a competition dog

The Standard Schnauzer excels as a working dog due to his shrewd intelligence, fearlessness, spunk, and reliability. The Standard Schnauzer LOVES to work. They excel in obedience, agility, tracking, and herding. And, of course, they are great fun in the conformation ring. Many of the obedience, herding, and agility dogs are also Champions. Not only are these dogs good workers, but they have also proved themselves as excellent examples of the breed.
In the Show Ring
It takes a special dog to win in the show ring. They must present themselves to the judge in what we call a show pose, let the judge look at their teeth and examine their structure, and the happier they work in the ring, the better they do. The show dog must match the standard for their breed and show good temperament. Additionally, they must be a willing partner with the handler as they gait, stand for exam, and pose. Those that cock their heads and look at the judge with a wagging tail, as you would expect, have an edge over a dog that doesn't show animation. This all requires training - for the Standard Schnauzer and the handler. Standard Schnauzers that excel in the show ring often excel in the obedience ring and in other endeavors. A winning show dog has proved himself as an excellent example of the breed and as a good working Standard Schnauzers.
In the Obedience Ring Training in obedience "strengthens the bond and increases the enjoyment, companionship, and satisfaction of the relationship with the owner and the dog. The objective of obedience is to provide for the safety and happiness of the dog and to develop a good canine citizen for the benefit of the family, neighborhood and community. "The sport of obedience provides enjoyment to the trainer in exhibiting in Obedience and/or Tracking to earn titles offered by the American Kennel Club, and to participate in other AKC club competitions. "Learning the basic commands sit, stand, down, walk at heel on leash, come and stay are essential for the dog to become an enjoyable, well mannered companion. These commands are the foundation of the advanced training exercises needed for other dog/handler activities." 1 Those who participate in obedience have found that above all else, a trained dog is a JOY to own.
In the Agility Ring "Agility is one of the newest AKC events and it is open to every breed. In an Agility Trial a dog demonstrates its ability to negotiate a complex course which should include a walk over a bridge, jumping through objects, going through tunnels, and pausing on command. The dogs go through the course off lead taking the obstacles on the handlers signal. Agility is exciting for the dogs, handlers, and spectators. "Agility results in a better rounded, conditioned dog, provides good basic training for search and rescue dogs, demonstrates good training and citizenship and has excellent spectator appeal." 1 The Obstacles used in agility include - A-Frame, Pause Table, Dog Walk, Open Tunnel, Seesaw, Closed Tunnel, Broad Jump, Panel Jump, Double Bar Jump,Tire Jump or Window Jump as well as single and multiple Bar Jumps. Standard Schnauzers excel in this sport due to their enthusiasm, athletic ability, and intelligence.
Herding Trials
"As versatile and multi purposed as they are, Standard Schnauzers in the United States have not been thought to have instincts for herding. They were considered primarily as a companion and guard. Now we know - Standard Schnauzers EXCEL as herding dogs. "Along with an increasing interest in performance events, programs for testing and training herding dogs and AKC recognized herding titles were developed. Fanciers of other breeds, not usually associated with herding trials, became interested in this sport. "In October, 1996, the Standard Schnauzer Club of Southern California sponsored a Herding Test for Standard Schnauzers belonging to club members. Of the seventeen Schnauzers tested (Only two of the seventeen had ever seen a sheep before), all but one showed strong herding instincts, and, fourteen turned in what the tester termed, a four star performance. "In May, 1997, the Standard Schnauzer Club of Northern California sponsored a similar test. Again both the tester and the owners were stunned by the strength of the herding instincts in their dogs. Though two different individuals did the tests, they both made the same observation, that Standard Schnauzers showed very strong instincts for herding." 2 As a result of many Standard Schnauzers participating in AHBA herding events across the country and readily earning titles, the SSCA made application to and was approved by the AKC so that the Standard Schnauzer could then earn AKC Herding Test Titles and could participate for exhibition on the Trial level.  The first SSCA AKC Herding Test was in September of 2004 at the National Specialty.  Two dogs earned legs towards their Pre-Trial Tested Title (the highest level the AKC recognizes for Standard Schnauzers, one ran the Trial level course for exhibition and over twenty earned Herding Tested Titles legs.
Tracking "The Standard Schnauzer is not only a handsome dog and an unusually intelligent companion, he is also a very impressive tracking dog. Standard Schnauzers have been used for bomb and drug detection and have been on Search and Rescue teams. Both of these activities require very special owners with special skills. However, many owners can find the time and develop the ability to help their dogs learn to track. "To earn the first AKC Tracking Title (TD), a dog has to follow a track that is laid by a stranger (to the dog), through a vegetated area for about 450-500 yards. The track is 30 minutes to two hours old and will usually have about 4 turns. There will be a glove or wallet of the tracklayer at the end of the track which the dog must find. "The AKC Tracking Dog Excellent Title (TDX) is about twice the length, has many more turns, will cross creeks, fences, roads, and have other obstacles. The track is three to five hours old, there are four articles to find and there are also crosstracks which are newer than the original track. This is very demanding on both the dog and handler, but the training for it is so much fun! The Variable Surface Tracking Title (VST) requires that the dog track and do turns on non-vegetated surfaces as well as vegetated and this has proven to be very interesting to the dogs and handlers who pursue VST training.  Here again, the Standard Schnauzer with its excellent nose and its desire to work, can readily learn the skills needed for this form of tracking. "Young dogs learn tracking very easily. But it is also an excellent activity for dogs who have been retired from the Breed ring or from Obedience or Agility. The enthusiasm of young dogs is great fun, but the concentration found in the older dogs certainly has it's merits!" 3

¹ Reprinted with permission from the AKC
² Text provided by Arden Holst
³ Text provided by Mary Lou and Don Just