SUMMARY
To summarize our philosophy of tracking training:
First we teach the animal, supporting and encouraging while it learns the concepts and skills that we present. Then we train it, presenting problems and correcting the dog if it errs, in order to make it clear exactly what the job is. Lastly we proof it by presenting problems that are far harder than those it will encounter in trial.
8
Obedience: Requirements of the Trial
SCHUTZHUND I OBEDIENCE TEST
The dog begins the pattern sitting at heel position. With the command “Heel!” handler and dog move forward approximately forty paces and then turn around and come back. The dog walks at its handler’s left side, working with its shoulder approximately even with its master’s knee. The animal will be penalized for forging ahead, crowding, lagging behind or going wide. The judge may direct the exercise, but more often the handler executes his own heeling pattern. Each pattern must contain movement at a normal, slow and rapid pace (the handler may command the dog to “Heel!” at each change of pace), and each pattern must contain a right and a left turn, an about-turn and also a halt. The about-turn is made to the left, moving directly into the dog. When the handler halts, the dog should automatically sit straight and square with its front legs even with its master’s knees. After the structured heeling pattern has been completed, the team moves through a group of approximately four milling people in a loose pattern that must include one right and one left turn through the group. The team halts once while in the group, and the dog should sit automatically. The dog should be aware of the people around it, but should remain undisturbed and attentive to its handler.
As the handler moves with his dog out of the crowd, he removes the leash and puts it in his pocket or around his shoulder. He walks back into the milling group and repeats the heeling exercise. At the judge’s command, the team heels away from the group. When the dog and handler have gone approximately fifteen paces, a gun is fired once and then again several seconds later. The dog should not react strongly to the shots. If the dog shies from its handler’s side, showing fear or stress, it will be dismissed from the trial. The animal will lose some points if it shows aggression or seems gun-sensitive. If the judge is not sure of the dog’s reaction, he may have additional shots fired. The rest of the heeling pattern is the same as the heel on leash.
Beginning from a sit at heel, the dog moves forward briskly off leash with its handler. After the team has gone at least ten paces, the handler commands his dog to “Sit!” The dog should stop and sit immediately. Without looking back or hesitating, the handler continues at a normal rate for an additional thirty paces and then turns and faces his dog. After a few seconds, he returns to his dog and walks around it to its right side. If the dog stops, but stands or downs instead of sitting on command, it will lose half the points for the exercise.
Beginning from a sit at heel, the team moves forward off leash. After they have gone at least ten paces, the handler commands his dog to “Down!” The dog should stop and lie down immediately on command. The handler continues moving thirty additional paces and then turns and faces his dog. At the judge’s signal the handler recalls his dog. The dog should come rapidly and sit straight and close in front of its handler. Then, on the handler’s command, the dog finishes to the heel position. It is considered a double command if the handler uses the dog’s name on the recall. The dog will lose half of the possible points if it stops on the “Down!” command but fails to lie down.
With his dog sitting at the heel position, the handler throws a dumbbell or a personal article approximately ten paces in front of the dog. He may not signal his dog to stay, as in the AKC regulations for this exercise. When commanded to do so, the dog immediately fetches the dumbbell and returns with it to its handler. Once the dog sits straight in front and presents the dumbbell, the handler removes it and commands the dog to finish to the heel position. The dog will lose points if it drops or plays with the dumbbell, or if the handler moves from his original position during the retrieve. The dog will also lose 20 percent of the exercise if its handler must give it additional commands.
The handler, with his dog sitting at his side, stands an appropriate distance from the jump. He throws either a dumbbell or a personal article over the jump. He then commands his dog to “Hup!” As the dog clears the jump in midair, the handler may give it an additional command to take the dumbbell. The dog should retrieve the dumbbell, come back over the jump and then sit directly in front of the handler and present the dumbbell. After the handler has taken it, he commands his dog to “Heel!” and the animal finishes to heel position. Points are deducted for the following:
2 points—lightly touching the hurdle
3 points—stepping on the hurdle
4 points—dropping, mouthing or playing with the dumbbell
10 points—refusing the return jump, article retrieved
10 points—refusing the jump going out, remainder correct
10 points—jumping correctly, article not retrieved
The dog and handler move forward briskly off leash. After a few paces, the handler signals straight ahead with his right arm and commands the dog to “Go out!” The dog should move out quickly in a straight path for at least twenty-five paces. When commanded “Down!” it should turn toward the handler and drop immediately to the ground. The handler pauses a few seconds, then walks out to the dog and steps around to the animal’s right side. The exercise is complete when he commands his dog to “Sit!” Deductions will be made if the dog does not go out the proper distance or does not go straight. The dog will also lose points for dropping slowly or before the command is given.
In this exercise a dog performing obedience exercises is used as a distraction for another obedience competitor. At the beginning of one dog’s obedience exercise, the other dog is placed on a down stay. The handler heels the dog to the place indicated by the judge, removes the leash and downs the dog. He walks away approximately forty paces and then stands with his back to the dog. The dog must remain in the same position throughout the other dog’s first six obedience exercises. It receives a fraction of its points if it remains in the down position for the first three exercises. If the dog moves approximately three yards from its original position (regardless of when), no points will be awarded for the entire exercise.
