Tracking

Tracking is maybe the most noble branche of the Schutzhund program. The dog can use one of his most perfect senses: the nose.

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SchH. I program

Condtions: Numbers of helpers is one. Maximum point score is: 100. Minimum point score is: 80.

Reporting to the judge: Each handler and dog reports to the judge with the dog on leash. The judge will send the handler and dog to the start position (imaginary center line).

Heeling On Leash and Impartiality: 15 points. Starting from the basic heel position, the dog on leash should willingly and outgoingly follow the handler upon the voice command to heel (fuss). At the beginning of the exercise, the handler must proceed in a straight line 40 to 50 paces without stopping. A turnabout is performed and after 10 to 15 paces a running exercise and a slow exercise, each of at least 10 paces, are to be demonstrated. During a normal pace, at least one right, one left and one turnabout are to be performed. The turnabout has to be performed by the handler as a left turnabout. The dog should always heel close to the left knee of the handler with the shoulder blade next to the handler’s knee. The dog must not forge ahead, move to the side or lag to the rear.
The handler is only permitted to use the voice command when starting the exercise or when changing pace. When the handler comes to a stop, the dog should come to the sit position without being influenced by the handler. During the halt, the handler is not permitted to change the basic position and especially must not step sideways toward the dog. The leash must be held in the left hand and must hang loosely with a loop. The judge will direct the handler and dog to proceed through a group of at least four persons and the handler is required to stop at least once in the group. The group is expected to mingle about. A dog lagging behind, forging, moving sideways away, or hesitation by the handler in the turns is faulty.

Healing Off Leash: 20 points. When requested by the judge, the leash will be removed by the handler while still in motion. The handler now hangs the leash across the shoulder or places the leash in a pocket and proceeds with the freely heeling dog into the group and demonstrates at least one halt. After leaving the group the handler and dog briefly assume the basic position and then proceed into the off leash heeling pattern as performed on leash.
While the dog and handler are performing the off leash heeling exercise, at least two gun shots are to be fired (not while moving through the group) and the dog must remain indifferent to the gun noise. Should the dog demonstrate gun insecurity, the dog must be excused immediately from the trail. If the dog demonstrates a certain aggression toward the gun shot, this must be scores as conditionally faulty as long as the dog remains under control of the handler. The full score can only be awarded to the dog who demonstrated gun indifference.
Special emphasis must be placed upon gun indifference. The shots must be fired from a distance of fifteen paces with two shots fired with a ten second interval. Should the dog run away from the gun shot, the dog is to be excused from further participation. Should the judge detect gun insecurity in a dog it is permissible to test the dog with additional gun shots. The gun shot impartiality test can only be executed during the heeling off leash and long down under distraction.

Sit Exercise: 10 points. From the basic heeling position the handler and free heeling dog proceed in a straight line. After at least 10 paces, upon voice command, the dog should come quickly to the sit position. While the handler does not interrupt his/her pace nor turn about. After 30 paces the handler stops and turns around to face the dog. When requested by the judge the handler will return to the dog and assume the basic heeling position on the right side of the dog. Should the dog lay down or remain standing instead or performing the sit exercise, up to five points will be deducted.

Down With Recall: 10 points. Upon voice command from the basic position, the handler and free heeling dog proceed in a straight line. After at least 10 paces, upon voice command, the dog must lay down quickly. Without additionally influencing the dog and without turning around, the handler will proceed another 30 paces in a straight line and turn around to face the dog and remain motionless. When requested by the judge, the handler recalls the dog. The dog should come to the handler with a spirited and swift motion and sit close in front. Upon the command ‘heel’. The dog should quickly come to the sit position next to the handler. Should a dog stand stay or sit during the exercise but returns on the recall with out fault, 5 points will be deducted.

Retrieving an Article Belonging to the Handler on Ground Level: 10 points.The dog sitting freely next to the handler should, when given the voice command, quickly move toward the object which has been tossed approximately 8 paces away. The dog must immediately and quickly pick up and retrieve the object to the handler. The dog must sit close in front of the handler and must hold the object until the handler, after a brief pause, removes the object with the command to let go. After the command to heel, the dog should quickly come to the heel position. In place of an object belonging to the handler, a dumbbell can be used; however, balls, toys, etc. are not considered personal articles. The handler must remain in the basic position until the dog has assumed the heel position.

