Our first Schutzhund Trial

I've gotten Gracie's BH through USA Schutzhund and most recently through AKC's Working Dog (which is in a 5-year trial and we were in the first event ever.)  AKC WD uses the exact same rules as USA SchH from what I read.

As for tips, remember to keep your hands swinging naturally.  (I'd been doing Rally and naturally defaulted into it, ended up folded one arm across myself - duh!)  In all honesty, the first time I did the BH with Gracie, she got stung by a bee and was lagging because she wanted to whip around and check her butt.  I got so frustrated that I recommanded "HEEL!" to bring her back up and I was praised by spectators and the judge for doing it.  So, my point is - make the judgement if it's better to recommand once to get the result you want, or to run the whole course with a lagging dog that looks like it's not in this "team".  They really just want to see that you and your dog are a total team and FOCUSed on your job.

Oh, ALWAYS intro yourself to the judge when you enter and always do the formal exit "We have completed.." blah blah.  Some people forget. Some judges overlook it.  But a majority of the exercise seems to be about the respect for it, so acting like the judge is the President of the United States isn't a bad idea. ;)

Good luck.  Anything in particular that you're worried about??

I'm worried about everything...lol! AND I haven't received my rule book yet, so I'm afraid something will be in there that I don't know about.  I'm thinking it will surely get here before next weekend though (hoping anyway). 

 So what is the intro stuff?  I haven't heard that (the last trial I've been to was a couple years ago, so I may have just forgotten that part). 

I know the pattern and everything, so that's not a problem.  He has an excellent heel with great attention, so I'm not really worried about that so much.  What I am worried most about is his down while another dog does his obedience work.  I'm just a little worried... he hates the down.  He'll stay there with no problems for about a minute, then he starts getting a little "fidgety," just moving legs, scooting around, etc.  I know he doesn't fail unless he moves the distance of his whole body length, but still...I'm concerned!

I SO wish there were more trials around my area so I could've gone to one before.  I'm hoping a few others will go before I do, that way I can observe a little and make sure I don't do anything stupid...lol!

Workingdoglover

He'll stay there with no problems for about a minute, then he starts getting a little "fidgety," just moving legs, scooting around, etc. 

I would be concerned about that as well, because they may not fail you for it, but if there are faults other places or the judge is tough, it could be the negative to keep you from passing.  Apparently, the first time I did the BH, Gracie stayed in her placed, but layed out flat on her side while my back was turned.  When I turned around, she was back in sphynx pose, so I had no idea anything was different.  The judge mentioned it in the critique, though. (GAWD!!!  Gracie never did that in practice, but she was bored and her bum was still concerning her I guess?) 

So, I should mention here that despite some weak heeling at first (due to the bee sting), me recommanding a HEEL!, her laying out on her side during the down... we did still pass.

Let me see if I can find my rule book for you so I can copy word-for-word what the introduction and exit should be.  Have you seen this website yet?? http://www.bigskyschutzhund.bizland.com/bhbook.htm 

This one is also decent for general info and the map of the "course" - http://www.finographics.com/schutzhund/bh.html

You know about doing the prelim where they inspect your dog and tattoo is separate from your entry onto the field.  The entry on the field is when you approach the judge and make the formal introduction of "I am Jane Doe with Ch Dog's Formal Title Here and we will complete the Schutzhund BH exercise."  (It's something like that)  When you exit, you say your name, the dog's name and say "We have just completed the Schutzhund BH exercise" and you are supposed to shake the judge's hand, etc. 

He actually did really well the other day on his down.  I took him to the shelter I volunteer at and had random dogs walking around him and trying to sniff him and barking at him and he did just fine.  I was so proud!  I just hope he acts that way during the trial... 

And I have been studying the Big Sky Schutzhund Club website for days now.  It seems like it shouldn't be too difficult for me to remember now, but I'm so worried that my mind will go completely blank when I get there.  :( 

The intro doesn't sound too bad.  Rafe doesn't really have a "formal" name, though.  Oh well.  I do know about the checking of the tattoo/microchip thing beforehand.  I'm bringing my own reader just in case they don't have one (since he has a microchip).  Figured I better be safe than sorry.

