The BH rules have changed as of March 2004! I will attempt to update this page in the very near future.
Before the Trial
Is this your first trial? There are two things you can do to prepare yourself (besides, of course, training your dog!):
First, walk the pattern without your dog. Consider your footwork, your breathing, your body language. Have a friend watch you and critique your "handling". Are you giving subconscious body signals? Are you walking at a smooth, consistent speed? Walk the pattern until you can do it in your sleep (which is the second part of your homework!). Count your paces until it becomes second nature. Once you can walk the pattern confidently, bring your dog out. Handle him the same way you did when he was "invisible". You can break him out and praise him when needed, but between play, walk and talk the same way you would in a trial. Do you think you might be nervous? Have trouble breathing? Then pretend to be nervous in practice. Let your dog know that even if you're a little weird, he can still work with you.
Second, before you go to sleep at night, visualise the routine. Picture getting your dog out of the car. You're calm but excited. You briefly play with your dog as you walk towards the trial field. Fill in the details: what toy are you playing with? What's the weather like? How's the leash feel in your hand? What are you wearing? Is the grass green or brown?
Visualise the entire routine. Imagine the anticipation you feel at the start. Imagine your breathing and the calm that washes over you as you take that first step. Count your paces. You and your dog are working together like clockwork. You have his complete attention: you know exactly where he is without looking. You're partners. Imagine the critique and your sense of acomplishment when the judge announces you've passed.
Practice visualisation every day for several weeks before the trial and on trial day, no matter how nervous you are, your subconscious will know exactly what to do.
Trial Day: The BH Test
The BH is made up of two parts: the first part, the obedience portion, is relatively standardized amongst judges. The second part, the "traffic sureness test," tests the dog under a variety of conditions, seemingly limited only by time and the judge's imagination.
Performance
Is this your first trial? Watch, listen and learn. Know when the BHs are going to be, and be prepared. Often, judges will give an overview of what they're looking for in a handler's meeting. If they don't offer, ask. Ask questions about anything you don't understand. Know where you're expected to begin the exercises and where the long down will be. The long down is done at a specific location to the side of the field where the obedience exercises are performed. Often dogs and bitches have their own flags, so make sure you put your dog in the correct place. Find out whether the judge wishes to tell you to start each new exercise or if you should merely make sure the judge is looking. Some judges are picky on this point, so clear it up beforehand.
Prepare your dog: the leash should be attached to the dead (non-tightening) ring of a choke or fur-saver collar. Use a leather lead that can be easily stowed out-of-sight in your pocket or snapped around your waist or placed over your left shoulder with the snap hanging down on the right. (One judge recently interpreted the rules to say you're no longer allowed to snap the lead around your waist.) Where you put the leash depends on your dog: does he need a little excitement? Smile and let him watch you put the leash in a pocket to remind him that toys and food come out of the same pocket. Is he a little too excited? Snap the lead around your waist with no emotion.
While waiting to be called onto the field, warm your dog up with "doodling" exercises, quick play or treats, or whatever little nudges and gestures you've used in training to build excitement and anticipation. But make sure to drop any and all treats and toys before stepping onto the trial field. Apparently this can be overlooked even by the experts!
When it's your turn to head out onto the field, take a deep breath, look at your dog and make sure s/he's ready: the lead should be slack with the snap hanging down. The lead is held in your left hand. Take a deep breath, stand tall, look to where you're going and step off with confidence.
You will be paired with another dog and handler, and will report to the judge with them. Heel up to the judge with your dog on leash and stop in front. Your dog should be sitting in heel position. State your name, your dog's call name, and that you're reporting for the BH. The judge will direct you either to the long down location or to the starting place for the moving exercises. Note that if there are an odd number of entries, it is common for the judge to use a "round robin" approach, where 3 dogs alternate between exercises and being off the field. Don't get hung up trying to figure out the details — that's the judge's job. Just make sure you know the order (1st, 2nd, 3rd) in which you'll be doing the long down and moving exercises.