Retrieving an Article Belonging to the Handler Over a 1 Meter High and 1.5 Meter Wide Brush Hurdle: 15 points. The handler assumes a position at an acceptable distance in front of the hurdle while the dog sits freely next to the handler. A dumbbell can be substituted for an article belonging to the handler. Upon voice command the dog must clear the hurdle without touching it, pick up the object and sit closely in front of the handler after the return jump has been cleared. The object must be held by the dog until the handler removes it with the command to let go. Upon command, the dog must quickly come to the heel position. The command to bring must be given before the dog has reached the object.

Go Ahead and Down: 10 points. When requested by the judge, the handler and free heeling dog proceed in the designated direction a few paces. The command ‘go out’ should be executed by simultaneously lifting of the arm and a stop by the handler. The dog must move at a fast pace in the designated direction for at least 25 paces. The dog must lay down quickly upon the command ‘down’. The handler may hold the arm up facing the designated direction until the dog has laid down. At the request of the judge the handler proceeds to pick up the dog by moving to the right side of the dog and commanding the dog to sit.

Long Down Under Distraction: 10 points. Prior to the start of the obedience exercise of another dog, the handler commands the dog into the down position at a spot designated by the judge. The handler moves approximately 40 paces away within sight of the dog without leaving the leash or another object with the dog. The handler remains quietly with his back to the dog. The dog must remain in the down position without additional influence from the handler until the other exhibiting dog has concluded his exercises. After completion of the last exercise and upon Direction from the judge, the dog in the down position will be picked up.

SchH. II program

Condtions: Numbers of helpers is one. Maximum point score is: 100. Minimum point score is: 80.

Reporting to the Judge: The handler reports to the judge with the dog on leash in the basic position. After reporting in, the handler takes the free heeling dog to the starting point and assumes the basic position.

Heeling On Leash and Impartiality: 10 points. Starting from the basic heel position, the dog on leash should willingly and outgoingly follow the handler upon the voice command to heel (Fuss). At the beginning of the exercise, the handler must proceed in a straight line 40 to 50 paces without stopping. A turnabout is performed and after 10 to 15 paces a running exercise and a slow exercise, each of at least 10 paces, is to be demonstrated. During a normal pace, at least one right, one left and one turnabout are to be performed. The turnabout has to be performed by the handler as a left turnabout. The dog should always heel close to the left knee of the handler with the shoulder blade next to the handler’s knee. The dog must not forge ahead, move to the side or lag to the rear.
The handler is only permitted to use the voice command when starting the exercise or when changing pace. When the handler comes to a stop, the dog should come to the sit position without being influenced by the handler. During the halt, the handler is not permitted to change the basic position and especially must not step sideways toward the dog. The leash must be held in the left hand and must hang loosely with a loop. The judge will direct the handler and dog to proceed through a group of at least four persons and the handler is required to stop at least once in the group. The group is expected to mingle about. A dog lagging behind, forging, moving sideways away, or hesitation by the handler in the turns is faulty.

Healing Off Leash: 15 points. When requested by the judge, the leash will be removed by the handler while still in motion. The handler now hangs the leash across the shoulder or places the leash in a pocket and proceeds with the freely heeling dog into the group and demonstrates at least one halt. After leaving the group the handler and dog briefly assume the basic position and then proceed into the off leash heeling pattern as performed on leash.
While the dog and handler are performing the off leash heeling exercise, at least two gun shots are to be fired (not while moving through the group) and the dog must remain indifferent to the gun noise. Should the dog demonstrate gun insecurity, the dog must be excused immediately from the trial. If the dog demonstrates a certain aggression toward the gun shot, this must be scored as conditionally faulty as long as the dog remains under control of the handler. The full score can only be awarded to the dog who demonstrates gun indifference.
Special emphasis must be placed upon gun indifference. The shots must be fired from a distance of fifteen paces with two shots fired with a ten second interval. Should the dog run away from the gun shots, the dog is to be excused from further participation. Should the judge detect gun insecurity in a dog it is permissible to test the dog with additional gun shots. The gun shot impartiality test can only be executed during the heeling of leash and long down under distraction exercises.

