Breeding Standard Evaluation

Breeding Standard Evaluation (bse.be)

NBRC – National Belgian Rottweiler Club vzw

Breed Standard Evaluation / BSE.be

The owner of any Rottweiler bred in accordance with the breeding regulations can register his/her dog for a BSE providing the dog is at least 18 mths old at the day of the test and is not banned from participating in shows or tests.

In order to enroll for a BSE a written application must be completed & sent to the person in charge of the event. Following documents are to be attached to the application:

A) Copy pedigree

B) Copy medical cert for the HIPS/ELBOWS issued by an organization recognized by the FCI.
C) A copy of the owner's current NBRC membership card (if there is more than one owner, copy of one card is enough). NBRC members will be granted a discount price.

E) If a dog is repeating a BSE, all original BSE reports from previous tests must be attached.

Procedure: BSE

GENERAL GUIDELINES:

The BSE (Breed Standard Evaluation) is divided into two parts.

The 1st part is aimed at observe the dog’s appearance compared to the official FCI breed standard. It’s also used to find out whether the dogs’ temperament is typical of the breed. Only dogs that pass are allowed to continue & participate in the 2nd part.

The second part of the test is carried out to establish how self-confident the dog is & observe it's behavior in different situations. In order to make sure the Rottweiler is still suitable as a service, sporting or family dog.

At the beginning of the BSE all handlers & their dogs meet in the test arena & the judge explains the importance of this particular test method - it is a tool to preserve & strengthen the performance of the Rottweiler as a breed.
The judge explains the spirit & purpose of the tests used to assess temperament & self-confidence as well as the dog's behavior when engaged in activities. All the handlers must remain by their dogs in the arena throughout this speech.

APPEARANCE:

First the judge describes the dog's appearance when standing still & in movement. Even at this stage the judge is able to recognize 1st character traits. The judge then rounds off his picture by talking to the owner about how the dog is kept, how it was reared & what kind of environmental influences the dog is or has been subjected to. All official measures, eye color and bite and dentition as well as overall appearance are filled into the evaluation form.

Eye color: The judge determines the exact color of the dog's eyes using a special color chart & describes them in a combination of figures & letters ranging from 1a to 4a. A 4b, 5 or 6 would mean the dog is not suitable for breeding.

Bite & Dentition: In case of missing a tooth at the moment of BSE, in order for the dog to count as having a full set of teeth, two reports from different breed special judges must be presented, (issued for example at a show or from a progeny examination) which confirms that no teeth were missing at the time. The dog must have been at least 8 months old at the time of issue. The ruling refers to incisors & canine teeth, molars are exempt from it.

Also medical statement from a dental specialist can be taken into account in case of lack of show reports.

SENSITIVITY TO NOISE:

The dog's sensitivity to noise is tested in a quiet environment as well as how the dog reacts towards people behaving in a quiet manner.

The judge fires two shots at least 5 seconds apart while the dog is walking towards the group of people. If the dog reacts to the 1st shot, if the dog shows a reaction, it must recover right away. The handler will be instructed by the judge to unleash the dog & make it sit. Only then can the routine to test the dog's reaction to noise be continued. If the dog reacts again, it will be disqualified. Dogs that are over sensitive to noise cannot pass a BSE.

REACTIONS AGAINST FRIENDLY PERSONS:

A) The handler walks with the dog freely (dog on leash but not under command) though a group of appr. 10 persons. The group is moving.

B) After appr. 2 minutes the dog is unleashed. The handler repeats same movement than on part A), only this time dog without the leash.

C) The handlers walks with the dog (on leash) in between a two-sided row of persons. In the end of the row the persons are getting closer to each other and passing space is getting more narrow. Some of the persons will be using a plastic canister filled with stones to make sound.

In all parts the dog should be behaving freely and openly, also when the group is closing around the dog sitting next to the handler. Dog needs to show high enough self-confidence and high enough fear- and aggression threshold.

PREY DRIVE:

The dog’s prey drive will be tested in a confrontation with strange person. For example by provoking the dog with a sleeve or inviting the dog to play with a toy (bag / bite sausage).

Disqualifying errors: big reaction of fear, exaggerated nervousness, too fast or too big aggression, without recovering back to peace fast enough.

