In 2016 and 2017, I have published my first book, The Schutzhund Training Manual in English and in Chinese. This book took five years in its making. There are over 110,000 words, 320 pages, and more than 700 colour illustrations. To order the book, please contact me by email: felix@felixho.be . Below you can find its contents:

Contents:
Chapter 1
1. Introduction
2. Working Dogs and Doggy Jobs
3. Brief History and Structure of Schutzhund/IPO

• Minimum Age for a Dog to Enter IPO Trials
• BH
• IPO1
• IPO2
• IPO3

4. Working Abilities

• Interpretation of the Twenty Genetic Working Abilities
• Drives

5. Pack Structure

• Understanding Dog Language through the Study of Wolves
• Wolf Characteristics
• The Five Ranks in a Wolf Pack
• Ranking by Genetics vs Ranking by Human Influence
• The Role of the Handler in the Pack

6. Basic Understanding of Dog Language

• Sight
• Hearing
• Touch
• Smell
• Taste

7. Proper Keeping and Kennel Management of Working Dogs

• Kennels
• Food
• Exercises
• Medical Attention
• Recording
• Training Equipment

Chapter 2
8. Common Working Dog Breeds
9. Puppy Selection

• Breeds and Bloodlines
• Age of Puppy Selection
• Campbell Puppy Evaluation
• Environmental Evaluation
• Bite Evaluation
• Scoring of the Three Evaluations
• Considerable Factors after the Evaluations
• Handler for Dog, Dog for Handler
• Early Talents vs Late Bloomers
• Effectiveness of the Evaluations, Changes that May Occur as the Puppy Grows, Environmental Influences, Instincts vs Moldability

10. Training Stages and Elements for Tuning

• Elements for Tuning
• Training Stages
• Developing Stage
• Learning Stage
• Strengthening Stage
• Stabilising Stage
• Perfecting Stage

11. Developing Stage: A Puppy’s First Week Home: Part 1

• First Three Days for a Puppy to Settle in with His New Handler: Pack Management, Basic Rules, Exposure, Drive Building, Introduction of the Clicker
• Wolfish Dog, Sheepish Dog, Piggish Dog. The Fairy vs the Devil
• Bite Development

12. Developing Stage: A Puppy’s First Week Home: Part 2

• The Fourth to the Seventh Day for a Puppy to Settle in with His New Handler: Learning to Learn (Free Shaping, Luring, Targeting), Scent Pad
• Positive Reinforcement, Negative Reinforcement
• Reinforcer
• Eight Types of Positive and Negative Reinforcing Techniques
• Working to Achieve, Working to Avoid: Free Shaping, Luring, Targeting, Avoidance Training: Blocking, Leading, Pressing, and Reverse Targeting
• Things to Remember While Employing Avoidance Training
• A Comprehensive System
• Cross-Training
• Scent Pad
• Training Cycle
• Timetable of a Puppy’s First Week Home: An Example
• IPO Commands in English, German, and Dutch

Chapter 3
13. Tracking Learning Stage

• Winning Criteria in IPO Tracking
• Tracking Training Components Table
• Scent
• Straight Track
• Serpentine
• Progress until Tracking Strengthening Stage

14. Obedience Learning Stage

• Winning Criteria in IPO Obedience
• Obedience Training Components Table
• Teaching Attention through Free Shaping
• Teaching Sit, Down, Stand, Heel Left, Heel Right, Hold, Release, Jump, Climb, Look Forward, Go Ahead, Target Plates through Luring
• Sit
• Down
• Stand
• Heel Left, Heel Right
• Backwards
• Hold
• Release
• Jump
• Climb
• Look Forward, Go Ahead
• Target Plates
• Teaching Front Position through Targeting
• Fetching Toys
• Teaching Release through Pressing
• Contents in One Lesson
• Progress until the Obedience Strengthening Stage
• When to Introduce Verbal Commands

15. Protection Learning Stage

• Winning Criteria in IPO Protection
• Protection Training Components Table
• Decoys
• The Role of the Handler in Bite Work Training
• Introducing the Decoy
• A Clean and Explosive Out
• Introducing the Clatter Stick
• Using the Clatter Stick to Increase Drive and Confidence
• Clear, Strong, and Rhythmic Barking
• Teaching the Dog to Proactively Challenge an Unequipped Decoy
• Fast, Direct, Purposeful Search of the Hides (Run Around)
• Biting Style
• Teaching the Bite and Pull
• Teaching the Bite and Push
• Developing an Active Pulling Grip or Pushing Grip
• Teaching the Attack
• Leg Bite
• Synopsis of the Learning Stage

Chapter 4
16. Tracking Strengthening Stage

• From “Zigzag” Steps to Normal Steps
• Right-Angle Corner
• Teaching the Slow Walk with a Pinch Collar
• Controlling Speed and Precision on the Track with a Pinch Collar
• The Article Indication Box
• Cross Track
• Elements to Work on at Tracking Strengthening Stage
• Memorising the Track
• Progressing to Trialling Level
• Observing the Dog’s Behaviour in Tracking

17. Obedience Strengthening Stage
Obedience Strengthening Stage 1st Phase

• Sit: Leading, Targeting, Linking the Command
• Down: Leading, Pressing, Targeting, Linking the Command
• Stand: Leading, Reverse Targeting, Linking the Command
• Heel Left, Heel Right: Leading, Targeting, Infusing Hunt Drive/Prey Drive, Reverse Targeting, Linking the Command
• Front Position: Leading, Linking the Command, From Down to Here
• Backwards: Reverse Targeting, Linking the Command, Infusing Hunt Drive/Prey Drive
• Hold: The Table Retrieve System
• Release: Luring, Leading
• Target Plates: Leading, Linking the Command
• Jump: Leading, Target Plates, Linking the Command
• Climb: Leading, Target Plates, Linking the Command
• Look Forward, Go Ahead: Leading, Infusing Hunt Drive/Prey Drive
• Blending Food Drive, Hunt Drive/Prey Drive, Pack Drive, Comfort Drive Together, Conditioning the Dog to Rebound after Pressure

Obedience Strengthening Stage 2nd Phase

• Attention: Practice during Sit, Basic Position, and Front Position. Strengthening Attention under Distraction. Using Hunt Drive/Prey Drive to Rebound the Dog after Pressure
• Warming Up before Training
• Familiarising the Training Field
• Cooling Down after Training
• Contents in One Lesson
• When to Introduce the Pinch Collar in Obedience

Obedience Strengthening Stage 3rd Phase

• Heeling Off Leash
• Sit in Motion
• Down in Motion
• Stand in Motion
• Retrieve
• Retrieve Over Hurdle
• Retrieve Over A-Frame
• Send Away
• Down Stay

Obedience Strengthening Stage 4th Phase

• Preparing for BH (Companion Dog Examination)

18. Protection Strengthening Stage

• Choosing the Right Sleeve
• First Step of Introducing Control in Bite Work
• Searching the Hides
• The Pressure Pot Principle
• Hold and Bark
• Prevention of the Escape
• Re-Attack during Guarding
• Back Transport
• Attack during Back Transport
• Long Attack
• Re-Attack during Guarding
• Increasing the Dog’s Practical Protective Abilities

19. Food for Thought

• Special Thanks