Al, my schutzhund expierience doesn't go back very far but the real long timers I've talk to have always commented about Schutzhund being a serious test of the dogs character and working abilty. That was it's original purpose, not sport.
Many top level helpers will tell about how different levels of pressure are used for club dogs, national level dogs, SV dogs, etc. If it's a test, as it should be, then all dogs should be put under the same pressures.
As in all sports, winning points is the name of the game. The comment has also been made that many of the truely tough dogs of old would/could never be high scoreing dogs by today's rules. That doesn't mean that there aren't serious dogs in the sport today. It just favors the flashy dogs more so.
Over the years, the attack out of the blind, object guard, gunfire on the sleeve and other exercises have been eiminated.
Again, I defer to the "real" oldtimes to comment on these things.
In the early 90s, the BH was initiated. One of the reasons for that was to eliminate dogs of "unstable" temperment. Although I see the good in having the BH, it was more for political correctness the a help to the dogs. It can eliminate many very serious dogs that wont allow all the social contact. How social does a true working dog have to be? This is all JMHO! Not based on tons expierience.
Hopefully, some of the 'real" oldtimers here can give more insight.......without totally trashing Schutzhund.
:wink:
