Details of the new SchH examination regulations as of year 2004

This report was written by Günther Diegel the SV Trainingwarden and published on the Nov.19th , 2003. It gives you the main changing from the new trial rules. With Günthers permit I made little changings in the translation for a better understanding from the exercises. Feel free to contact me any time, if you don't understand something.

If you wish to see the complete pdf version written by Günther Diegel, click HERE. Password required.

"The new examination regulations were drawn up by the member clubs of the AZG and as a proposal of the AZG, put forward, approved and resolution passed by the VDH board of Directors on Aug 16th,2003. The order comes into force on January 01st,2004 and replaces all former provisions. The Examination regulations apply to all member clubs of the VDH. All examinations within the effective authority of the VDH are subject to the new regulations laid down in the new code. When this comes into force, all previous provisions lose all validity. This is a national examination code. In addition the IPO is offered as an examination to our dog owners and breeders. The new VDH examination order as far as possible in accordance with IPO which has already been in force since January 01st, 2003.

Both examination codes can be undertaken at the same time and in stages 1-3, they are valid with the qualifying examination BH as breed examination in the sense intended by our breeding code. Since the contents of the examinations are practically identical, our dog owners do not need to make adjustments from one examination to the next.

Under the terms of the WUSV, the WUSV -PO will be adapted to the new VDH PO as of 2004 and taken over. The WUSV member clubs are permitted to have their own internal general provision for the WUSV Examination Code.

There now follows a summary of the most important amendments ( most contents were taken over from the old PO)

General Part:

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 is 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 performance Judge must still be in the immediate vicinity in order to be able to make a proper assessment.

The periods of notice to the next higher examination level are no longer valid, with the immediate effect.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.

When carrying out the impartially trial, care must be taken that the performance judge may no longer touch the dog. Other means of irritating the dog shall not be used.

In the assessments, there is no longer the grade "unsatisfactory" All performance below 70% corresponds to the grade "fail"

Special Rules of Disqualification:
In the case of disqualification where the dog was not in the hands of its owner(e.g. transport, leaving the owner or the exercise course, not letting go in protection work) all points currently accumulated in the respective section will not be recognized. No points and no grades for this section shall be registered.

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.

The BH examination remains the qualifying examination before the IPO and SchH/VPG -level 1. The SchH/VPG -level A remains. A training identification in the sense of breed or show regulations is not awarded.

There is no gun shot in the BH.

The most important amendments in the levels SchH/VPG 1 -3

SchH/IPO 1:

Section A:
new length now 300 paces. The size of the articles is described more precisely. Everything else remains.

Section B:
the most important new ruling is, there is no test on the leash. The dog is led to registration off the lead. From 2004, the hurdle 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 180 cm A frame" must be shown already in level 1. The distribution of points over the individual exercise has been accordingly.

Section C:
The registration for security service is already with the dog off the leash. Rounds after the helper as known: two blinds to the side. Hold and bark as known. Barking to last approx. 20 seconds. At the instruction of the judge, the dog handler goes up to within 5 paces of the hideout. At the next instruction, he can call his dog into the base position or, alternatively only at level 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 approx. 30-40 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.

SchH2/IPO2:

Section A:
Amendment: at least 400 paces, size of the objects. All objects are to be provided with numbers, which must tally with the track number.

Section B:
Amendment: all exercises have to be shown off leash. Newly added is the exercise "Stand out of motion." All other exercises remain. The numbers of points for the individual exercises are changed accordingly.

Section C:
Amendment: The registration for security service is with the dog following off the leash. In field work there are only 4 blinds to the side to be shown. Duration of barking approx. 20 seconds until approach. After hold and bark , the dog handler goes up to within 5 paces of the callout and calls him to the base 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 paces. The distance between the dog handler and the helper in the courage test is about 40-50 paces before the action. The type and method of disarming is left to the dog handler. There is no raising of the arm by the helper. Side transport about 20 paces. Everything else remains the same.

SchH3/IPO3:

Section A:
Amendment: at least 600 paces, size of the objects. All objects are to be provided with numbers, which must tally with the track number.

Section B:
Amendment: The exercise "Stand out of motion" is no longer included. The only command to be displayed is" stand from running with recall. Everything else remains.

Section C:
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 is left to the dog handler. There is no raising of the arm by the helper. Side transports are to be shown about 20 paces.

No changing in the point system

Tracking dog 1 (FH 1):
Amendment: at least 1200 paces, 2 attempts to lead away (not in the first and not in the last thigh, articles of a prescribed size are to be provided with numbers and must tally with the track number.

Tracking dog 2 (FH 2):
Amendment: at least 1800 paces, 2 attempts to lead away (not in the first and not in the last thigh, articles 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.

To your information, sincerely
Raino Flügge, GSSCC Head Judge