PSA vs other sports.

[Jack's Dad]

Does PSA show more of the utility of the GSD than other sports?

I'm not personally involved but after seeing videos I found PSA very complex and interesting.

Does anyone think it is a better test for example than schutzhund?

Does it require too much time to get a dog titled?

I understand the powers to be would not change the way things are but I'm curious.

[Jack's Dad]

Moderators.

This should probably be moved to Other Protection sports.

[DanielleOttoMom]

PSA Protection Sports Association provide and outlet for civilian competition in Obedience and controlled Protection, heavy decoy and environmental pressure of the sport requiring dogs of strongest nerve and clearest head to overcome distractions and at the same time performing multiple tasks giving by handler, upper level competition are all suprised scnenario, no routine.

Schutzhund a sport that requires a high level of handler commitment, a strong working dog and all routine training. The scoring is based on precision of the exercises including a 3 phase sport; tracking, obedience and protection. If you can take a puppy and train to Schutzhund 3 then you have become a dog trainer.

I copied this from my club site (hope they don't care) I think it breaks down the two well. I currently train PSA and like that their is no routine so you never know what you are going to get at trail. At our club we are a multi sport club. I like like both sports but for now I'm doing just PSA with Circe.

[Jack's Dad]

That is what i found interesting. The dogs in PSA don't know exactly what's coming next. Again I'm not involved in either but PSA seems to my uneducated opinion to be much more of a test to the dogs abilities.

The more regimented sports are obviously not easy and there is a lot of training in any sport.

In schutzhund it seems some dogs are so trained to what they know is coming that they sort of sleep walk through it.

These are just observations so please don't jump all over me for them.

I know there is tons of training in schutzhund and I respect those who have the commitment to that sport or any other.

It just seems like PSA would be harder to title in and would wash out dogs with weak nerves.

[crackem]

dog training is dog training. change the order around in a schutzhund even for all I care, it's not going to make much difference. an exercise is an exercise, train it and be done with it.

because one sport starts training with puppies on plastic bottles, doesn't mean they're any more environmentally sound than one that doesn't. It means they saw more **** as a puppy.

Because someone can do a down before a sit or vice versa doesn't really mean much to me. Each sport has its own little quirks

[DanielleOttoMom]

I'am working on getting a more educated answer for you. I will get you an answer soon. LOL Great quetions.

[Jack's Dad]

Originally Posted by crackem

dog training is dog training. change the order around in a schutzhund even for all I care, it's not going to make much difference. an exercise is an exercise, train it and be done with it.

because one sport starts training with puppies on plastic bottles, doesn't mean they're any more environmentally sound than one that doesn't. It means they saw more **** as a puppy.

Because someone can do a down before a sit or vice versa doesn't really mean much to me. Each sport has its own little quirks

Well I sure don't disagree about the training.
However firing a starter pistol by a dogs head while a dog is engaged is a lot different than a dog chewing on plastic bottles as a puppy.

Im just speculating on whether it might be a better overall test of A GSD for drives, nerves, temperament etc..

[GSDElsa]

Originally Posted by Jack's Dad

However firing a starter pistol by a dogs head while a dog is engaged is a lot different than a dog chewing on plastic bottles as a puppy.

While that's true, most dogs in sports where they fire starter pistols close to the dog heavily condition it. So while it's a good indivation of nerves no doubt, even the most iffy dog could probably have this done enough they get used to it.

PSA definitely does look interesting though.

[DanielleOttoMom]

PSA is a true test for GSD nevers from what I'm told. Also from what i see and experienced. I'm interested in others opinions and thoughts on the topic.

[crackem]

dogs in all sports are so conditioned to what they're going to see in a trial, I hardly think it's a test of anything sometimes. It's why I like breeders that work their own dogs. They know what's in them, where they came from and how they responded to things.

I'm not saying a properly administered trial doesn't show you things, but I could care less about a starter pistol or a clatter stick or a stick hit or a couple of jugs filled with stones.

It may do something to a dog that has never seen them before, and they'll all react a bit differently. For the people that train in those sports??? those dogs have seen it all a thousand times before.