Terms of execution for a ZTP (part 3)

Drive and action behavior

Exercise 1: Search for the helper

Exercise 2: Bark & Hold

Exercise 3: Preventing and escape by the helper

Exercise 4: Defense of an attack during the guarding phase

Exercise 5: Attack on the dog out of motion

General Requirements:

In a suitable location, six (6) blinds are to be set up, 3 on each side, in a staggered fashion.

The helper must be equipped with a protection suit, protection sleeve and a soft stick. The protection sleeve must have a grip bar, the cover made of natural jute (burlap) fiber. If the helper has to maintain visual contact with the dog during the guarding phase, then he may move accordingly. He may not assume a threatening position nor make any defensive gestures. He must protect his body with the protection sleeve. The style in which the handler takes the soft stick away from the helper is up to him.

All dogs must be worked by the same helper. Another helper must be used for the helper’s or his family’s dogs.

Dogs that are not under the control of the handler, that after a defense exercise are not under control or where the handler must intervene to have the dog out, that grip other parts of the body rather than the protection sleeve must be disqualified.

Dogs that fail the defense exercise or allow themselves to be driven, ZTP is terminated.

If the dog leaves the helper more than once in the exercises 2-5 more than once

for more than 5 meter, a disqualification occurs. The reason for the disqualification must be stated on the ZTP examination form.

1. Search for the helper

a) Commands

One verbal command to: “Search”, “Here”(the “here” command may be used in conjunction with the dog’s name)

b) Execution

The helper is located in the last blind out of the dog’s sight. The handler positions himself with dog between the fourth and fifth blind so that two side sweeps are possible. At the instruction of the judge, phase begins. The dog handler is free to choose whether he leashes his dog or goes free on foot to the starting point.

With a short command to “search” with the visual aide by raising the right or left arm – this can be repeated – the dog must quickly be dispatched from the handler and run to the fifth blind goal-oriented, go around it tightly and attentive. It’s not allowed to send the dog directly to the find blind.

When the dog executes the side sweep, the handler calls the dog to him with the “here” command and in movement directs him to the find blind.

The handler moves at a normal pace down an imaginary line that his not permitted to leave. The dog has to run in front of the handler. When the dog has reached the helper blind, the handler must stop and not further commands verbal or visual may be given.

c) Judgment

Limitations in directability, fast and goal-oriented running to the blind as well as tight and attentive running around the blind are evaluated accordingly.

If the dog does not successfully find the helper at the last blind after the third attempt, the protection work is terminated.

Acceptance of the blind 5 is not compulsory, it only affects the rating.

2. Bark & Hold

a) Commands

One verbal command to go in the basic position: “Here”, “Heel”

b) Execution

The dog has to actively and attentively hold the helper and continuously bark. The dog may not jump on the helper or grip him. After the dog has barked for approx. 20 seconds, the handler approaches the dog at the instruction of the judge and stops about 5 paces away from it. At the direction of the judge, the handler calls his dog to the basic position. As an alternative the handler may pick up his dog on the collar.

c) Judgment

Limitations with continuous barking and determinately holding until the command is given without the intervention of the judge or handler are evaluated accordingly.

If the dog leaves the helper, before the judge’s directs the handler to leave the middle line, the dog may be redeployed to the helper.

If the dog remains with the helper, the phase can continue. ). If the dog does not allow himself to be redeployed or leaves the helper again, then phase is terminated.

If the dog comes to the dog handler when approaching from the center

line to the hiding place, the 5-meter regulation comes into effect.

3. Preventing and escape by the helper

a) Commands

One verbal command to: “Heel”, “Down”, “Out”

b) Execution

At the direction of the judge the handler orders the helper out of the blind. The helper moves at a normal pace to the designated location for the escape. At the direction of the judge, the handler takes his free heeling dog or on the collar to designated location for the dog to down before the escape. The distance between the helper and the dog is to be 5 paces.

The handler leaves his dog on watch position, dog in the down position and goes to the blind. He remains in visual contact to his dog, the helper and the judge.