Basic position. All of the obedience routines start from the basic position. This is both a place (starting point) which may be marked or otherwise indicated by the judge, and a position (posture) assumed by both you and your dog. In the basic position, you should stand erect and tall, with your hands at your sides, looking forward. Your dog shoud be sitting straight, attentive, with his right shoulder blade next to your left knee.
When an exercise is completed, the final basic position of that exercise may be used as the starting basic position of the following exercise. If this is done, pause briefly (approximately three seconds) before beginning the next exercise.
Once you assume the basic position, you may not move forward, circle, or otherwise re-adjust your position if the dog is sitting crooked.
Praise. Praise is allowed after every individual exercise is completed, but only in the basic position. The dog must be under reasonable control. This means that any exuberant praise such as hugging and kissing and leaping about that makes the dog leave the basic position is not permitted. Smiles, brief pats on the head or body and verbal praise is permitted.
Since praise is done in the final basic position after an exercise, you may assume a new basic position after praising your dog: this starts the new exercise. If the dog is in proper position (straight and attentive) you need not assume a new basic position, but must pause for a count of three (or wait for the judge's signal) before starting a new exercise.
Heel on Leash. 15 points
The paces shown in the above diagramme represent the minimum number of paces required.
Starting at the basic position, pick a target at the opposite end of the field so you'll be able to walk a straight line. Take a deep breath, give the heel command and walk forward purposefully, counting your paces. You will walk out 50+ paces in a straight line, do a Schutzhund (left) about turn, and continue back the way you came for 12 more paces at a normal speed. After 12 paces, command heel and run for 12 paces. The fast should be at a definite run, not just fast walking. You may want to flex your arms and lean forward slightly as you give the command. (It's not cheating when you help your dog by giving natural body cues. It's natural to look the direction you're turning when you walk, or to lean forward when you run. The key is "natural" — don't exagerate.) The command "heel" should be brisk and upbeat. After 12 paces, command heel again while bringing your arms down and leaning back slightly. This heel command may be slower or scale down tonally. The transition between fast and slow should be smooth and harmonious, not abrupt. For the slow, stop swinging your arms and shorten and slow your steps while maintaining smooth forward motion. If you pause or hesitate between each step, the result will appear choppy. After 12 paces, give the command heel and resume a normal pace.
When you reach the starting point, you will make a right (or left) turn (depending on the layout of the field and the judge's directions) walk 15+ paces and make another right (or left) turn. After 15+ paces, make a Schutzhund (left) about turn, and take a few paces before the halt to give your dog a chance to sit straight. Pause for a count of three before resuming heeling. You will make a left (or right) turn and heel into the group.
If, during the heeling, your dog lags or becomes distracted, it's often better to give an additional "heel" command than let him wander too far. You may lose points but hopefully you'll lose fewer than you would with faulty heeling.
Group. The group is the last part of the Heel on Lead exercise and the first part of the Heel Free exercise. Therefore, the only time that the dog may be praised is at the end of the on-lead heeling.
As you're approaching the group, choose two people in the group around whom you can smoothly make a figure-8. You must show a left turn, a right turn and a halt. The halt should be near a person; observe a 3-second pause before continuing. Look to the judge for direction: s/he will either nod that you should proceed out of the group or instruct you to repeat the figure-8.
Heel out of the group a short distance, make an about turn, take a few additional steps to give your dog a chance to be straight, and halt. Take the lead off and put it away before praising your dog. Give him a few quick pats or a verbal "atta-boy!" and assume a new basic position or mentally count to three before heeling back into the group.
Heel Free. 15 points
Look back to the group and again pick a route before starting. (Planning ahead helps prevent confusion!) You must again show a left turn, right turn and halt. Look to the judge for a signal to preceed to the starting point for the off-lead heeling.
Assume a new basic position at the starting point. Look to the judge for a signal to begin heeling. You MAY NOT praise your dog at this point.
The Gunshots. With the exception of the gunshots, the heel free is the same pattern as the heel on leash. The gun will be fired two times, about 5 seconds apart, as you heel away on the first straight leg of the pattern. The first shot is fired when you're about 15 paces away. The judge may ask for additional shots to be fired if s/he sees any questionable reaction by the dog.
