The Rogue Valley Schutzhund Club
The Rogue Valley Schutzhund Club is proud to bring the sport of Schutzhund (IGP) to Southern Oregon. Schutzhund is a three phase dog sport consisting of Tracking, Obedience & Protection. If you live in Southern Oregon and are interested in doing something competitive with your dog, Schutzhund may be right for you.


Schutzhund is not just for working breeds such as German Shepherd Dogs, Rottweilers, Malinios, Dobermans and Dutch Shepherd‘s but it’s also suitable for mixed breeds. So if you live in Southern Oregon and feel your dog might have what it takes come out and join us for a free day of training.

Don’t live in Southern Oregon? No problem, our club is open to any potential members whether they live in Southern Oregon or outside of Southern Oregon.


More About Schutzhund

Schutzhund (IGP) 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 companions to their owners. Schutzhund (IGP) work concentrates on three parts. Many are familiar with the obedience work of the American Kennel Club’s affiliates and will recognize the first two parts, tracking and obedience.

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 varied professions, who join together in a camaraderie born of their common interest in working with their dogs. Persons of all ages and conditions of life even those with significant disabilities enjoy Schutzhund (IGP) as a sport.

The Schutzhund (IGP) standards for the third part, protection work, are similar to those for dogs in police work. While dogs of other breeds are also actively involved in the sport of Schutzhund and often follow similar criteria for breeding purposes, this breed evaluation test was developed specifically for the German Shepherd Dog. Schutzhund (IGP) is intended to demonstrate the dog’s intelligence and utility. As a working trial, Schutzhund (IGP) measures the dog’s mental stability, endurance, structural efficiencies, ability to scent, willingness to work, courage, and trainability.

While dogs of other breeds are also admitted to Schutzhund (IGP) trials, this breed evaluation test was developed specifically for the German Shepherd Dog. Schutzhund is intended to demonstrate the dog’s intelligence and utility. As a working trial, Schutzhund (IGP) measures the dog’s mental stability, endurance, structural efficiencies, ability to scent, willingness to work, courage and trainability.

The first Schutzhund (IGP) trial was held in Germany in 1901 to emphasize the correct working temperament and ability in the German Shepherd breed. Originally, these dogs were herding dogs, but the industrialization of Germany encouraged breeders to promote the use of their dogs as police and military dogs. The Verein fur Deutsche Schaferhunde (SV), the parent club, became concerned that this would lead to careless breeding and undesirable traits such as mental instability, so it developed the Schutzhund (IGP) test.

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 varied professions, who join together in a camaraderie born of their common interest in working with their dogs. Persons of all ages and conditions of life enjoy Schutzhund (IGP) as a sport. Often, it is a family sport.

Do dogs enjoy Schutzhund (IGP)? If trained in the right manner, dogs enjoy working, as anyone who attends a Schutzhund competition can see. The joy of the dogs working with their handlers is evident. Schutzhund (IGP) training helps develop the dog’s natural instincts to a high level. Self-confident dogs, doing work for which they are well trained, are happy dogs. Wagging tails, sounds of excitement, and strong pulling on a leash all show an observer at a Schutzhund (IGP) trial how much fulfillment dog and owner find in this sport.