Five Reasons to Consider a Short-Haired Czech German Shepherd for Schutzhund or Out in Field as a Working Dog

Most Schutzhund participants will find a short haired German Shepherd Dog (GSD) preferably over the longer haired alternative.  Short-haired German Shepherds possess several unique advantages that arguably make them better suited for Schutzhund than longer haired dogs. This article will focus on five key reasons to choose a short-haired German Shepherds that enhance their capabilities and effectiveness in Schutzhund training and competitions. We at Czech Working Line exclusively focus on working line German Shepherds. Our IGP 3 titled stud Querro is a Czech import. In our opinion, he is one of the most spectacular Czech German Shepherds imported into the USA in the last decade or two. Come see him in person. Few leave without being in absolute awe of his structure and conformation. He is truly impressive. A big boned male with an unbelievable head and bone structure, he consistently stamps this look in his offspring. If you are looking for a Czech German Shepherd puppy for sale, reach out any time.

Short Haired Czech German Shepherds Enjoy Enhanced Heat Regulation

A primary benefit of the short-haired coat in Schutzhund training is superior heat regulation. Dogs engaged in Schutzhund undergo strenuous physical exertion. The short haired coat allows for better air circulation. One could argue this ought to be self-evident. But it’s worth thinking on. Knowing the high energy training requirements, especially in the higher levels of Schutzhund training, it makes sense to consider how the little things can set your dog up for success. The shorter hair coat helps the dog maintain a comfortable body temperature during intense training sessions (Smith & Jensen, 2019). Even if there were no other benefits, this ability to cool down more quickly would be sufficient to choose a short hair dog.

For Schutzhund enthusiasts living in the more southern parts of the USA where temperatures regularly reach and exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit, choosing a dog with the ability to easily self-regulate temperature ought to be a high priority. Short-haired German Shepherds are less likely to overheat. Maintaining a healthy body temperature will not only lead to a happier dog, but focus during training will be far superior to a dog plagued by overheating (Brown, 2018). The natural heat regulation of short-haired German Shepherds improves their ability to sustain exertion levels over extended time frames, avoiding fatigue, and ensuring the dog is able to remain focused and responsive through long training sessions.

Not only does the shorter coat allow dogs to cool more quickly, it also drys faster. Because short hair dries more quickly after exposure to water or sweat, it reduces the risk of skin irritation. While this may be less of a concern in a dog trained purely for sport, if the end goal is a working dog able to perform in the real world, then this added benefit can be a game changer. Consider the dog working with a search and rescue team in either overly hot or cold temperatures where it has been raining. A miserable dog is far more likely to be distracted which can lead to decreased focus. For sure you will want your dog focused and attentive during Schutzhund exercises (Peterson, 2020), but how much more if that search and rescue operation is out looking for a lost child or an alzheimer’s patient? Here at czech working line we are narrowly focused on the production of some of the world’s finest working line German and Czech pedigrees. If you are searching for a short haired Czech German Shepherd puppy for sale, see our available puppies page. From time to time we have some of the world’s top pedigreed litters out of IGP titled bloodlines. Send us an email or call.

