As you all know, the rumors
have abounded about the upcoming rule changes from the VDH, they are now no
longer rumors, but concrete fact. In
many instances, there is still vast ambiguity in their translation and in the
interpretation of the rule changes.
This will be an attempt to address the major differences so as to
facilitate a smooth transition to the changes required.
These changes form the basis
of a new SchH program based primarily on the IPO program. This SchH/VPG program replaces our existing
Schutzhund program.
In an effort to explain the
need to make these changes as members of the WUSV; as stated in the November
Zeitung on the WUSV meeting in
Gunther Diegel, training
officer for the SV, informed those present about imminent changes in the WUSV
test regulations which are required as a result of the adaptation of VDH/SV
examination regulations to the international testing regulations ( IPO ). Since the unification of the testing
regulations would be a major advantage to the future work of the WUSV with the
FCI at national and international level, the meeting voted unanimously in favor
of the new WUSV test regulations.
RULE
CHANGES for 2004
As a forward, it appears that
the IPO or the new SchH/VPG will be recognized for all purposes, whereas
before, only SchH was recognized for certain things, such as Breed Surveys,
Korrungs or in our circumstances, entry into the National competition.
NOTE:
These rules are in
addition to IPO rules and titled SchH/VPG. They will not replace the IPO rules.
Also, the written test for
first time handlers when attempting their first trial ( the
BH ) will be implemented, we already have put together a written test for
immediate implementation.
General Changes :
The Performance Judge shall
not disturb nor influence in any way the performance of the dog. This does not mean that the performance
judge shall not be permitted to get close to the dog and handler, but that
there may no longer be any pestering of the dog, for example in the exercise
bring to a hold and bark and warn ( the hold and bark
). The Performance Judge must still
be in the immediate vicinity in order to be able to make a proper assessment.
This would be interpreted as those who walk in on the
recalls or stand too close to the dog when performing exercises.
In the Hold and Bark , the one meter ( three feet
) that we currently utilize would be sufficient as to proximity to the dog
during the Hold and Bark until we research this further.
THE PERIODS OF NOTICE TO THE NEXT HIGHER EXAMINATION
LEVEL ARE NO LONGER VALID, WITH THE IMMEDIATE EFFECT. On the day of the examination event, the dog
must have reached the prescribed age for entry. No exceptions shall be made.
Of course, normal interpretation could be construed
as being able to go for a SchH 1 on Saturday and a SchH 2 on Sunday, assuming
the dog already had a BH, this needs to be interpreted as going for a SchH 1 on
one weekend and a SchH 2 the next weekend for the welfare and development of
the dog, for on young dogs, this could cause undue stress.
When carrying out the
impartiality trial ( test ), care must be taken that the performance judge may
no longer touch the dog. Other means of
irritating the dog shall not be used.
Simply put, the judge may no longer touch your dog
nor may the judge require the dog to be put into close quarters with themselves
or others, however, the casual passing of people when presenting themselves to
the judge would still be permitted under this directive during the impartiality
phase.
In the assessments, there is
no longer the grade UNSATISFACTORY. All performances below 70% corresponds to
the grade FAIL.
To date, there have been 2 ( two
) classifications below the 70% level, INSUFFICIENT 36% to 69% and
UNSATISFACTORY 0% to 35% ( the percentages shown correspond to the point totals
). This groups together all
performances below the 70% level and gives it one classification.
Special Rules of Disqualification:
In the cases of
disqualification of the grounds, lack of type characteristics of the dog and
where the dog was not in the hands of its owner ( that is: transports, leaving
the owner or the exercise course ( field ) , not letting go in protection work ) all points
currently accumulated in the respective section will not be recognized. No points or grades for this section shall
be registered.
Inappropriate behavior on the
part of the owner ( that is: alcohol consumption, introduction of motivational
aids and/or food ), breaches of the PO ( examination ), against animal
protection regulations or other breaches of acceptable behavior, all points
awarded up to this time, including those in other sections, will be
discredited. No points or grades will
be recorded.
There will be no partial points awarded for the dog
that is disqualified during a phase ( OBEDIENCE or
PROTECTION ). Dogs that are
disqualified will receive disqualified ( DQ ) in the
score
For the portion about the handlers, UNSPORTSMANLIKE
BEHAVIOR would be recorded, with no points of any type written down for the
section the behavior occurred in or any of the sections of the trial already
completed.
The provisions for deployment
of Helpers in Protection Work have been amended
and taken up in the VDH Examination Regulations as new. They should be observed accordingly.
So far, this is very ambiguous, as far as what I have
seen, but I am assuming that it will be referring to the number of helpers
during the trial and the equipment, as the jacket will be required at all times
in the protection phase.