Sit out of Motion. 10 points At the end of the Heel-free, you will go back to the starting point and take up the basic position.
The Buildup. All of the moving exercises require a buildup of 10-15 paces with the dog at heel before the sit or down command is given, and the judge's do count! Get into the habit of counting 12 paces in training.
Beginning in the basic position, heel out in a straight line for 12 paces, and give the sit command without slowing or looking back. Continue walking at a normal pace for at least 30 steps. Stop and turn smoothly. Stand erect with your feet under your hips and your hands at your sides. Look to the judge for a signal to return to your dog. You may return by going around behind the dog, or walk directly to the dog's right side. (I have heard of judges taking points for returning directly to the dog; apparently they feel you demonstrate a more solid sit when returning around behind.)
You may count three and start the Moving Down from this basic position if the field is long enough, or you may do an about turn and heel back to the original starting point.
Down out of Motion with Recall. 10 points
From the basic position, heel straight out 12 paces at a normal speed and give the down command without slowing or looking back. Continue walking on for at least 30 additional steps. If your dog has an awesome, speedy recall, you might want to consider going a little further. Stop and turn smoothly. Stand erect with your feet under your hips and your hands at your sides. Look to the judge for a signal to recall your dog. You may use either his name or the command "Hier" / "Come" but not both. Pause for 3 seconds (or wait for the judge's signal) before giving the finish command. The dog may do an "around" or "flip" finish.
Beware of handler-help on the recall. It is extremely common to lean forward or raise your shoulders as you give the command or to move your head and shoulders for the finish. Your feet should be directly under your hips, not straddled, and your hands should be held relaxed at your sides. Wait until the dog is looking at you before you give the command.
At the completion of the Moving Down exercise, put the leash back on the dog. You will either heel on-leash to the Long Down place or return to the judge for the critique.
Long Down under Distraction. 10 points
When the judge tells or signals you to go to the long down location, heel over to the area. Stop, facing the direction you will be waiting, with your dog sitting at your side in the basic position. Take the lead off and put it away. Glance at the judge for a signal to begin the down exercise. Standing straight and facing forward, give the down command. When the dog has complied, walk away without turning approximately 30 paces out to the place indicated by the judge. Wait with your back to the dog.
Watch the other dog's routine so you'll be ready for the judge's signal when it's time to return to your dog. Walk directly back to your dog. You may circle around behind him or go directly to his right side and turn around. Standing straight, count mentally to three and give the "sit" command without leaning forward or giving other body signals. When he is sitting, put the lead back on and either heel to the judge or to the starting point for the obedience exercises.
In the BH test, all the points for the exercise are lost if the dog breaks the long down at any time and moves more than 3 metres away. If the dog is restless or sits up but remains within the allowable 3 metres, the dog may receive partial points. If a dog breaks the long down on the handler's return, it may receive no more than a Satisfactory rating (at least a 3-point deduction) for the exercise.
Both handlers report back to the judge at the completion of their routines. S/he will direct you to stand in front of the spectators for the critique. Sit or down your dog and face the crowd. Be a good sport: smile, say "thank you" and shake hands with the judge at the end of the critique.
A minimum of 42 points out of 60 are necessary in order to continue on to the traffic portion of the BH test.
The Traffic Portion
The traffic portion of the test varies from one judge to the next, and each judge has their own method. The rulebook calls for the test to be conducted in a public traffic area, but also allows for the judge to conduct it at the trial field under simulated traffic conditions. Generally, the club will provide a bicycle with a horn or bell and a rider; a car and driver; a jogger; a tie-out post on which to tie the dog and a barrier such as a car or the corner of a building for the handler to hide behind.
The judge will direct the dog and handler to walk on a loose lead up and down a road with cars driving by, and bicyclists and joggers passing at a distance of 10 feet. however I have never gotten around to adding some of the many different things I've seen judges do. Dropping metal food pans on concrete behind the dog, 12 people crowding around the dog in a tight circle and staring silently...
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