At the direction of the judge, the helper undertakes the escape. Without hesitation the dog is to prevent the escape by means of a high dominance ratio and relatively fast grip deploying an energetic and strong grip. He may only grip the protection sleeve of the helper. At the instruction of the judge, the handler stops. The handler may give a command to “out” in a reasonable amount of time.

If the dog does not out after the first permitted command , the handler will receive instructions from the judge for a second command to “out”.

If the dog does not out after the third command (one permitted – two additional), a disqualification will result. The handler is to remain calmly standing when giving the “out” command and without influencing the dog. After the release, the dog is to remain close to the helper and watch him attentively.

c) Judgment

Limitations in the important evaluation criteria: high dominance, quick energetic reaction and pursuit with a strong grip with a relatively quick grip action and effective hindrance of the escape with a calm grip until release, attentive hold close to the helper are evaluated accordingly.

If the dog remains down or the dog does not prevent the escape through gripping or holding within 20 paces, phase is terminated.

4. Defense of an attack during the guarding phase

a) Command

One verbal command to: “Out/ Aus”, “Heel/Fuss”

b) Execution

After the holding phase of approximately 5 seconds, the helper attacks the dog. Without intervention by the handler, the dog must defend himself by means of an energetic and strong grip. The dog may only grip the protection sleeve of the helper. Two tests are conducted with the stick pressure. Stick hits are only to be deployed on the shoulders or in the withers area.

At the instructions of the judge, the helper stands still. After the helper stops the dog is to release after a relatively brief transition period. The handler may give a command to “out” within a reasonable amount of time.

If the dog does not out after the first permitted command, the handler receives the instruction from the judge to give two additional commands for the “out”. If the dog does not out after second command, the dog handler gets the possibility to approach 5 step to give a new command.

If the dog does not out after these commands (one permitted two additional), a disqualification will result. During the command the helper has to stand still without act on the dog.

After the release, the dog is to remain close to the helper and watch him attentively. At the judge’s instruction, the handler goes at a normal pace to his dog and takes him into the basic position. The soft stick is not taken from the helper.

The handler is free to choose whether he takes his dog to a leash or walks freely to the starting point of exercise.

c) Judgment

Limitations concerning the important evaluation criteria are evaluated accordingly: Quick and strong grip, full and calm grip up to release, after the release an attentive close guarding of the helper. If the dog does not withstand the pressure and leaves the helper or the handler gives a command to stay with the helper, phase is terminated.

5. Attack on the dog out of motion

a) Command

One verbal command to: “Sit”, “Go on”, “Out”, “Heel”

b) Execution:

The handler is advised to go to the designated place with his dog on the middle line at the level of the first blind. The dog can be held on the dollar but not to be stimulated by the handler.

At the direction of the judge, the helper comes out of the blind in a walking pace to the middle line and changes from normal steps directly in to a running pace and attacks frontal the handler and dog with the loud shouts and threatening gestures with the soft stick.

As soon as the helper reaches the handler and his dog at about 40 paces the handler under the direction of the judge releases his dog. Without hesitation and on one command to “go on“ the dog is to effectively prevent the attack through energetic and powerful bite. He may only grip the protection sleeve of the helper. The handler may not leave the place where he stopped.

At the direction of the judge the helper stops. After the helper stops, the dog is to release in a brief transition time. The handler may give a command to ”out” in a reasonable amount of time.

If the dog does not out after the first permitted command, the handler receives the instruction from the judge to an additional command for the “out”.

If the dog does not out after the second command, the dog handler get the possibility to approach 5 steps to give third command. If the dog does not out after these commands (one permitted two additional), a disqualification will result. The handler is to remain calmly standing when giving the “out” command and without influencing the dog.

The dog is leashed on instructions of the judge.

A side transport of the helper now takes place to the judge over a distance of about 20 paces. A command to “heel” is permitted. The dog is to go at the right side of the helper so that the dog is between the helper and the handler. During the transport the dog is to be attentive to the helper. He may not however crowd the helper, jump on him or grip. The group stops in front of the judge. The handler gives the soft stick to the judge and reports out ending phase.

c) Judgment

Limitations concerning the important evaluation criteria are evaluated accordingly: Energetic defense with strong grip, full and calm grip until release, after the release attentive and close guarding of the helper.