Commands

The Schutzhund Titles

The BH or companion dog title is a pre-requirement for Schutzhund titles. All breeds and sizes are eligible with the minimum age requirements of 15 months.  The handler also has to take a short written test.

There are three levels of the Schutzhund test:

Schutzhund 1
Schutzhund 2
Schutzhund 3

In addition to the Schutzhund temperament tests, there are three training degrees: the FH 1 and FH 2, advanced tracking degrees; WH, or basic protection degree which includes basic obedience, and the AD which is an 12.5 mile endurance test and includes obedience. There are six seperate obedience and tracking titles that reflect the routines for SchH 1, 2, & 3 levels.

Commands: "Heel" ("Fuss"), "Down" ("Platz") and "Here/Come" ("Hier/Komm"), or dog's

name together with "Heel" ("Fuss")

Commands: "Down" ("Platz"), "Sit" ("Sitz")

All breeds and sizes are eligible to enter the BH test. The minimum entry age is 15 months.

At the end of the test, the results are not given out as "points" but only as a "Pass" or "Fail" rating announced by the judge. The test is passed when 70% of the total points available in Part A are earned, and the exercises in Part B are considered by the trial judge to be "Sufficient".  The BH title alone is not a "training title" in the sense of the breeding, showing, breedsurvey or exhibition requirements of a member-club of the VDH.

There is no waiting period required before the BH test may be repeated, but not at the  same trial. Example: if a dog does not pass the BH test on Saturday, it may not compete for the BH test at the same trial on Sunday.

The exercises shall be carried out in a public traffic-area (streets, roads or public areas) with moderate traffic.  This part of the BH may also be done at the club training grounds under simulated conditions as per the exercises, at the discretion of the Judge. Only the dog being tested, his handler, the judge, and possibly also the trial secretary will be in action at any time, unless the judge requests otherwise. All the other handlers will remain waiting "on call" at the judge's discretion with their dogs off  to the side in a suitable location.

This portion of the BH test, because of its own peculiarities, requires a considerable expenditure of time. The performance requirements may not be compromised by the superficial inspection of many dogs. Therefore a maximum of 24 dogs may be judged on any one trial day, in accordance with USA rules.

Point scores are not given out for the individual exercises in Part B. For the passing of this part of the trial, the overall impression of the dog moving about in traffic is determinative.

On the judge's signal, the handler proceeds with his dog on lead in the area designated by the judge. The judge follows the handler at a measured distance.  The dog should willingly follow, on a loose lead, at the handler's left side with his shoulder remaining at about the level of the knee.

The dog should behave impartially towards all pedestrians and towards the motoring traffic  opposite. Along the way, the handler will be passed by a jogger at the approximate distance of 10 feet (staged for the test).

A short time later, the handler Is passed by a bicyclist who overtakes him from behind on the bicycle path or coming from the street (staged for the test). The approach must be done so that the dog finds himself between the handler and the passing bicyclist. As the cyclist  passes the dog and handler, he will ring his bicycle-bell several times or verbally appraise the handler of his position. After this the handler turns, goes to the judge, remains standing by him, greets him with a handshake, and converses with him. During all of this the dog may stand, sit or lie down, but must in any case remain calm.

On the judge's signal, the handler will move out with his dog into the middle of heavier pedestrian traffic (this may be simulated for the test).

The handler will stop twice in the crowd. At the first stop the dog must sit on command; at the second stop the handler will command the dog to down. The dog should sit and down quickly at the command and remain calm. In each instance, the handler will leave briefly and go to a spot designated by the judge and out of sight of the dog.  Within this exercise, a brief period of "loitering" will be worked in, at a spot designated by  the judge with unaccustomed noises, such as various voices, loud talk, or passing traffic.

(Suitable locations for these exercises include: busy malls, train-station hallways, bus  stations, etc.; these may also be simulated at the club grounds.)