The Breed Suitability Test (BST) is an evaluation of a dog's temperament, character, and working ability. It is designed to select those Rottweilers that are worthy of being bred and is modeled after the standards of the ADRK's breed test, the Zuchttauglichkeitsprufung (Ztp).
The dog's conformation must be judged of breeding quality and free of disqualifying faults. The dog must have a valid hip certification number and have a tattoo for identification. Once the conformation and soundness qualifications have been met, the dog's temperament is tested. This test includes a gun sureness test, a protection test, and a test to insure that the dog is stable around the public. The United States Rottweiler Club strongly believes that these tests are vital to maintain the Rottweiler in type and temperament and should be the cornerstone of any breeding program.
BST PREREQUISITES AND INFORMATION FOR OWNER/HANDLERS OF DOGS ENTERING A BST
1. The judgement of the Kormeister or Judge is final. No appeals are possible.
2. BST critiques are not official until checked, recorded, and signed by the Head Breed Warden and/or the Administrator of Records. After the BST's are approved, the original copy will be forwarded to the dog's owner.
3. The BST paperwork must be complete and available for inspection on the day of the test. If this is not done, the BST will not be signed and will be deemed invalid. The dog may retest.
4. Both the owner and handler must be USRC members.
5. The owner and/or handler of any dog are liable for any damage caused by his or her dog.
6. The dog must be registered with USRC by the entry closing date.
7. The dog must have a USRC recognized hip certification.
8. The dog must have passed the Schutzhund BH.
9. The entry form for the BST must be sent to the Host Club before the entry closing date.
10. Copies of the following documents must be submitted with the entry:
a. Copy of USRC Membership Card for both owner and handler.
b. Copy of USRC Registration for the dog being entered.
c. Copy of Scorebook showing titles earned, scorebook number, and full name of dog. If the BH is earned after the close of entries, a copy of the scorebook showing the BH title must be presented to the BST secretary on the day of the Breed Test.
d. Copy of USRC recognized hip certification.
e. Weight certificate (if requested by the Host Club) dated within 30 days of the test date.
f. A copy of the USRC Registration Certificate may be accepted as proof of titles earned and hip certification if the required information appears on the Registration Certificate.
11. The following Original documents must be submitted to the BST Secretary on the day of the Breed Test. Entry into the BST will not be accepted without presenting these originals prior to taking the test.
a. USRC Membership Card for both owner and handler. A copy of the membership card will be accepted on the day of the show. This exception to the original document requirements applies to membership cards only.
b. USRC Registration for the dog being entered.
c. Scorebook showing titles earned, (minimum of BH) scorebook number, and full name of dog.
d. USRC recognized Hip Certification.
e. Weight certificate (if requested by Host Club) dated within 30 days of the test date.
f. The USRC Registration Certificate may be accepted as proof of titles earned and hip certification if the required information appears on the Registration Certification.
BST Conformation Evaluation and Performance Routine
**Effective January 01, 1999**
The following is the Performance Routine for a USRC BST. This routine may vary slightly under different judges.
1. The same helper (barring an accident) must work all dogs in an equal manner and should not be overly hard at any time. The stick hits should be moderate, a leather covered stick must be used. The sleeve should be broken in but not mutilated.
2. Dogs will be weighed, measured and critiqued. Character traits of the dog become more or less apparent during the weighing and measuring process.
3.The following tests will be done to establish the interaction in a group and sensitivity to noise.
a. The Group: The handler with dog on leash walks through a group of five to eight people. The handler and dog return to the center of the group where the dog sits. The group, when instructed by the judge, converges on the dog and handler and remains there until told by the judge to disperse.
b. The Gun: The handler and dog walk away from the judge. At a distance of fifteen paces, a 22 short blank starter pistol or its equivalent, is fired twice with a short interval in between each shot. Should the dog have a reaction to the gunfire, this exercise may be varied and repeated at the judge's discretion. If the dog continues to show a strong reaction to gunfire, the test is stopped and the dog is deemed unbreedable.
4. The handler and dog will report to the judge. The dog's tattoo number will be rechecked before the protection work begins.
5. The dog and handler approach the blind on leash.
6. At a distance of approximately 30 feet away from the blind the handler removes the dog's leash and holds the dog by the collar.
7. The handler continues to approach the blind while holding the dog by the collar.
8. At approximately 12 feet from the blind, at a line marked on the ground, the judge will instruct the helper to come out of the blind and attack the handler. The handler must immediately release the dog.
9. The handler shall remain at the spot of releasing the dog until told otherwise by the judge.
10. The helper shall:
a. Come out immediately from the blind when directed by the judge and attack towards the handler.
b. Catch the dog on the sleeve.
c. Drive the dog and apply two stick hits with an interval of 2 or 3 steps between hits.
d. Continue to drive the dog briefly, approximately 3 to 5 paces, until directed by the judge to stop.
11. The dog should immediately go to the helper and grip the sleeve and continue gripping the sleeve while being driven.
12. When the helper stops, the dog outs, with or without command from the handler.
13. When instructed by the judge the handler will go to the dog and put the dog on leash.
14. The handler, with the dog on leash, will heel down the field to a blind designated by the judge.
15. On instruction from the judge the handler will leave the blind (on leash) and heel to the center of the field.
16. With the dog in the basic position, the handler will remove the leash and hold the dog by the collar. The dog must remain quietly by the handler's side.
17. At the instruction of the judge, the helper will come from behind a blind that was designated by the judge (approximately 40 meters away from the dog and handler) and walk at a normal pace to the center of the field.
18. The handler may challenge the helper as he leaves the blind.
19. At the center of the field the helper turns and runs towards the dog and handler in a threatening manner. The handler releases the dog.
20. The handler shall remain at the spot of releasing the dog until told otherwise by the judge.
21. The dog must grip and remain on the sleeve while being driven 4 or 5 paces (no stick hits).
22. The helper stops and the dog outs, with or without a command.
23. When instructed by the judge, the handler goes to the dog. The handler puts the dog on leash and heels back to the judge and reports that the BST is completed.
Additional Information
1. After an out the dog should guard the helper until the judge instructs the handler to pick up the dog.
2. The dog must out with or without command from the handler and without being touched by the handler. The handler may give 3 separate commands to the dog to Out. Two of these commands will be from a distance, the third may be closer. If the dog does not out on the third attempt, the dog can not pass. At no time may the handler touch the dog before the dog outs. If the dog is inappropriately touched before the out, the BST is over, the dog may not pass.
3. If the dog does not grip the sleeve or if the dog should come off during a drive or stick hits, the helper must continue to press the dog. If the dog returns to the sleeve, the test continues. If the dog fails to regrip, the judge will stop the test and the dog cannot pass.
Missing Teeth
1. Dogs applying for permission to take a BST that have a missing tooth or teeth must contact the Head Breed Warden and submit the following to the Head Breed Warden. This information should be sent by registered mail.
a. A non-refundable $25 fee.
b. Irrefutable proof by X-ray and otherwise, that the dog had full dentition prior to the accident.
c. A statement signed by a licensed Veterinarian and a person at, or near the accident describing what happened.
2. The Breed Committee will be apprised of all of the facts and a vote will be taken. Their decision, without explanation, will be final.
3. Depending on each individual case, approval or disapproval by the Breed Committee could take as long as three months.
4. Approval by the Breed Committee only allows the dog to enter a BST. The Judge may still refuse to pass the dog, in which case the dog will be declared ineligible for breeding. No appeals of the Judge's decision will be allowed.
|
