Michiana Working Dog Association

MWDA TRAINING GROUNDS

Who We Are

The Michiana Working Dog Association has been a Schutzhund training club since 1993. The club is based in Northern Indiana at the home of Jim Abbs and Jan Harkner-Abbs. The club trains every Thursday Evening and Saturday morning, while also traveling to several different clubs and grounds to train with like minded Schutzhund handlers and clubs. It's not the quantity of awards and trophies that make a good club but the quality of the membership and their love of the dogs they train and live with. We welcome all trainers, handlers and helpers to visit us and train but we allow no ego's to distract from the proper training that our dogs experience. Our club is made up of many people from the community some close and some far but all with the same goals and love of the fellowship that is offered. As well as our annual trial we will also be offering training seminars throughout the year. Come and train or just stop by and see what schutzhund is all about as each of our members brings with them different levels of experience and knowledge, but we all train for a single goal.

Schutzhund and the German Shepherd Dog
What is Schutzhund?

Schutzhund 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 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. The Schutzhund 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 is intended to demonstrate the dog's intelligence and utility. As a working trial, Schutzhund measures the dog's mental stability, endurance, structural efficiencies, ability to scent, willingness to work, courage, and trainability.

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 as a sport. Often, it is a family sport.