Schutzhund training began over 100 years ago in Europe and has evolved over the years to the sport we have today. The sport was developed as a method to train and test privately owned working dogs. The first Schutzhund trial was held in 1901. The purpose of Schutzhund trials has been to emphasize and evaluate the correct working temperament and working ability of the breed exhibited. The dog and handler must work together as a team in the three phases of Schutzhund. These three phases are tracking, obedience, and protection work. At no time may the dog be out of control of the handler, and before beginning a trial evaluation all dogs must pass a basic temperament evaluation by the judge.

Schutzhund exercises are designed with increasing difficulty to evaluate the primary ability of the dog, but also the ability of the dog and handler as a team. Schutzhund training is a sport open to dogs of all working breeds, including mixed breeds if they can do the work. Traditionally, German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, Boxers, Dobermans, Rottweilers, Airedales, Bouviers, and Giant Schnauzers have been the most common, with the German Shepherd dogs outnumbering them all.

Dog/handler teams from all over the world compete for degrees within their own countries. Each year there are national and international competitions that draw the best competitors from those countries to compete. The biggest international competition is the World Union for German Shepherd Dog Associations (Welt Union der Sch�ferhundvereine - WUSV). More than 40 different countries have individuals or teams that represent them at this event. Different countries take turns hosting the event each year. Crowds of spectators come each year to watch the four or five days of Schutzhund competition.

There are two different main organizations that organize clubs and trials around the world. Both of these organizations originate in Germany. The first is the Deutscher Verband der Gebrauchshundsportvereine (DVG). The DVG was Germany's first police and service dog club and has now grown to approximately 30,000 members. The focus of the DVG is to train and title dogs in the sport of Schutzhund regardless of breed. There are four active DVG clubs in Canada.

The second club is the Verein f�r Deutsche Sch�ferhunde (German Shepherd Dog Club), known as the SV. This is the German Shepherd Dog breed club and breed registry, based in Germany. The SV is the largest breed specific registry in the world. It promotes working-dog activities by awarding working titles (SchH), and sanctions conformation show and koerungs (breed surveys). The SV is a member of the Verband f�r das Deutsche Hundewesen (VDH), the national dog club in Germany, and allows other breeds than German Shepherds to compete at SV sanctioned events. There are thirty-seven active SV clubs within Canada.