What characteristics should a dog have to qualify for IPO? What kinds of dogs excel in this activity? When looking for a working dog, how do you go about finding a reliable candidate? One of the most crucial components of Schutzhund is the dog, and this presents the rookie handler with a number of questions. To be successful in IPO, a dog must fit a certain profile. Where do we even begin?
Dogs who compete in the International Praise and Obey Trials have these distinguishing traits.
To begin, you need to know that the ideal IPO dog does not exist. The hereditary temperament of a dog includes the canine’s individual strengths, weaknesses, and personality features. However, there are certain common traits that every Schutzhund should have. The ideal Schutzhund/IPO dog should have these traits regardless of breed:
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a stable character
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high trainability
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a desire to work with and for the handler (biddability)
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drive and desire for the work (work ethic)
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some level of natural aggression and protective instinct
Furthermore, they should be easily motivated and have a natural urge to bite their “prey” with a full, powerful grasp, as well as an interest in food (food drive), an interest in playing with and chasing toys and ball (prey drive), and a natural desire to play with other dogs (prey drive). The greatest dogs also have a robust “fighting” impulse that is focused on their foe; they take pleasure in the act of fighting itself, just as a boxer takes pleasure in a bout. The IPO dog, above all else, has to be brave and tough, with the mental fortitude to be level-headed even when pressure is high.
Which Animals Perform the Best?
There’s no quicker way to get a heated debate going than to declare your favorite dog breed to be THE BEST at Schutzhund. Choosing a breed boils down to considering your preferences, lifestyle, and long-term objectives, since all breeds have pros and cons.
While the German Shepherd Dog was the original target of Schutzhund’s development, many other breeds have since demonstrated an aptitude for the sport. These include the Beauceron, Belgian Malinois, Belgian Tervueren, Bouvier de Flandres, Boxers, Briards, Dobermans, Dutch Shepherds, Giant Schnauzers, Rottweilers, and more. Airedale Terriers, American Bulldogs, American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Cane Corso Italianos, and Hovawarts are just a few of the more unusual dog breeds that compete in IPO events. The IPO competition is open to dogs of all breeds, including mixed ones.
What kind of dog is best for you? If you haven’t settled on a breed yet, do some study on the many options, learn about their specific traits, and consult with IPO dog owners. It cannot be stressed enough that you should talk to individuals who compete with the breed you’re interested in to find out more about the training, competition, and daily life of that particular type of dog. Whether you want to know if this breed of dog is right for you, you need spend some time with them.
All Four Majors
German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, Rottweilers, and Doberman Pinschers are the top four most popular breeds for IPO. General traits, benefits, and drawbacks of each breed are outlined here. While these generalizations are true for the majority of dogs of this breed, there are always outliers.
As you’ll see, the professional versions of the breeds listed here are different from the typical household pets of the same name. The working dogs are more fit physically, have greater drive and excitement for their task, and are more aggressive by nature. Dogs who thrive in IPO often originate from performance-oriented lines that trace their ancestry to European standards (even if the dogs themselves were bred in the United States). A conformation grade, working title, breed survey, and breed-standard health testing are only a few of the prerequisites stipulated by these standards that must be completed before the dogs may be bred.
GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG
Pros:
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Intelligent and trainable
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Versatile, athletic and energetic
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Natural tracker
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Biddable, eager to work with handler
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Well-rounded and balanced temperament, emotionally stable
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Good family companion
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Resilient and forgiving of handler mistakes
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Doesn’t bore easily in training
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Body style allows dog to work in a wide variety of weather conditions
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High stamina and endurance
Cons:
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Several different “types” of GSDs requires the buyer to educate themselves extensively prior to purchase
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So much hair!
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Can be strong-willed and push boundaries
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Hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia are common, even in litters from tested parents
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The ‘longer than tall’ structure predisposes them to spinal injuries in the sport
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Can have large variability in temperament within the breed, sometimes even within a litter
Common health problems (* = ones that can be tested prior to breeding)
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Hip Dysplasia*
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Elbow Dysplasia*
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Transitional Vertebrae*
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Degenerative Myelopathy*
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Cauda Equina
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Skin and allergy problems
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Digestive problems (Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency, poor assimilation, Bloat)
BELGIAN MALINOIS
Pros:
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Intelligent and highly trainable
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Very energetic with seemingly unlimited energy
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Driven and motivated to work with the handler
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Fast, agile, and athletic
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Sensitive to the handler
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Resilient and forgiving of handler mistakes
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Doesn’t bore easily in training
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Body style allows dog to work in a wide variety of weather conditions
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High stamina and endurance
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High bite satisfaction, which makes receiving the “bite” an extremely strong reward
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Has yet to gain favor as a “pet” dog
Cons:
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Nerve strength and environmental soundness can be an issue (“spooky” dogs)
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Too sensitive, can lack resilience
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Tightly wound and cannot relax
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Can be difficult to live with due to inability to “settle”
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Can be hectic in the work due to extremely high levels of drive with thinner nerve
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Less balance in overall temperament
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Barking issues in protection
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High bite satisfaction often means food and toy are less-satisfying motivators
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Can have difficulty with tracking
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Emotionally sensitive, can be disturbed easily in times of stress
Common health problems (* = ones that can be tested prior to breeding)
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Hip Dysplasia*
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Elbow Dysplasia*
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Skin problems/allergies
ROTTWEILER
Pros:
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Strong and powerful dogs
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Sensitive and affectionate
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Intelligent
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Perpetually smiling on the field, big clowns
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Generally good-natured dogs
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Natural defensive aggression
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Good companions with an ability to “settle” in the home
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Think they are your lap dog
Cons:
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Repetition bores them
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Long memories for negative stimuli
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Can be less forgiving of handler mistakes
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Lower stamina and endurance
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Body style puts them at risk of overheating
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Willfull and stubborn
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Slower to mature
Common health problems (* = ones that can be tested prior to breeding)
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Cancer
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Hip dysplasia*
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Elbow dysplasia*
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Cardiac problems*
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Bloat
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Cranial Cruciate Ligament tears and ruptures
DOBERMAN
Pros:
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Highly intelligent
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“Thinking” dogs
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Biddable and sensitive to the handler
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High trainability
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Affectionate with their handlers
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Good companions with a great “off” switch and ability to settle
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Natural sharpness
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High fight satisfaction – brings natural “fight” to the helper
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Very little hair
Cons:
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Thinking dogs – sometimes it’s easier to train a dog that performs a task without as much thought
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Can be overly sensitive or overly sharp
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Long memories for negative stimuli
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Less forgiving of handler and helper mistakes
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Can have a difficult time with change
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Not as well-adapted for cold environment
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Emotionally sensitive, can be disturbed easily in times of stress
Common health problems (* = ones that can be tested prior to breeding)
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Cardiac problems*
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Cancer
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Bleeding disorders*
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Allergies
I hope this helps you decide which breed is best for you! In the next blog, we’ll talk about some of the options a handler has to consider while trying to choose the best dog for him or her. Do you want an adult dog, or a puppy? Is this guy a she? Local or foreign product?