INTERVIEW: Sebastian Schäfer - Police & Service Dogs Technical Work

In the summer of 2015, we made our first acquaintance with Sebastian Schäfer. Sebastian has been passionate about dogs for many years and has turned this passion into a profession: with TECDOGSPORT, he runs his own training facility and a shop for dog equipment. We visited him and his dogs.

SPARTANAT: Hello Sebastian! Nice to meet you again - at the IWA there was once again too little time to chat.

Sebastian Schäfer: Hello dear readers of SPARTANAT, you're right - at such a large event there's little time.

SPARTANAT: We came to visit you today so that you can tell us a bit about your work and passion. After all, we are seeing more and more service dogs in the media and we wanted to know how the training process works.

"I was afraid of dogs as a child. Today I am a professional dog trainer."

Sebastian: Of course, I am always happy to introduce the topic to people who have not yet or have only minimally dealt with it.

SPARTANAT: Did you have anything to do with dogs from a young age?

Sebastian: In fact, as a child I was afraid of dogs. I am a trained craftsman and only started to deal intensively with dogs in 1995.SPARTANAT: How did that happen?

Sebastian: Initially, I did more bad than good sports with dogs. In early 2000, I moved to the Allgäu and ran an animal protection facility there for a few years. However, the area of ​​dog training has always accompanied and fascinated me. Five years later, I attended a dog sport demonstration and there I got to know Mondioring.

SPARTANAT: Mondioring?

Sebastian: Mondioring is a dog sport recognized by the FCI (Here explained on Wikipedia), in which a diverse examination program is carried out. Among other things, it deals with subjects such as obedience, jumps, and protection work. Those who want to delve deeper should visit www.mondioring-germany.de. I knew I wanted to do that, so I bought the appropriate dog and trained rigorously.

SPARTANAT: And were there successes?

Sebastian: I became World Champion in 2013 and 2014.

SPARTANAT: Amazing! But Mondioring is not all you do now, is it?

Sebastian: No, I also have an international helper license for the World Championships. Proper agitation, technical biting, how to act correctly in the bite suit, etc. This quickly put me on the path of service dogs and authorities took notice of me. Since 2012, I have been giving the first seminars with bite suits in the sports/service area.

"Dog sport athletes and service dog handlers come to me on their own initiative. But I am also booked internationally by authorities or service dog schools."

SPARTANAT: Who are your customers?

Sebastian: These are dog sport athletes and service dog handlers who come to me on their own initiative. But I am also booked internationally by authorities or service dog schools.

SPARTANAT: Wow, or rather bow-wow - it's great to hear that you can share your knowledge. What do you learn in the seminars?

Sebastian: We of course offer the classic dog school, for everyone with a focus on problem dogs, everyday activities, resocialization, training, anti-hunting training, anti-poison-bait training, and of course the bond between human and dog.

Regarding Mondioring, we have a beginner seminar with a focus on Mondioring in general, requirements, theoretical examination, and a practical part with obedience, jumps, and protection work.

In addition, there is the advanced Mondioring - here, in addition to the beginner seminar, the focus is on building object guarding, handler defense, transport techniques, attack and defense techniques, working with objects, and leg techniques.

Then we have the seminar on protection work helpers. This is about the helper and his tasks, the differences between test and build-up helper, as well as equipment. The practical part includes puppy and young dog training, adult dog training, biting techniques and stress, placing and safe removal of the dogs, leg work, and the build-up of the respective exercises.

Specifically for service dogs, there are seminars on learning laws, communication, stress in training, differences between sport and service dogs, placement of the dogs, advantages and disadvantages of full protection work, behavior of the helpers in full protection. Practical training includes use of the suit, basket (combat/technique), and general technical behavior.

For protection work, we teach in theory learning behavior, prey building, positive reinforcement, communication, aggression, correction, handling the dog in everyday life, when to confirm and give commands. Practically, behaviors after the prey, use of aids, stress, integration of commands, and the transition to protection work are practiced.

All these seminars are only roughly outlined and can be adapted at any time to the specific needs and requirements of the groups/participants.

SPARTANAT: So pretty much everything you need to know. But we also saw that you have a shop. What do you sell?

Sebastian: Since 2009, we have been distributing dog sports equipment. We quickly realized that the service sports equipment in this area needed improvement, so in 2015 we entered into a cooperation with MD-Textil. Better materials were to be used that could withstand longer, more demanding use. So now we have some of our own products for sports, service, and everyday dogs.

SPARTANAT: What can you buy in a dog shop?

Sebastian: We have dog sport clothing, full protection suits, harnesses, collars, leashes, and of course accessories such as balls, bite sleeves, etc. Currently, we are working on a rappelling harness for authorities, which will be tailored to fit the dog. However, we are still in the prototype phase.

SPARTANAT: Then we wish you continued success. We will take a closer look at some of the self-developed items soon and present them here on SPARTANAT. But now, show us what your dog can do, okay?

Sebastian: Thank you for the interview. So let's get started! (See also video at the beginning of the article)

Part 1: Obedience

Part 2: Jumps

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