There were no amendments made
to the general provisions and the content of the VDH escort dog examination ( BH ) with behavior test.
It should be noted that new members after the date of entry
NOTE: VPG stands for Versatility Test
for the Working Dogs, the German for this is Vielseitigkeitsprufung
fur Gebrauchshunde !
Obviously, by the wording, there are no changes for
the practical application of the BH, other than the ways that the Performance Judge
can test the dogs, however, the written test as mentioned earlier will now be
mandatory for those who are first time competitors with a BH dog and the BH
itself remains the prerequisite for progressing on to SchH/VPG or IPO. The SchH/VPG A remains as a training degree
but is not recognized as a breeding title or prerequisite for the conformation
ring for those that attain it.
A new examination offered as
of 2004 is the TRACK trial. The track
trials in Levels 1 through 3 comprise only the section A of the SchH/VPG
examinations 1 through 3. To expand the
field of trial participation, they can be carried out when at least 4 ( four ) participants are prepared to start in the
categories of BH/SchH/IPO or FH. A
training identification in the sense of breed or show
regulation is not awarded.
They are now offering the TRACK TRIAL 1 2 and 3 ( our TR 1, 2 and 3 ) internationally. This Tracking Trial by itself cannot carry a
trial as a sanctioned event, there must be 4 ( four ) other dogs competing, as
in, BH, SchH/VPG, IPO or FH, for example 2 ( two ) Tracking Trial dogs and 2 (
two ) BHs would not constitute a
sanctioned trial. A sanctioned trial
could be 2 ( two ) Tracking Trial dogs, a BH, 2 ( two
) SchH/VPG dogs and an FH. Any
combination of BH, SchH/VPG, IPO or FH totaling 4 ( four
) dogs will constitute a sanctioned trial.
The dogs still must be presented to the judge to count as an actual
entry. The TRACK TRIAL 1, 2 and 3 just
as our TR 1, 2 and 3 are not recognized as prerequisites for breeding or entry
into the conformation ring.
THE MOST IMPORTANT AMENDMENTS IN LEVELS SCHH/VPG 1 THRU 3
LEVEL 1 ( ONE ) SchH/VPG:
Section A ( Tracking ):
The new length is now 300
paces ( 600 to 900 feet ). The size of the objects is
described more precisely. Everything
else remains.
The length is now set at 300 (
three hundred ) paces. The
articles will be no larger than 3 ½ in. by 3 ½ in. as before. This should cover this amendment.
Section B ( Obedience ):
The most important new ruling
is there is no test on leash. The dog
is led to registration off the lead.
From 2004, the obstacle ( meter jump ) no
longer has a soft cover, the upper edge must be rigid. This applies to all levels of trial. In addition, the exercise bring over a 180
cm high sloping wall ( scaling wall ) must be shown already in Level 1. The distribution of points over the
individual exercises has been changed accordingly.
Free Heeling
..20
Points
Sit Out of
Motion
..10 Points
Down with
Recall
.
.10 Points
Retrieve on
Flat
.10 Points
Retrieve Over the Hurdle ( Meter )
...
15 Points
Retrieve Over the Scaling
Wall
.15 Points
Send Out with
Down
..
.10 Points
Long Down Under
Distraction
..
10 Points
As we have all been hearing,
on-leash heeling is no longer required in any of the levels above the BH. The dog will come on the field and be
presented to the judge off-lead just as is currently done at the SchH/VPG, IPO
3 level.
The meter jump remains at 39 inches, but the top of
the jump is no longer comprised of a material that would not support the dog as
it is currently described, the jump is solid for the entire meter or 39
inches. This is for the SchH/VPG levels
1 through 3.
The scaling wall
exercise is to be added to the SchH/VPG level 1 ( one ) and the 15 ( fifteen )
points normally awarded to on-lead heeling will now be awarded for the
scaling wall exercise.
Section C ( Protection ):
The registration for security
service is already with the dog off the leash.
Rounds after the helper as known: two blows to the side. Bring to a halt and bark to warn as
known. Barking to last approximately 20
( twenty ) seconds.
At the instruction of the judge, the dog handler goes up to within 5 ( five ) paces of the hideout. At the next instruction, he can call his dog
into the base position or, alternatively only at LEVEL 1 ( one ), can collect him
from the hideout following, off the leash. Both
variants are assessed equally.
For the defense exercises, in
2004, the Assault from the Hideout as we know it,
is no longer included. The new exercise
is Prevention of an Attempt to Escape and the
defense of an Attack in the Guarding Phase.
Attacking the Dog Whilst Moving is already
known to us. The distance between
helper and dog handler before the action is approximately 30 to 40 paces.
