The Breeding Disposition Test (BDT)

Examination of work performance

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The examination is divided into 

1. NOSEWORK SECTION - with the following variants: tracking or search work

2. OBEDIENCE SECTION  

3. POSITIONING, GUARDING AND DEFENCE SECTION

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Evaluation principles:

In the individual sections, the overall performance of all given exercises is first assessed by the assessor.

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The findings on overall performance in the section are then recorded and announced in an individual statement described on the basis of the work shown by the dog.

 

The emphasis of the assessment is on the way the dog acts with its handler, in particular on the abilities and dispositions of the dog presented. The point of the assessment is not to be more precise, higher, faster, further etc.

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The dogs performance is then described and stored on the SV database.

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For each individual section the dog is given a pass or fail. If all three individual sections are passed then the 'BDT' (ZAP) is awarded.

In order to successfully pass the BDT the dog must achieve the following percentages in the required sections.

1. NOSEWORK - at least 50%

2. OBEDIENCE - at least 50%

3. POSITIONING, GUARDING AND DEFENCE - at least 60%

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BDT Nosework tracking variant

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Exercise requirements

Own track, at least 200 paces, 2 legs, 1 angle(90 degrees), 2 objects belonging to the handler (utility objects, inconspicuous in colour, with a maximum size of 5x10cm), at least 20 minutes old, finishing time 15 minutes.

 

A voice command for 'search'

The voice command for search is permitted at the beginning of tracking and when restarting after the first object or after a wrong find.

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At the end the assessor critiques the performance under the following headings and gives the mark pass or fail

1. Scent detection 10%

2. Finding and indicating 20%

3. Tracking disposition work 70%

At least 50% must be achieved to pass the exercise.

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BDT Nosework search variant

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A search area of 20 x 30 metres, walked by several people, 2 objects belonging to the handler (utility objects , inconspicuous in colour, with a maximum size of 5 x 10 cm), uniform material permitted. 1 object on the left, 1 object on the right, search time 10 minutes.

Voice and visual commands are permitted. The voice command 'lost' may be supplemented by the voice command 'search'

At the end the assessor critiques the performance under the following headings and gives the mark pass or fail.

1. Search work detection 10%

2. Finding and indicating  50%

3. Search disposition work 40%

At least 50% must be achieved to pass the exercise.

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BDT Obedience

• Examination of shot indifference

1. Free pursuit

2. Sitting whilst in  motion

3. Down and recall

4. Retrieve on level ground

5. Climbing jumps over a 160cm sloping wall

6. Free jumps over a 100cm hurdle

7. Down with encounter

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Examination of shot indifference

The handler goes to the place with the dog on the leash in hand report to the assessor. On command the handler goes with their dog to a pre determined position. The dog is to stand on a loose leash. Two shots (6mm) are fired an interval of at least 3 seconds at a distance of 10 meters.

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1 Free pursuit

In addition to two changes of gait (normal, fast & slow), two U turns, two right turns and one left turn are to be shown according to the prescribed pattern. The team must also show its demonstration in a moving group of people.

Voice commands: one voice command each for: 'heel' (Fuss) at the start and at the changes of gait.

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2 Sitting whilst in motion

The team is to demonstrate a 10-15 step development from the basic position. The handler the gives the voice command 'SIT' whilst the dog is in movement and moves a further 15 paces away from the dog and turns round directly. The dog must move calmly and directly towards the given position when it hears the voice command. The dog must remain in its position calml until it is collected again on the assessors command.

Voice commands: one voice command each for 'heel' (Fuss) and 'sit' (Sitz) basic position.

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3 Down in motion with Recall

The team is to demonstrate a 10-15 step development from the basic position. The handler then gives the voice command for 'DOWN' whilst moving  and move a further 30 paces away from the dog then turns around. The dog is to lay down directly upon hearing the voice command. The dog must remain calmly in the down position, until on the assessors instruction, the handler commands the dog to approach. The dog must run happily and directly to the handler, sit straight in front of the handler and then change to the basic position upon hearing the voice command. ​

Voice commands: one voice command each for heel (Fuss), down (Platz) and here (Hier), 'Heel' (Fuss), basic position.

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4 Retrieve on level ground

The handler throws a 650kg dumbbell (IGP1) or an object belonging to the handler (approx 20-30cm long, approx 4cm in diameter eg. bitebar . NO BALLS) approximately 10 meters with the dog sitting calmly in the initial basic position. A lunge is permitted. On hearing the voice command, the dog must pick up the object, take it to the handler and sit in front of them. After the object is accepted, on hearing the vice command the dog must change to the final basic position.

Voice commands: one voice command each for 'Fetch' (Bring), 'Out' (Aus), 'Heel' (Fuss) basic position.

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5 Recall over A Frame

The handler uses the voice command 'SIT' to put their dog in the initial basic position at a distance of at least 4 meters in front of the A Frame and then moves to the other side of it. 

On hearing the voice command , the dog must then demonstrate a climbing jump over the A frame. The dog sits and changes to the final basic position when it hears the voice command. The return jump follows in the same way. The dog is leashed.

Voice commands: One voice command each for 'Climb', (Up), 'Sit' (Sitz) and Heel (Fuss) basic position.

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6 Recall over Hurdle

The handle uses the voice command 'SIT' to put their dog in the initial basic position at  distance of a least 4 meters and then moves to the other side of the hurdle. On hearing the voice command , the dog must demonstrate a jump over the hurdle. The dogs sits in front of the handler and then upon command returns to basic position.  The return jump is conducted in the same way. The dog is leashed.