 Thanks for all the tips!  We'll just do our best and see how it goes, I suppose.  I'm not too horribly worried.  Even if we don't pass it will be a good experience and good practice for next time.  :)

You have your scorebook, right?

Don't forget to tell us how it goes.

Also if you can, take pictures please.

miranadobe

You have your scorebook, right?

 Yes.  :)  I don't know why I didn't order the rule book at the same time, but oh well.

 And I'll try to get as many pictures and maybe a few videos taken as possible.  Yay!

WE PASSED!!!  YAY!!! 

 I'll hopefully have a video and some pictures and a description of the day later. 

 Yay! lol!

I'd like to hear about it.  I know the heeling pattern, but what is the "traffic test" stuff like?  I've always wondered how that is done.  I've seen the heeling pattern for the FO (UKC Dog Sport, uses the same one), but they do different exercises after that.

I think the traffic test varies a little depending on the judge, but I can tell you what mine is like.

 First you walk your dog down a street (fairly close to the street, but not walking IN the street) and a car drives by and honks, a person on a bicycle goes by, and a jogger runs by (both yelling "watch your dog, please" and other things people might normally say to you on the street).  The dog shouldn't act alarmed or frightened or aggressive to anything.

 Then I had to put Rafe in a sit in a huge group of people (probably about 15 people), and go hide behind a sign.  The people all talk to him and pet him, etc., etc.  The dog doesn't have to stay in the sit, but he shouldn't be trying to run away or be aggressive.  Then I put him in a down and went to hide again.  Basically the same thing, only I call him to me this time.  Rafe just about ran past me!  He ran out of the group toward my voice, but he was like "wait, where is she?"  lol...

The last part I had to tie him to a tree and hide behind a shed while they walk a neutral dog around him.  Again, no fearful or aggressive behavior should be exhibited. 

He passed that with flying colors.  I think the judge really liked him!  Maybe it was just because he's something different instead of a German shepherd or Malinois that he sees all the time. 

I'm surprised that some of the dogs doing their SchH I that day actually passed this part of the BH.  Some were definitely a little "iffy."

Thanks, it's those variable things that would concern me rather than the heeling patterns.  With Kenya I never know if she's on or off (people-wise).  Is there any slide room in that part of the test?  Typically, Kenya will be accepting of people but not a dog that's going to run into that group with her tail wagging.  It really depends on how they approach (talking a petting is not a problem, but a big guy leaning over her and trying to grab her face might be a problem).  Maybe it's me, in my head, b/c she has passed the CGC, TDI, and TT...

Congratulations!! I can't wait for the pics and vid!

I don't think I'd worry too much about it. The other dog doing the BH passed just fine, and he definitely wasn't over-excited about being surrounded by people. I think that as long as she doesn't try to take a bite out of someone, she'll pass. ;) Rafe, of course, loved every minute of it because he's just got that personality. I don't think many of the people there were used to that! Most of the shepherds there seemed pretty stand-offish (which, I suppose, is sort of standard for the breed). Don't worry, I'm sure if she passed the CGC and TDI, she'll pass the traffic test without a problem.  :)

 And photos should be here tomorrow!  I have a friend sending me a few and I'll try to get the video up sometime...I have to get the boyfriend to go find the cable to hook up the camera to the computer. 

Congratulations to you and Rafe!!  That's terrific!  Can't wait to see the pics and video.  I have been offline for a bit, but this was the first thread I checked.  FANTASTIC for you both!!!!

Lies, don't be worried about the traffic portion... if your dog is safe around people and other dogs in general, then you are fine.  If it is not, then you need to work on that, but if he's passed the CGC, TDI then you're likely worrying for nothing.  Our traffic portion was different each time and have been different at each trial I've observed, but the car/bicycles/pedestrians jogging close by is all the same.  Our first BH, we also had to "weave" and walk our way through people who were tightly crowding the dog to the point where you were nearly pushing people out of your way to walk.  It's all up to the judge.

Sorry for taking so long to get these pictures up.  And thanks for the congrats!  :)  They aren't the greatest (she didn't have zoom on her camera, so she only got the close pictures).