Sit Exercise: 5 points. From the basic heeling position the handler and free heeling dog proceed in a straight line. After about 10 paces, upon voice command, the dog should come quickly to the sit position while the handler does not interrupt his/her pace nor turn towards the dog. After another 30 paces the handler stops and turns around to face the dog. When requested by the judge the handler will return to the dog and assume the basic heeling position on the right side of the dog. Should the dog lay down or remain standing instead of performing the sit exercise, up to five points will be deducted.

Down With Recall: 10 points.Upon voice command from the basic position, the handler and free heeling dog proceed in a straight line. After at least 10 paces, upon voice command, the dog must lay down quickly. Without additionally influencing the dog and without turning around, the handler will proceed another 30 paces in a straight line and turn around to face the dog and remain motionless. When requested by the judge, the handler recalls the dog. The dog should come to the handler with a spirited and swift motion and sit close in front. Upon the command ‘heel’. The dog should quickly come to the sit position next to the handler. Should a dog stand stay or sit during the exercise but returns on the recall with out fault, 5 points will be deducted.

Retrieving a Dumbbel Weighing One Kilogram on Ground Level on Ground Level: 10 points. The dog sitting freely next to the handler should, when five the voice command, quickly move toward the object which has been tosses approximately 10 paces away. The dog must immediately and quickly pick up and retrieve the object to the handler. The dog must sit close in front of the handler and must hold the object until the handler, after a brief pause, removes the object with the command to let go. After the command to heel, the dog should quickly come to the heel position. The handler must remain in the basic position until the dog has assumed the heel position.

Retrieving an Dumbbel Weighing 650 Grams Over a 1 Meter High and 1.5 Meter Wide Brush Hurdle: 15 points. The handler assumes a position at an acceptable distance in front of the hurdle while the dog sits freely next to the handler. Upon voice command the dog must clear the hurdle without touching it, pick up the object and sit closely in front of the handler after the return jump has been cleared. The object must be held by the dog until the handler, after a brief pause, removes it with the command to let go. Upon command, the dog must quickly come to the heel position. The command to bring must be given before the dog has reached the object.

Climb-Jump Over the Inclined Wall (Height 1.80 Meters and Width at Bottom 1.30 Meter) and Retrieve an Object Belonging to the Handler: 15 points. The handler assumes a position at an acceptable distance in front of the wall while the dog sits freely next to the handler. A dumbbell can be substituted for an article belonging to the handler. Upon voice command the dog must climb the wall to pick up the object and sit closely in front of the handler after completion of the return jump. The object must be held by the dog until the handler, after a short pause, removes it with the command to let go. Upon command, the dog must quickly come to the heel position. The command to bring must be given before the dog has reached the object.

SchH. III program

Condtions: Numbers of helpers is one. Maximum point score is: 100. Minimum point score is: 80.

Reporting to the Judge: The handler reports to the judge with the free heeling dog in basic position. After reporting in, the handler takes the free heeling dog to the starting point and assumes the position.

