Some Questions about the BH

[jas'smom]

I have been studying the pattern for the BH test. Some, hopefully not too dumb questions. Here is the pattern I found:
http://www.finographics.com/schutzhu...lpattern11.gif


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for the about turn, I have seen 2 types one a simple turn with dog heeling at my side and another one, cant really describe it but it looks alot more complicated. Can you perform either?????

Also I figure I should know the pattern backwards and forwards so I can feel comfortable with it regardless of how many times I feel like throwing up during the test Should I train Jas to know the pattern as well??? I have had 2 thoughts given to me on this. My own experience with horses is that drilling the dressage test to the point where they know what is coming often ends up with them anticipating the movements before they are required or becoming rather flat and bored. Resulting in errors and point being taken off. My question is should Jas be familular with the exact pattern or should I train the movements in the pattern and then put them together in different patterns???

Gad, I think I just confused myself!! Anyway any thoughts or advise will be much appreciated.

[spoteet]

You need to know the pattern very well but Jas only needs to know the exercises. Before our first attempt, I ran the pattern many times without a dog to make sure I knew it. I only run Sajan through it right before a trial to get him used to going that long without a reward other than the praise you are allowed inbetween the exercises.

Most people I have seen do the about turn where you turn left and the dog turns to the right and goes around you back to heel. The handler has to turn left but the other option is for the dog to spin to the left staying in heel. I have never seen this one done.

Clear as mud now?

[Judi W]

You should learn the left about turn. It is sharp and snappy and is the turn expected in this venue. Once you've done a couple you will like it.

[jas'smom]

Originally Posted by Judi W

You should learn the left about turn. It is sharp and snappy and is the turn expected in this venue. Once you've done a couple you will like it.

I admit Judy it does look pretty sharp I will be working on this with my club but was wondering if there was a resource available regarding teaching this turn???

[frontierrots]

Originally Posted by jas'smom

I admit Judy it does look pretty sharp I will be working on this with my club but was wondering if there was a resource available regarding teaching this turn???

This was actually one of the easiest things to teach Bea. :)

First I taught her a return to heel to my right (from sitting in front of me) and once she had it I then gave her the command for that (for us it's "this way") and "I" turned left as she started the finish.

We then did it while moving (commanded "This way" and I turned left while dog went around my right) and Voila! we had it

[TrinityRun]

For turns, you may do one or the other but can't do both within the trial. Your best resource for teaching these is at your club.

You should know the pattern fwds and bckwds. You will find judges being especially kind and helpful for new handlers in the Bh as they understand this is only local trial stuff. If you suddenly draw a blank as to which exercise is next, you may simply ask. You're allowed to praise and touch the dog between exercises, so do it if you have the kind of dog this will work with.

Training just prior to the trial should be normal and fun and full of rewards but I would not bore the dog by making him run the entire pattern several times, start to finish, with no reward, especially a Rottweiler.

[samanthac]

Also bear in mind that it depends on on your dog. If you have a really high energy, flashy dog, the left about turn is great and looks really sharp and snappy. If you have a slower dog, you definitely do not want to do the left about turn. You want to do the regular about turn. My male (slow and steady wins the race) does the regular about turn and my female (I do everything at high speed) will be taught the left about turn.

Hope that helps.

[jas'smom]

Thanks to all Samantha you are right. Jas is pretty high energy and likes to do everything quickly! Just hope we can learn this without falling and breaking both our necks

[work-n-show]

Just a couple questions/comments:

1. Can anyone post the verbiage in the rules that allows the about turn to be performed in a manner where the dog remains to the left of the handler? I watched a trial last year where a SchHI team did the turns that way and they were docked 1 point for each about turn. The judge specifically commented that type of about turn was not allowed. I was curious if the rules have changed or if it is different in the various organizations and between the different tests, IPO/VPG, etc.

2. In terms of training for a BH it depends on your dog. Some dogs are better when they're pattern trained, others are quickly bored with pattern training and perform much better when the exercises are broken up. I think there are positives and negatives to each method.

3. One of the best pieces of advice I received was in the form of an article that described some of the most common reasons people fail. One of the most common was handler errors. The article suggested that you walk the pattern by yourself (without your dog) as often as possible so you are completely comfortable with it. I got into a habit of showing up a few minutes early for training and walking through the routine myself before anyone else showed up. I thought it helped alot and I was much more relaxed come trial day than I would have been otherwise.

Good luck!

