RULE CHANGES for 2004
(As interpreted by the USCA Director of Judges)
RULE CHANGES for
2004
(As interpreted by the USCA Director of Judges)
These changes from 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 Italy:
"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.“
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RULE CHANGES for 2004
(As interpreted by the USCA Director of Judges)
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, Körungs 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THE PERIODS OF NOTICE TO THE NEXT HIGHER EXAMINATION LEVEL ARE NO LONGER VALID, WITH THE IMMEDIATE EFFECT.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 scorebook, with no point total or grade.
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 1st January 2002, who are taking part in an escort dog ( BH ) trial for the first time, must pass a theory test or appropriate evidence of theoretical knowledge. The BH examination remains the qualifying examination before the IPO and SchH/VPG – Level 1. The SchH/VPG examination – Level A remains. A training identification in the sense of breed or show regulation is not awarded.
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 ) BH’s 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.
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Comments by the USCA Director of Judges
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 March 01, 2004 for total transition to these new changes is more than fair.