection dog." It refers to the sport that focuses on developing and evaluating those traits in dogs that make them more useful and happier companions. Schutzhund is an advanced partnership between the dog and handler--true teamwork! It is a triathlon for dogs, and they must compete and qualify in all three phases: tracking, obedience, and protection. Schutzhund is intended to demonstrate the dog's intelligence. At a working trial, Schutzhund measures the dog's mental stability, endurance, ability to scent/track, willingness to work, courage, and trainability. This working dog sport offers an opportunity for dog owners to train their dog and compete with each other for recognition of both the handler's ability to train and the dog's ability to perform as required.
It is a sport enjoyed by persons of all ages!
Search & Rescue [SAR] Explained
Although what our club does is only sport level for search and rescue work, it is designed to ensure the true working ability of our dogs in character, stamina, and temperament. It is not a certification process. It is, however, a powerful tool in maintaining a strong work ethic for our dogs. There are several levels of competition a dog must complete in order to go on to certify. Once a dog completes the RH2 level B, that team could possibly go on to certify under a designated SAR organization, such as FEMA or a local Task Force or County SAR organization.
United Schutzhund Club of America [USCA] Mission
Schutzhund is a German word meaning “protection dog”. It refers to a sport that focuses on developing and evaluating those traits in dogs that make them more useful and happier companion animals. Schutzhund work concentrates on three parts: tracking, obedience, and protection. This working dog sport offers an opportunity for dog owners to train their dogs and compete with each other for recognition of both the handler’s ability to train and the dog’s ability to perform as required. It is a sport enjoyed by persons of all ages.
