Here is a page with a contact in Knoxville for you in TN. Maybe call them and see if you can meet up with them and watch the train on the weekend.
TN DVG Club ContactBelow are my opinions of schutzhund. It has been a loooooong day so I will reply a couple of times to this thread tonight and tomorrow.
Schutzhund is a VERY rewarding sport. It takes A LOT of dedication. I really hope you get into the sport. I have had some the best days of my life on the training field. Having a schutzhund dog is GREAT. A dog trained in schutzhund is trained when not to bite. This is excellent. Anyone can make a dog bite, I don't care what kind of dog you have. It is challenging to train a dog when not to bite. It takes much dicipline and training to have a well trained schutzhund dog.
Schutzhund is made up of 3 diciplines:
1) Tracking
2) Obedience
3) Protection
Tracking is so rewarding. Watching a young dog learn to work the track is like watching a child learning to walk. Obedience is fun as well (This is where I feel my biggest bond with my dogs.) Protection is about the dogs self-control.
Before you go for a title you would need to get a BH/Temperment test. This is where you proof the dog to ensure it is safe and can handle everyday situations.
Good breeding lines do not ensure a good working dog. I have seen dogs from the local pound turn into excellent Schutzhund dogs. I have seen superior bred dogs run off the field. Dogs are individuals just like humans. Every one is different.
As far as breeds go for schutzhund, there are some stereotypes, here are a few:
Rotts: stubborn as hell. When they bite, they drop. Many helpers hate catching big rotties.
Personally I love catching rotties. The skip drive is your friend. I love rotts.
German Shepards: Schutzhund was originally developed for the GSD. They are awesome dogs and they are hard workers.
Malinois: Wonderful dogs with drive through the roof. If you can cap it, you could have a good sch dog.
Dobies: I am just not a dobie fan so I am going to pass on them.
Boxers: Personally, I have never seen a boxer work that I was truely impressed by.
Labs & Autralian Shepards seen a couple. Just not my kind of dogs for this work.
Somone above recomended the leerburg site. They have a bunch of good info for beginners and some decent videos.
I would be happy to talk with you about schutzhund if you want. IM me and we can set up a phone call. I could type all day about schutzhund and dogs. I am an addict. I don't know everything but I will share my beliefs and experiences if you would like.
I am going to get into mondio ring someday soon.