What does 'working' your dog mean? One reason many people don't train or work their dogs is because they don't know what options are available to them. Most training clubs offer the endless dull obedience routines with fractious young dogs and fed up owners! Some competition clubs don't take Dobermanns preferring GSD's or Collies (Schutzhund and agility respectively). However, if you can get past stereotypes and prove you are keen and competent, there are plenty of options available for training from basic to competition standard obedience, agility, tracking, flyball, Schutzhund, Working Trials, Endurance Tests, Cani-X, heelwork to music etc.In any discipline owners must be dedicated, persistent, have a good basic grasp of dog training and behaviour, be willing to put back into the clubs and know that Dobermanns can excel in every field open to them.

Lux Ch Aritaur Histabraq SchH3 and Aritaur Notorious SchH2 each hold the two highest UK trial scores in their rankings. Bracco was used for helper work at the Nationals - Right, on the long attack with Ian James.

Prior to 2001, KC registered dogs were only officially allowed to train and compete in Working Trials. In 2001, with a better understanding given by the Kennel Club from the BSA, KC registered dogs were allowed to compete in Schutzhund. It is still a GSD dominated sport and both dogs and owners need to work to their utmost to gain the respect of the working community.

Anyone considering working their dog should visit both a Working Trials club and a Schutzhund training club to find out which sport they and their dog would be best suited to. Do not expect to be taken seriously and allocated time if you're not 100% serious and if you don't turn up regularly.

Other options for 'working' your dog could be either competition obedience and/or agility. To find a club close to you, look on the internet, contact the Kennel Club on 0870-6066750, or look on the BSA (British Schutzhund Association) website.

The Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Scheme is an ideal introduction for the novice dog owner who wants to do 'more'. Visit the KC site www.the-kennel-club.org.uk for more details. Aritaur Falko is the youngest Dobermann ever to gain his Bronze at 16 weeks, Silver at 6.5 months and Gold at 9 months. Congratulations to his owner Marianne Venn-Loveday who had never previously trained a dog. We thank Dot Cullum for guiding Marianne to this level. View pictures and text at bottom from Gunn Anita Fossli with her Dobermanns in the Norwegian Defence Force.

The sport of Schutzhund originated in Germany at the beginning of the century to determine true working ability of dogs intended for breeding.It is an international sport and is held in the UK under the guidance of the BSA - British Schutzhund Association.

Section B is obedience. Heeling on and off lead. The sit, down and stand are also done, requiring different standards at each grade. Instead of a forty foot ring, the handler and dog work on a football sized trial field. Some exercises require the dog to work under the noise of a firing gun. In addition to the normal dumbbell retrieval, the dog must retrieve over a one meter jump and a six foot wall. Down stays and a long send away conclude this part of the test.

.The final test is the most misunderstood by the general public, which is Section C - protection. The dog must never bite the trial helper, unless either the dog or the handler is attacked. Then it must attack fully and without hesitation. But here the real difference becomes apparent. The dog must immediately stop biting on the command of the handler and guard the trial helper without further aggression. In Schutzhund, the dogs prey is the sleeve and the helper must be disarmed in a controlled manner.

The above tests all occur in one or two day trials held nationwide by regulated clubs. Each dog is judged by a point system which determines the winner of the trial. Each dog starts each round with 100 points, and points are deducted for mistakes.

When a dog successfully completes the first trial it is awarded a title of Schutzhund 1. The dog can then progress through Schutzhund II to Schutzhund III. Each level makes ever greater demands on the dog and training in all three areas. There is now no difference between IPO, VPG and Schutzhund.

Above and below - named with pride after his father, Bracco 'Junior' is owned by Lorraine Porteous in Scotland and bred by Kim & Martin Jones.

Bracco 'Jnr' and Lorraine train with our highly respected friend Yvonne Walker whose all breed dog training school 'Darcregan Dog Training' in Scotland turns out some of the best UK Working Trials Dobermanns and prospective working dogs. Yvonne is an Associate of the world famous John Rogerson and we are always honoured to send Aritaur puppies and those by our dogs to train with Yvonne in Scotland. 0131 665 0747 e-mail: yvonne@darcregan.co.uk
Website http://www.btinternet.com/~john_liddle/

Bracco Jnr is trained in play with patience, motivation and kindness.