Voice commands: one voice command each for 'Over' (Up), 'Sit' (Sitz) and 'Heel' (Fuss) basic position.

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7 Down with encounter

The handler goes with their dog on leash to the designated down position, lays it down with a voice command and secures the dog with attached safety line. The handler moves to the designated position of at least 30 paces. Th hander must remain with their back to the dog. After 3 minute a neutral person crosses past the dog at a distance of 5 metres, remains briefly in the line of sight between dog and handler. After a further 2 minutes, the handler picks up the their dog on the assessors command. On command, the handler puts the prone dog in the final basic position with a voice command and leashes it. 

Voice commands: one voice command each for 'Down' (Platz) , 'Heel' (FUSS) Basic position.

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Overall obedience assessment

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For the BDT , the overall impression of all exercises in obedience should be described in four individual assessments.

These are : teamwork, performance/technique, retrieving performance and jumping ability.

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In the assessment, the focus is on the dogs basic abilities and dispositions when interacting with the handler, how is technique, how does the dog retrieve and how does the dog jump.

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Obedience assessment breakdown

1. Teamwork 25%

2. Performance and technique 25%

3. Retrieve 25%

4. Jumps 25%

At least 50% must be achieved to pass the exercise

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Positioning, guarding and defence 

1. Search for helper

2. Hold and Bark

3. Handling under stress

4. Ambush on handler

5. Confrontation at a distance

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General regulations 

Hides/blinds  are to be provided in a suitable place. The necessary markings/ distances are to be determined by the assessor.

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Helpers/clothing

The helper must be equipped with a protective suit, protection sleeve and a soft stick.  The helper may only work when instructed by the assessor. The handler is free to decide on the manner in which they remove the soft stick from the helper during disarming. 

One or two helpers may be used during BDT tests. The same helper must be used for all handler within a BDT. A single change of helper is permitted if the helper themselves has an active dog at the event

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Exercise 1 Search for the helper.

Starting in the basic position on the imaginary centre line, the handler takes their dog off leash and sends it in the direction of the helper's hiding spot with a a voice and a visual command.

Voice command: one voice command for search Seek (Revere)

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Exercise 2 Hold and Bark

The dog must corner the helper as soon as found, at the same time the dog must bark at the helper. On the assessors instruction the handler fetches or recals the dog to put it back on leash.

Voice command: 'search' (Revere), ''Heel' (Fuss)

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Exercise 3  Handling under stress (exercise 3 & 4 short attack (slang)

On the assessors instruction, the handler proceeds with their dog on leash from the hide where the hold and bark has finished to the marked spot for the start of the transport. The course of the transport is determined by the assessor. The transport is started out with the dog on leash to a ground marker about 25 paces away from the ambush point. At this point the dog is put in the basic position and unleashed. Leash either pocketed or hung over shoulder. Further transport with dog following freely in the direction of the ambush point.

Voice command: one voice command for 'Heel' (Fuss)

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Exercise 4 Ambush on handler (exercise 3 & 4 short attack (slang)

When the team is about 7 paces away on the assessors instruction the helper coming out of the hide ambushes the handler. On its own and without the handlers assistance the dog must thwart the ambush. The helper must push the dog in a straight line in a threatening manner for about 15 paces. On hearing the voice command, the dog must release the helper and guard them until it is retrieved.

Voice command: one command for release 'Out'

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Exercise 5  Confrontation at a distance (long attack (slang)

The handler proceeds with the dog on leash to the required starting point. The dog must be attentive to the helper. The collar of the dog may be held, but must not be stimulated by the handler. 

On the assessors command the helper comes out of the hide walks to the imaginary centre line and then makes a frontal attack on the dog handler. Upon assessors instruction the handler releases the dog with a voice command. The dog must thwart the attack by the helper. During the drive (stress phase) the dog must remain unimpressed. The helper stops on the assessors instruction. After the helper has stopped the dog must release on voice command and remain in a guarding position. At assessors instruction the handler walks at normal pace to the dog puts in  the basic position and puts the leash on. The soft stick is taken from the helper. A short side transport of the helper to the assessor follows. The team stops in front of the assessor with the handler handing over the soft stick to the assessor. 

Voice command: one voice command for release 'Out'  and for heelwork 'Heel' (Fuss).

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The dog is assessed in 5 areas and converted into an internal numerical score for the purpose of statistical evaluation. No points are awarded. In stead the working method and disposition of the dog are described. The focus is on the dogs abilities and dispositions when interacting with its handler. This means how does the dog work when searching and barking, how is its defensive behaviour when the handler is ambushed and how does the dog present itself whenconronted at a distance, how is the grip behaviour and how easy is the dog to handle under stress.

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Assessment of defence exercises

1. Handling 10%

2. searching and guarding 20%

3. Ambush on handler 30%

4. Confrontation at a distance 20%

5. Grip behaviour

At least 60% must be achieved to pass the exercise

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Termination/disqualification

If a dog fails a defence exercise or allows itself to be displaced, the searching, guarding and defence exercises section is to be terminated.

If a dog fails to release on the second additional command during a defence exercise or bites the helper outside the protection sleeve, the team is to be disqualified.

At the conclusion of the discussion a pass or fail rating is given.

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