The type and method of
searching and disarming is left to the dog handler. There is no raising
of the arm by the helper. Side transport about 20 paces.
Search for the Helper
5
Points
Hold and
Bark
10 Points
Prevention of an Attempted
Escape of the Helper
.
.20 Points
Defense Against
Attack During the Guarding Phase
.
35 Points
Attack on the Dog Out of Motion
( Long Grip )
.
...30 Points
The handler and the dog come on field off-lead to
present themselves to the judge for protection. The blind search is the same as before, one
search to an empty blind and then the search to the one with the helper. The Hold and Bark
will last approximately 20 seconds.
At the instruction of the judge, the handler will come to within 5 paces
of the dog performing the Hold and Bark and wait for the judge to instruct
them to pick-up the dog as is currently done in SchH/VPG 2 and 3. The handler may either call his dog to heel
or take him up by the collar and remove him from the blind. There will be no leashing of the dog in this
exercise. Once the handler has
collected the dog, the Escape exercise as performed in SchH/VPG 2 and 3 must be
performed from ( a designated position ) without the
search of the helper. THERE IS NO
LONGER AN ATTACK ON HANDLER FROM HIDING ! No more attack from the blind in other
words, just the escape with a reattack.
The 45 points originally assigned to the free heeling
and attack on handler will be assigned to the escape and reattack exercise will
be reallocated as follows: 20 ( twenty )
points for the escape and 35 ( thirty-five ) for the reattack.
The Long Grip is still the same with the distance
between helper and dog to be 30 to 40 paces, ( a pace is defined as 24 to 36
inches ). The distance will be anywhere
from 60/90 feet to 80/120 feet.
There is no longer a requirement for the helper to
raise their arms before taking the stick and the stick may be retrieved in a
way determined by the handler. Side
transport will be at least 20 paces.
LEVEL 2 ( TWO ) SCHH/VPG 2:
Section A ( Tracking ):
Amendment: at least 400 paces ( 800 to 1200 feet ).
Size of the objects. All objects are to be provided with numbers
that tally with the track number.
The SchH/VPG track will be 400 (
four hundred ) paces. The size
of the objects should be no larger than 3 ½ in. by 3 ½ in.. All articles must have a number on them that
corresponds with the track number, that is, Track 1 ( one
) must have articles on it that show a number 1 ( one ) on it.
Section B ( Obedience ):
Amendment: Beginning with Following Off the Leash.
Newly added is the exercise Halt Whilst Walking with Fetching. All other exercises remain. The numbers of points for the individual
exercises are changed accordingly.
Free
Heeling
..10 Points
Sit Out of
Motion
..10 Points
Down with
Recall
.
.10 Points
Stand Out of Motion ( Walking )
.
..10 Points
Retrieve on the
Flat
.10 Points
Retrieve Over the Hurdle ( Meter )
.
..15 Points
Retrieve Over the Scaling
Wall
.
15 Points
Send Out with
Down
10 Points
Long Down Under
Distraction
..10 Points
The SchH/VPG 2 has no on-lead heeling, the addition
replacing this exercise is the Walking Stand , this
exercise will be awarded the points formerly assigned to the On-lead heeling
exercise. Therefore, the Walking Stand will be a 10 ( ten ) point exercise.
Section C ( Protection ):
Amendment: The registration
for security service is with the dog following off the leash.
In territory work, there are only 4 ( four )
blows to the side to be shown. Duration of barking approximately 20 seconds until approach. After the bringing to a halt and barking to
warn, the dog handler goes up to within 5 ( five ) paces of the hideout and calls him
to the basic position when the judge gives the signal again. A search is no longer undertaken before the
attempt by the helper to escape ( also applies to
Level 3 ).
The length of the Back
Transport is about 30 ( thirty ) paces.
The distance between the dog
handler and the helper in the attack whilst moving is about 40 to 50 paces
before the action.
The type and method of
disarming is left to the dog handler.
There is no raising of the arms by the helper.
Side Transport is about 20
paces.
Everything else remains the
same.
Search for the
Helper
...
.5 Points
Hold and
Bark
.
..10 Points
Prevention of an Attempted
Escape of the Helper
.
.10 Points
Defense Against
an Attack During the Guarding Phase
...20 Points
Back
Transport
5 Points
Attack on the Dog Out of the
Back Transport
..30 Points
Attack on the Dog Out of
Motion ( Long Grip )
20 Points
The dog/handler team will report off-lead to the
judge or to the appropriate position on the field to start protection.
In the blind search, there are only 4 ( four ) blinds used in this exercise.
The Bark and Hold will last for at least 20
seconds before the handler is instructed to come forward to the blind.
The call-out is as before, so after ordering the
helper out of the blind, the dog/handler team should assume the position ( a designated position ) as we have in the past next to the
blind.
