Frequently Asked Questions about BH Trials
page updated October 08, 2001
Just before I entered my first trial in Schutzhund, which was the BH, I had a million questions to ask. The answers werent to be found in the Rule Book so I asked my fellow trainers and list friends on the Internet. I got a lot of advice and much of it was very helpful to me. I also asked questions of the judge at the trial and afterwards at a seminar. This page is a compilation of some of those questions and the answers. They are not the only answers - they are in many cases the opinion of one or more people, including judges. In some cases, they ARE taken from the GSSCC rule book. This follows the standard VDH rules. When in doubt, ask your club members, Regional or National representatives or the judge. Above all do not be afraid to ask questions before a trial!!!
Question |
Answer |
| How old does my dog have to be before entering the BH trial? | Dogs must be at least 12 months old |
| Do I have to have a scorebook to enter my dog? | Yes. In Canada you must have a scorebook for each dog you plan on entering in a trial. Scorebooks are available from your club secretary or from the secretary at the trial. |
| What other paperwork will I need? | You will need a copy of the registration papers for your dog. This is usually attached to the entry form. Ask the Trial Secretary what other paperwork you will be required to show. |
| Will I receive a score for my BH trial? | No. The BH is usually marked as a pass/fail. Some judges will tell the handler their point score but this is not the norm. |
|
What kind of collar does my dog have to wear? |
Dogs are required to wear a choke chain or fur saver on the dead ring. Leather collars and pinch collars are not permitted. |
|
Can I carry my leash in any hand? |
The leash must be held loosely in your left hand only. In the on-leash heeling exercises, the leash must be attached to the dead ring on the collar. In the off-leash exercises, the leash must be carried over your shoulder or around your waist with the clasp on the side of the handler away from the dog or in the pocket away from the dog. |
| Can I praise/pet my dog during the trial? | You may praise your dog at the end of each exercise only. |
|
How will I know when to start an exercise or call my dog in the recall? |
Before the trial ask the judge what his preference is. Some judges like the handler to wait until the judge gives a signal for the handler to start exercises, call the dog, give the finish command, etc. If the judge does not give the commands, then you wait at least 3 seconds before giving the command. |
|
How many points does my dog need to pass the obedience part of the trial? |
You and your dog must achieve 70% of the possible 60 points in the obedience section of the BH. This means you have to get at least 42 points. |
| Why are there two parts to the BH trial? | The BH is designed to assess both obedience and temperament of the dog. Both are important in the breed. |
|
When is the gunshot fired and what is the judge looking for? |
The gunshot is fired when the dog is heeling off-leash, moving away from the person firing the pistol. The judge watches the reaction of both the dog that is heeling and the dog in the long down. The dog must not show any gun shyness. |
|
How do I know how my dog will react to the gunshot? |
If you train at a club, your dog will have been exposed to gunshots prior to the trial. Your trainer can assess your dog's reaction and advise you. If you do not train with a club and have access to a starting pistol, you can check your dog yourself by having a friend fire blanks at a distance of at least 5 paces from your dog. |
| Do I have to use the German commands like "fuss" and "hier"? | No. You can use whatever commands your dog is familiar with. Other commonly used commands are "heel" and "come". You must however give all commands in the same language. |
|
In the recall, can I use my dog's name? |
You may call your dog by using his/her name but you may not combine the name with a command such as "hier" or "come". |
|
What do I say when I report to the judge? |
You will report to the judge along with the other dog/handler team. Heel your dog to the judge. Stop a few paces in front of the judge and sit your dog. Give the judge your name, your dog's name and state that you are reporting for the BH. The judge may shake your hand and wish you good luck. The judge may also ask to see your dog's tattoo. |
|
How do I know where to go after I report in? |
The judge will tell one team (handler/dog) to go to the start position for the heeling exercises and the other to go to the long down position. There is usually a different spot for male and female dogs so make sure you listen to the judge. |
|
Where do I put my leash for the off-leash heeling? |
It is best to ask the judge this question before you start. I carried my around my waist. Some judges require that the leash be clipped over one shoulder. The clasp of the leash must always be on the side away from the dog. The leash can also be put in your pocket on the side away from the dog. |
|
After I have finished all the exercises, what do I do? |
If you have done both the long down and the obedience exercises, you heel your dog to where the judge is standing (usually near the fence). Your dog should sit in basic position under control while the judge gives the evaluation to each team. If you have only done either the long down or the obedience routine, you will then move with your dog on-leash to the nest exercise location. |
| What happens if I pass the obedience part of the trial and my dog is aggressive to another dog in the traffic test? | You must pass both parts of the trial in order to receive the BH title. |
|
Can I train my dog for the traffic test? |
The best way to make sure that your dog can pass this segment of the trial, is to expose your dog to similar situations. If your dog has been exposed to traffic, people, other dogs, bicycles, shopping carts, etc., and exhibits good behaviour in these situations, then your dog should be able to pass this part of the BH. |
|
What do I do if my dog breaks the down in the recall exercise? |
If your dog anticipates the recall (like mine did), give the "hier" command and complete the exercise. Its likely you will only lose some points. Make sure that you complete each exercise. For example if your dog stands or downs for the moving sit, when you return to the dog, command the dog to sit before returning to the start position. |
| What do I do if I forget the pattern in the exercises? | Most judges know you are nervous and will be helpful. Take a deep breath, collect your thoughts and ask the judge if you have to. |
|
Can I talk to my dog during the trial? |
You can give your dog commands at the start of each exercise. You may not give extra commands during the exercises themselves. For example, you will lose points if you continually tell your dog to "fuss" during the heeling. You may give the "fuss" or "heel" command at the start of each change of pace. You may also praise your dog when you have completed an exercise. |
| What are the penalties for extra commands? | The GSSCC rule book states that only two additional commands may be given on any exercise. You will lose points for all extra commands of course. |
|
Should I train my dog right up to trial day? |
That depends on your dog. Some dogs work best if they havent worked for a few days before the trial. Others can be worked right up to the trial. You know your dog and should do whatever works for him/her. If you arent sure how your dog will react to a trial, ask your club to hold a "mock trial" complete with judge and spectators. See how your dog performs in this type of situation and adjust your training schedule as required. |
|
What if I dont pass? |
Even if you dont pass your BH the first time, you will have learned a lot about you and your dog. The judge should have pointed out where you lost points and those are the areas you need to work on before trying again. And always remember that dogs are not robots. They may decide on trial day to "forget" a command that they have known for a long time. One of my favourite t-shirt is from TopDogs Designs. It reads in both German and English "My dog has never done that before". |
| Is everyone as nervous as I am? | YES!! So relax and enjoy yourself. |
Return to Tasha's Home Page
Get your own Free Home Page
