Schutzhund, currently known competitively as IGP and previously as IPO, is a dog sport that tests a dog's tracking, obedience, and protection skills, and evaluates if a dog has the appropriate traits and characteristics of a good working dog.

Moguls and celebrities now routinely pay $40,000 to $60,000 for a well-bred German shepherd that is certified as an expert in the sport of Schutzhund, which means “protection dog.”

While your dog is “going through” a training program, you should work with them at minimum 30 to 40 minutes per day. This should be done to ensure that your dog has a really good concept of the last command that was learned, and they are prepared for the next training session.