There is no search of the helper prior to the Escape
exercise.
The length of the Back Transport is no less than 30
paces ( 60 to 90 feet ).
The distance between the dog handler and the helper
in the Long Grip is no less than 40 to 50 paces ( 80/120 to 100/150 feet )
before the action.
The type and method of taking the stick from the
helper is left up to the discretion of the handler. There is no raising
of the arms by the helper.
Side Transport is no less than 20 paces ( 40 to 60 feet ).
Everything else remains the same.
LEVEL 3 ( THREE ) SCHH/VPG
3:
Section A ( Tracking ):
Amendment: at least 600 paces,
size of the objects. All objects are to
be provided with numbers, which must tally with the track number.
Everything as I described in SchH/VPG 2 except the
track which is 600 paces ( 1200/1800 feet ).
Section B ( Obedience );
Amendment: The exercise STOP WHEN WALKING the Stand Out of
the Walk is no longer included. The
only command to be displayed is stopping when called when the dog is running the Stand Out of the Run with Recall. Everything else remains.
Free
Heeling
..10 Points
Sit Out of
Motion
..10 Points
Down with
Recall
..10 Points
Stand Out of Motion ( Running )
...
...10 Points
Retrieve on the Flat
...
..10 Points
Retrieve Over the Hurdle ( Meter )
...
15 Points
Retrieve Over the Scaling
Wall
.15 Points
Send Out with Down
10
Points
Down Under Distraction
...
..10 Points
In the SchH/VPG 3, the Walking
Stand has been taken out, the Sit Out of Motion is now worth 10 ( ten )
points.
Section C ( Protection ):
Amendment: The duration of
barking until approach is about 20 seconds.
The length of the Back Transport is about 30 paces. The distance between the dog handler and the
helper in the attack whilst moving is about 60 paces before the action. The type and method of disarming the helper
is left to the dog handler. There is no
raising of the arms by the helper. Side Transports are to be shown about 20
paces.
Search for the
Helper
5 Points
Hold and
Bark
10 Points
Prevention of an Attempted
Escape of the Helper
.
.10 Points
Defense Against
Attack During the Guarding Phase
.20 Points
Back
Transport
.
..5 Points
Attack on the Dog Out of the
Back Transport
..
15 Points
Attack on the Dog Out of
Motion ( Long Grip )
10 Points
Defense Against
an Attack During the Guarding Phase
...20 Points
The Bark and Hold will
last no less than 20 seconds.
The length of the Back
Transport will be no less than 30 paces ( 60 to 90 feet ).
The distance for the Long
Grip will be 60 paces ( 120/180 feet ) before the action.
The type and method of taking the stick from the
helper is left up to the discretion of the handler.
Side Transports are to be no less than 20 paces ( 40 to 60 feet).
Tracking Dog 1 ( FH 1 );
Amendment: at least 1200 ( twelve
hundred ) paces, 2 ( two ) attempts to lead away ( not in the first and
not in the last thigh ), objects of a prescribed size are to be provided with
numbers and must tally with the track number.
The FH 1 must be at least 1200 paces ( 2400 to 3600 feet ), with 2 ( two ) crosstracks ( the
crosstracks may not be on the first or last leg of the track ).
The articles will be 3 ½ in. by 3 ½ in. and must be numbered
to correspond with the track number.
Tracking Dog 2 ( FH 2 ):
Amendment: at least 1800 paces
( 3600 to 5400 feet ), with 2 ( two ) attempts to lead away ( not in the first
and not in the last thigh ) objects of a prescribed size are to be provided
with numbers and must tally with the track number. The further trials to examine qualities for
emergency rescue dogs and guard dogs remain the same.
The FH 2 track will be no less than 1800 paces ( 3600 to 5400 feet ), with 2 ( two ) crosstracks ( the
crosstracks may not be on the first or last leg of the track ).
The articles will be 3 ½ in. by 3 ½ in. and must be
numbered to correspond with the track number.
The further trials, which cover Search and Rescue and
Police work, remain the same.
I have attempted to make this
as understandable as possible by going over all I have seen from writings by
more than one Chief Judge.
I am sure that there will be
small changes here and there as these amendments are inserted into trial
procedure and every attempt will be made to get the information to the
membership as soon as possible.
As far as the reporting in for
the Obedience phase, this should be done as the rules dictate, the judges
should take the opportunity to ensure that the dogs are not sitting in such
proximity to each other that one would be stimulated an any way by the
other. The handlers should also be
vigilant of all situations and have situational awareness of what goes on
around themselves and their dogs.
I also feel that our handlers
do deserve a grace period during these transitions and that a
Mark F. Przybylski
Mark F. Przybylski