Heeling On Leash and Impartiality: 10 points. The handler reports to the judge with a free heeling dog. The leash must not be visible to the dog. Starting from the basic heel position, the dog should willingly and outgoingly follow the handler upon the voice command to heel (fuss). At the beginning of the exercise, the handler must proceed in a straight line 40 to 50 paces without stopping. A turnabout is performed and after 10 to 15 paces a running exercise and a slow exercise, each of at least 10 paces, are to be demonstrated. During a normal pace, at least one right, one left and one turnabout are to be performed. The turnabout has to be performed by the handler as a left turnabout. The dog should always heel close to the left knee of the handler with the shoulder blade next to the handler’s knee. The dog must not forge ahead, move to the side or lag to the rear.
The handler is only permitted to use the voice command when starting the exercise or when changing pace. When the handler comes to a stop, the dog should come to the sit position without being influenced by the handler. During the halt, the handler is not permitted to change the basic position and especially must not step sideways toward the dog. The judge will direct the handler and the dog to proceed through a group of at least four persons and the handler is required to stop at least once in the group. The group is expected to mingle about. A dog lagging behind, forging, moving sideways away or hesitation by the handler in the turns is faulty.
When the dog and the handler are performing the heeling exercise, at least two gun shots are to be fired (not while moving through the group) and the dog must remain indifferent to the gun noise. Should the dog demonstrate gun insecurity, the dog must be excused immediately from the trial. If the dog demonstrates a certain aggression toward the gun shot, this must be scored as conditionally faulty as long as the dog remains under the control of the handler. The full score can only be awarded to the dog who demonstrates gun indifference.
Execution: The heeling off leash exercise is to be demonstrated to the fullest extent. Special emphasis must be placed upon gun indifference. The shots must be fired from a distance of fifteen paces with two shots fired with a ten second interval. Should the dog run away from the gun shot, the dog is to be excused from further participation. Should the judge detect gun insecurity in a dog it is permissible to test the dog with additional gun shots. The gun shot impartially test can only be executed during the heeling off leash and long down under distraction.

Sit Exercise: 5 points. From the basic heeling position the handler and free heeling dog proceed in a straight line. After at least 10 paces, upon voice command, the dog should come quickly to the sit position while the handler does not interrupt his/her pace nor turn towards the dog. After another 30 paces the handler stops and turns around to fact the dog. When requested by the judge the handler will return to the dog and assume the basic heeling position on the right side of the dog. Should the dog lay down or remain standing instead of performing the sit exercise, up to five points will be deducted.

Down With Recall: 10 points. From the basic position the handler and free heeling dog proceed in a straight line. After at least 10 paces the handler begins to run and after at least another 10 paces, upon voice command, the dog must lay down quickly. Without breaking stride or additional influencing the dog and without turning around, the handler will proceed another 40 paces in a straight line and turn around to fact the dog and remain motionless. After about 15 seconds and when requested by the judge, the handler recalls the dog. The dog should come to the handler with a spirited and swift motion and sit close in front. Upon the command ‘heel’, the dog should quickly come to the sit position next to the handler. Should a dog stand stay or sit during the exercise but returns on the recall without fault, up to 5 points will be deducted.

Stand Stay Out of Motion: 5 points.From the basic position the handler and free heeling dog proceeds in a straight line. After at least 10 paces and upon voice command, the dog must execute the stand stay while the handler does not interrupt the stride or look about. After an additional 30 paces, the handler stops and turns around to face the dog. When requested by the judge, the handler will pick up the dog. The exercise is considered complete when the handler has stepped to the right side of the dog and upon command, the dog has sat in the heeling position.

Stand Stay While Running: 10 points.From the basic position, the handler runs with the dog in a straight line. After at least 10 paces and upon command, the dog must immediately execute a stand stay while the handler does not interrupt the stride or look about. After an additional 30 paces, the handler stops and turns around to face the dog. When requested by the judge, the dog is recalled by the handler. The dog should come to the handler with a spirited and swift motion and sit close in front. Upon the command ‘heel’, the dog should quickly come to the sit position next to the handler.
Execution: Should a dog sit or lay down after the stand command up to 5 points are to be deducted. The dog moving toward the handler, looking around by the handler and slowing down of the dog during the recall are faulty. Scoring with half points is possible.

Retrieving a Dumbbel Weighing Two Kilograms on Ground Level: 10 points. The dog sitting freely next to the handler should, when five the voice command, quickly move toward the object which has been tosses approximately 10 paces away. The dog must immediately and quickly pick up and retrieve the object to the handler. The dog must sit close in front of the handler and must hold the object until the handler, after a brief pause, removes the object with the command to let go. After the command to heel, the dog should quickly come to the heel position. The handler must remain in the basic position until the dog has assumed the heel position.