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German shepherds descend on Q-Cs for national schutzhund event
Originally Posted Online: Nov. 03, 2009, 4:35 pm
Last Updated: Nov. 03, 2009, 9:26 pm
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Print this story | Email this storyLast Updated: Nov. 03, 2009, 9:26 pm
By Tim Seward
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Moving from the Chicago area to Galesburg in the early 1980s as a young man, Al Govednik wasn't well prepared for the culture shock. Restaurants closed early. Bowling alleys were shut down before midnight. Mr. Govednik needed something to do, so he began working with German shepherds. His enthusiasm for the breed landed him a hobby that now takes him and his dog, Hex, all over the U.S. and Europe for Schutzhund (German for "protection dog") competitions. He won't have to travel very far for the 2009 German Shepherd Dog National Championship, which is being held at Modern Woodmen Park Friday through Sunday. Practice sessions begin today. "I was new in (Galesburg), so I didn't know the good fishing spots or the good hunting spots," said Mr. Govednik. "I'm an outdoors person, so I took an interest in training German shepherds." In the nearly 30 years Mr. Govednik has been in the sport, he has competed with seven of his own dogs, including 5-year-old Hex, which has placed as high as second in national competitions in recent years. Hex is one of 72 dogs registered for this weekend's competition. Hex also has competed in world competitions, which are often held in Europe, where, said Mr. Govednik, dog sports are second only to soccer in popularity. Mr. Govednik worked closely with the Quad Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau and its "Host It Here" program to encourage the United Schutzhund Clubs of America to bring the national championship to the Quad-Cities. "This is another great example of a community member partnering with the QCCVB to bring a sporting event to the Quad-Cities," said Lynn Hunt, QCCVB vice president of sales. According to the QCCVB, the championship will bring $400,000 into the Quad-Cities. The handlers and their families visiting the area equate to 675 room nights at area hotels. Schutzhund competitions were developed specifically for German shepherds to demonstrate the breed's intelligence and utility. It measures the dog's mental stability, endurance, structural efficiencies, ability to smell, willingness to work, courage and trainability. The three core areas of competition are tracking, obedience and protection. Tracking is often regarded by Schutzhunders as the most satisfying. Handlers and dogs work together to navigate a course where the dog is judged on how well it literally follows in the footsteps of the person who placed articles on the course. The dogs are judged on how well they rely on their sense of smell in tracking crushed vegetation and ground sensing while navigating the course and finding the articles. Obedience includes obstacle and command work; in the protection competition, dogs are judged on how well they are able to protect their owner and how well they show restraint. The judges concentrate on how the dog reacts to the both the "dangers" and the owner. "With that, the temperament is looked at constantly," said Mr. Govednik. "Is it a bad dog? Does it bite indiscriminately? Our dogs have to show good behavior and impeccable character to (be considered) for a national championship." Schutzhund event facts What: German Shepherd Dog National Championship Where: Modern Woodmen Park, Davenport When: 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 7 a.m.-noon Sunday Admission: $5 for adults; kids get in free. For more information: Contact the Machtig Strom Schutzund Verein, the local Schutzhund club, at (309) 476-8729, or visit http://2009usagsdnationalchampionship.com 
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