[fbkeays]

Originally Posted by work-n-show

Just a couple questions/comments:


3. One of the best pieces of advice I received was in the form of an article that described some of the most common reasons people fail. One of the most common was handler errors. The article suggested that you walk the pattern by yourself (without your dog) as often as possible so you are completely comfortable with it. I got into a habit of showing up a few minutes early for training and walking through the routine myself before anyone else showed up. I thought it helped alot and I was much more relaxed come trial day than I would have been otherwise.

Good luck!

I went out into the parking lot at work during my lunch break and did the pattern every day for several weeks. I also drew the pattern out several times. Then, before falling asleep, I mentally pictured myself doing the pattern and counting the steps. My biggest problem is forgetting to count steps during the fast and slow parts.

[poohbearsmom]

Originally Posted by TrinityRun

Training just prior to the trial should be normal and fun and full of rewards but I would not bore the dog by making him run the entire pattern several times, start to finish, with no reward, especially a Rottweiler.

Very true... these dogs can get B O R E D doing a pattern, and they'll look deflated rather than happy. Training in parts and pieces, varying the length of each exercise to keep things 'shaken up' is a good way to go.

[BostonRott]

I do not have a current rule book in front of me, but I can tell you that ONLY the left about turn is accepted in SchH. If you do anything else, you will be docked points. The BH is pass/fail, but you can fail on points in the pattern. For SchH1, you'll knock yourself right to an SG rating by doing anything other than the left about.

One thing that many judges are QUITE picky about is when you come into the group on lead, be SURE you excecute a left turn before going into the group.....don't just bee-line from the heeling pattern for the group.

I never pattern train dogs for the exact reasons that you mentioned. You can work the dog through the excercises, and also "long enough" to simulate trial time without ever doing the pattern.

[jas'smom]

One thing that many judges are QUITE picky about is when you come into the group on lead, be SURE you excecute a left turn before going into the group.....don't just bee-line from the heeling pattern for the group.

Thanks!!! this is the sort of thing I really need to know about!!!

[FredAl]

Here’s the complete 2004 Begleithund Test Rules from the DVG website: http://www.dvgamerica.com/04BHRules.pdf

Here’s what it says about the about turn:

About Turns (180°)

Two types of about turns are permitted, but they both must be performed as left about turns. When carrying out the about turn, the dog can either go around the handler or the about turn is performed with the handler as a left turn. (The dog stays on the left side of the handler.)

JM, judging in the BH test is not as strict as in SchH trials. It's more of a temperament test than an obedience trial, so don't be too nervous for Part A.

Easy for me to say. I remember my first BH trial. I memorized all the moves and I thought I was ready. While going through the exercises at the trial, my mind just went blank after the first right turn and I couldn't remember the next move (like stage fright). My dog wasn't much help either because he was looking at me like: Dad, what are you doing?!

Good thing I was able to make the required turns and sit.

On the critique, the judge said: Fred, you looked like you were strolling in the park on that last phase. We passed anyway.

Now that I am a Working Dog Trials judge, and I judge many BH trials, I couldn't understand why I was so nervous for something so simple.

Suggestion: just relax and treat it as a regular practice run, and you'll pass.

I noticed that you're from Reston, VA. There are a few good SchH clubs there, which I was a member of. Check out the Greater Washington DC Schutzhund Group (member of USA), and Commonwealth Working Dog Club (member of DVG).

[Ann Felske-Jackman]

I have a suggestion for learning the pattern. Have one of your club members walk you though it as if they were the dog. I know it sounds goofy, but it generally works like a charm, since you'll also have to remember to give the commands, look at your dog etc. I did this at the last trial for one of my puppy owners who had just decided to do the BH that week. She'd never even watched one, although she had a well trained dog. So, out on the field we went, her ready to work and me heeling along in high heels.... Looked up to see the judge and his son watching us! In between the belly-laughing, they would yell to her that her "dog" should be more attentive with closer heeling

We did learn at that trial though, that if you are a first time BH'er and you're trialing with a USA club, you will need to take the written test prior to getting onto the field to work. The test can be downloaded from the USA website and it changes every Thursday which means that you can download it on Thursday to ensure that you'll know the answers. This is relatively new, and when Cassie got to the club, the person in charge of the trial had her take the test. When the judge arrived, he said no, that she must take the test in front of him, so she was lucky enough to get to do it twice! By then she'd forgotten to be nervous about the actual work.

Best of luck at your trial!

Ann