Schutzhund is a three-phase sport, TRACKING, OBEDIENCE, and PROTECTION. Tracking, a natural instinct the German Shepherd Dog possesses, finds articles placed down in a field prior to the dogs arrival. A starting point is stamped down to initiate a scent, then, methodically the dog must find each article in its path until every article is found. The dog indicates the finding of the article by laying its body down directly on it.

Protection, another natural instinct the Dog possesses. The objective is to control this by teaching the dog instinctively when it should apprehend the assailant. The dog's courage is tested by the threat of a stick. Four rather painless hits are given over the course of this phase.

And Obedience, considered to be the most difficult phase, seeks attentiveness from the dog, with a strong desire to work. On command, the dog must walk along the side of its master, sit, stand, stay and retrieve, without hesitation and without error.