Short Haired GSDs Experience Lower Sensory Interference

Not only does the short hair of a Czech German Shepherd handle heat and wet weather better than the longer haired GSDs, but they additionally have an advantage in reduced sensory interference. During tracking, dogs rely on their sense of smell when following a scent. Longer haired dogs have higher chances of getting their hair fouled up making it more difficult to follow a scent. On the other hand, dogs with a shorter coat are more likely to follow the scent without external scent contamination (Harris, 2017). When you think about it, this just makes sense. This is especially true during more humid and wet weather. During wet and humid weather, dirt and grime tend to stick more, potentially hindering the dog’s olfactory senses. This improved sensory capability generally gives short-haired German Shepherds an edge over their long-haired counterparts (Johnson, 2019). With the shorter coat less likely to be weighed down by mud, water, and vegetation (Evans, 2018), the shorter coat just makes sense when choosing your next working line puppy. For our purposes here at Czech Working Line, we never include show lines in our dog’s pedigrees. We approach breeding from a perspective of desiring to make life better, just a little bit happier because dogs are a part of life— great dogs. This means that we begin with the end in mind. We know our end goal is a dog capable not only of functioning as a working dog, but of thriving in this environment. We want a dog that will thrive in obedience training. We want a dog that excels in search and rescue. And we want dogs highly capable of protection work. Because we are clear on this end. we never dip into the AKC show genetics. We entirely limit our breeding dogs to proven working lines, with a focus on both German and Czech dogs. When we offer a German or Czech German Shepherd puppy for sale, we are committed to producing litters of dogs that thrive in these categories.

Shorter Hair Leads to Improved Speed and Less Upkeep

Okay, we get it that at this point, we are splitting hairs so to speak. But in the same way that cyclists wear tight fitting clothes to reduce wind drag, so the shorter hair dog has a slight advantage over the longer haired dog. Sure, this might be minimal, but if the goal is to win, then every tiny bit arguably helps. According to Anderson, this increased agility during the protection phase of Schutzhund training can come into play (Anderson, 2020). With agility so crucial for achieving high Schutzhund scores, the competitive handler will take advantage of every possible means (Miller, 2018). Further, GSDs with a shorter coat logically experience less tangling and matting of their hair (Walker, 2017). Less upkeep after training practice can be a huge plus when training is ended. While the longer hair might be beautiful, and arguably it is, the constant upkeep after getting outdoors and training can be a drag.

A Safer Alternative While Training Outdoors

Schutzhund often requires dogs to navigate a challenging environment. This can be especially true when training working dogs for search and rescue and outdoor protection work. Such training can include dogs working in dense vegetation. A short-haired coat provides a distinct advantage by being less prone to snagging on branches, thorns, and obstacles. While the benefits of the shorter coat are not so great as to mean the longer haired dog cannot do well, the benefits to the shorter coat make them the coat of choice for working dogs (Smith & Jensen, 2019). While long-haired dogs may struggle to move through thick underbrush, shorter-haired dogs will generally pass through such obstacles with greater ease.  Being able to move more freely through this varied environment (Parker, 2019), sets the shorter haired dogs up for more consistent success.

Enhanced Handler Visibility and Communication

Again, this final point will be one of minor degrees, but nonetheless ought not be discounted.  Short-haired German Shepherds can simply see better. This of course would be more pronounced the longer the hair on a long haired dog, and this increased visibility will give the shorter haired dog an edge (Harris, 2017).  This enhanced visibility is particularly important in the obedience and protection phases of Schutzhund. During these parts of Schutzhund, precise timing and clear communication can make the difference between a high score and failure (Brown, 2018). As breeders committed to producing dogs that thrive in a working environment we do occasionally have litters that produces a long haired puppy. Our first goal is the happiness of our owners and happiness in life in general. For some home protection contexts, the degree to which the longer haired dog might not be quite the A+ in every way as compared to the shorter haired dog just isn’t enough of a reason to reject the longer haired dog. We get it that some of our customers just love this look. And in a home protection dog, the very small differences just are not enough to make it a deal breaker. Both the shorter and longer haired German Shepherds can be some of the most fantastic protection dogs.

Conclusion

The short-haired coat of the Czech German Shepherd provides numerous advantages in Schutzhund training. From enhanced heat regulation and sensory efficiency to improved agility, protection in rough terrain, and better eyesight, the benefits of a the short-haired coat for dogs intended to be trained as working dogs are enough that for most serious sport enthusiasts, the short haired dog will be the dog of choice in nearly every situation. For people searching for either a German pedigree or Czech German Shepherd puppy for sale, call anytime. Or text. Click on our available puppies page to see if we have anything currently available.

Bibliography

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