BEGLEITHUNDE

The BH (Begleithunde) is a world-recognized temperament test for the working dog.  The BH is the FUNDAMENTAL TEMPERAMENT TEST for breeding and maintaining quality working dogs.

For a complete listing of the BH rules, click here to access DVG America. 

The test begins with a questionnaire consisting of 20 questions for all handlers who have never trialed a dog for the BH.  Then, the dogs that are trialing are introduced to the Judge so he/she can visually see and critique the dog's temperament.  The trial then begins with one handler and dog taking the field for an obedience routine that consists of an on-leash heeling pattern with a fast pace, slow pace and return to normal pace, about turns, right turns, a sit, and a figure eight amongst a crowd of people including sitting your dog next to a person in the group.  The handler and dog then repeat the figure eight and sit amongst the crowd while off leash.  The heeling pattern is then repeated off-leash.

The handler and dog, off leash, return to the basic position and do a sit out of motion leaving the dog for 30 paces and then returning to the dog.  The handler and dog then return to basic position and the dog is downed in motion while the handler leaves the dog for 30 paces and calls the dog, then directing the dog to the finish position.

Down Under Distraction:  At the time the handler and dog are performing exercises on the field, another handler has placed their dog on the sideline of the field, removed its leash, and downed the dog.  The handler then moves 30 paces and stands with their back to the dog.  Once the dog on the field finishes its heeling pattern, the handler of the downed dog returns to the dog, directs the dog to sit, then replaces the leash.

When the dog on the field finishes its heeling exercise, the judge will direct that handler and dog to take the long down position while the dog that just finished the down will complete the heeling exercise.  A handler may stop and ask direction from the judge at any time.

The judge is evaluating the dog's ability to learn and determining if there is sufficient obedience to continue in the Schutzhund phases and/or BST.  More importantly, the judge is evaluating the dog's temperament during the entire process.  If the obedience test is passed (a score of at least 42 of a possible 60 points), a handler and dog may continue to the traffic portion of the test. 

The traffic test exercises are determined by the judge.  The dog may be tested with a group of people milling around and closing in on your dog; the handler may be asked to leave their dog in a sit or down position in a crowd and be called out of the group to the handler; the dog may be tied while the handler goes out of sight and a neutral person walks by and/or a neutral person and dog passes by.  The dog may be tested around bicycles, cars, roller blades and/or joggers.  These tests are performed to test the temperament of the dog.

Once the BH is passed, the handler and dog may continue to trial in Schutzhund exercises or the BST.  A dog may not trial in either of these areas without first passing the BH.  If a dog fails the BH, it may be trialed again at a later date if the dog is determined to have the correct temperament.