Watchdog Test

The watchdog test is a test for basic alertness. The dog must demonstrate protection work and know which situations that are considered a threat and what reactions he/she must show. The dog must not show unnecessary aggression. The "title" given (WH) does not represent a substitute for a training degree in the sense of the breeding, showing, or exhibition requirements of the SV, but is rather an additional title that will give a little plus in the breed survey and conformation show.

Prior to earning the WH title, your dog must have passed the BH test and be over 15 months old. The WH test is judged at a pass or fail basis, so images for this test goes to the non-competitive tests folder.

§ 010.001 The minimum age limit is 15 months old.
§ 010.002 Your dog must have passed a BH trial.
§ 010.003 No sick dogs, or pregnant bitches will be accepted. The same goes for bitches in heat.
§ 010.004 No tracing, or photo manipulated dogs.
§ 010.005 No re-used/free lines or re-used entries.
§ 010.006 At least a simple background is required. You may use a photograph.
§ 010.007 Write a little story on how it went.
§ 010.008 Handlers are not required.
§ 010.009 There are 2 mandatory images to obtain the WH title. One of them must be full body.
§ 010.010 Leasing is allowed (having someone else draw your dog for you.).
§ 010.011 Please link us the images together in one comment in this journal once finished.
§ 010.012 All breeds within reason allowed, not only german shepherds, but we would prefer it to be a german shepherd.

Registration Note

Owner:
Dog's show name:
Link to dog's ref:
Dog's age:
Sex:

BH trial:
WH trial (1):
WH trial (2):
Do you want the diploma?:

Wachhunde (WH)

Heeling exercises and Recall:
The dog and handler has to demonstrate both on- and off-leash heeling in both running paces, slow paces and normal paces along with several turns to the left, right and about turns. The heeling exercises will also be demonstrated in a small group of people twice. Both on lead and off lead.

Afterwards, the dog has to demonstrate a sit out of motion, where the handler heels the dog, and commands it to sit without pausing or looking back. The handler will return to the dog at the judge’s say so.

The dog also has to demonstrate a down out of motion with recall. Like sit out of motion, the handler commands the dog to lie down while heeling and continues to walk without looking back. At the judge’s say so, the dog will be recalled.

Retrieving an Article:
The handier leaves his dog in the sit position and walks away from the dog for a distance of about 30 paces. There the handier lays down a small article, then returns to the dog. Upon a single command the dog must retrieve the article fast and happily.

Devotion to the Handler:
The dog is put on lead and handed over to a second person. The handler then proceeds toward a group of people who are standing about 80 paces away. The dog is allowed to watch the departure of his handler until the handler has gone about 30 paces of the distance. At this point, the dog is taken behind a wall or similar structure so that his handler is no longer visible to him.

When the handler arrives at the group, he walks into the center of the group and stops. While he is in the group, the handler may not make himself noticeable to the dog across from him. The dog is released from the lead by the second person. The behavior of the dog, especially the use of the nose, is to be observed during this exercise. When the dog has found his handler, he is to be praised.

Guarding of Possessions:
The handler downs his dog in an open area designated by the judge. The dog is fastened securely to a chain. The dog may sit, lie down, or remain standing. When commanding the dog to watch/guard, the handler lays a larger object in front of the dog (briefcase, suitcase, jacket, etc.). Then the handler goes away about 20 paces and stands still, always remaining within the dog's sight. (Small objects which the dog could take in his mouth, and also bicycles, are not permitted.) The judge or some other person then walks past the dog at a distance of about 5 paces, and walks back again. Meanwhile, the dog must remain quietly by the object and may not show aggression.

Now an attempt will be made to take the object away from the dog. If the dog shows a threatening posture/attitude; growls, barks or lunges (trying to grip), the exercise is fulfilled. There should be no agitation of the dog here; what matters is the general behavior of the dog. The person testing the dog is not allowed to circle around the dog nor to carry a stick. Once the dog has foiled the attempt to "take" his object away, the tester goes out of sight, and the dog must remain by the object in order to be able to renew his defense of it. After a pause of about half a minute, the handler picks up his dog on the judge's signal.

Testing the Dog for Watchfulness:
The exercise takes place in a specially prepared "courtyard" (possibly with a dog kennel). This fenced-in area must have dimensions of at least 7 x 7 meters.

The dog is placed free in the "courtyard". The dog must watch every approach (by the Helper) toward the fence with attentiveness. The dog must emphasize his attentiveness by barking.

As soon as the dog has made himself noticeable, the Helper takes flight. The handler then enters the fenced area and holds the dog firmly. The Helper continues his flight and goes into hiding in a blind (or other cover) that has been made secure for him. As soon as the Helper has reached his "safe place," the dog is released. He must immediately run to the hiding place and begin jumping up at it, and must bark at the visible or not visible Helper.

Watchfulness on the running wire:
The dog will be fastened securely on a chain, which is located on a running wire (cable) that is about 15 meters long. The dog must show aggression, whereupon the tester goes out of sight. Now a second tester comes along at the other end of the running wire and likewise agitates the dog. Here also, the dog must behave attentively and aggressively. After the second tester has gone out of sight of the dog, the exercise is completed and the dog is picked up.

Prizes

Watchdog

WH - Wachhunde
Where to earn: The WH test at SV.
Kennel-Club: 10 xp