BH Companion test questions

[11bluewolf]

Hi

I have a wl GSD that I would love to get to BH. She is my first proper own dog and I’m quite happy with how her obedience is coming along, I think most of what we do is covered BH but I know I have lots to learn.

I am wondering what the best way to find a club is, i know this is an issue lots of people face. I am really keen to get going and learning

I’m based in the south although happy to travel a fair distance.

thanks in advance !

 

[CorvusCorax]

You have to join a club, either GSDL, BAGSD, the Rottweiler or Mali club, don't know what the acronyms are
Those are the only organisations/clubs with judges accredited to award BH.
They'll all have lists of clubs on their websites.

I know it is very hard to get into clubs at the moment...the issue is mostly too many members/not enough trainers and also people turning up and either giving up or getting their dog trained and going home/overall lack of commitment.

Most trainers have their own dogs to work and end up training everyone else at their own time and expense and get very little done with their own dogs, despite paying the same membership fee.
These are long days and sometimes longer nights.

Sports training is a lifestyle and clubs are a community, while it might be a nice idea to join a club, do a BH and leave again (not saying this is you!!), most clubs value long term commitment, people who turn up early, stay late, help out, bring stuff out and put it away, make the tea, help with paperwork when the trials come around.
These people are the lifeblood of dog sports and are becoming fewer and further between (waves at professional trainers).
It's also pretty frustrating as a trainer when you put a lot of time and effort into a handler and dog, more than you do your own, and they either ignore everything you say, know it all already, leave after a few months or my favourite 'So I saw this video on YouTube...'
Sports people **can** be cynical and they can be sharp/will tell you like it is, especially those longer in the tooth, so a thick skin is also important and try not to take comments on your dog personally ?
I've been told a lot of stuff about my own dogs over the years, some of it has been correct, some of it has been bunkum but I've done my talking on the trial field....

On that note...be realistic...my first dog I did BH with, was told he wouldn't be capable of doing the full programme...fine, did tracking with him...couldn't get him round a II track but I'd caught the bug and knew more for my next dog.

Soooooo the most important thing for me as a potential new member is to show willing both to learn and want to do well and to offer to contribute something back into the club to make it as good a group as it can be.
Personally, people I coach 'getting it' and doing well is the biggest buzz for me.
I've had periods where I've had no dog in work and still turned up twice a week to help...that's the sort of people clubs are looking for.

As someone once said, it can be a lonely sport, but you cannot do it alone and I've been lucky to have a great team of people around me....be part of a good team, you never know where you might end up!!

If you have a club or clubs in mind let me know via PM and I'll see if I know anyone/can put in a good word.

 

[11bluewolf]

Thank you thank you again!! I really appreciate all of this your replies are always so through and helpful. I am definitely keen to learn / help / take on board anything and everything that is thrown at me.

Exactly I say BH as I just don’t have the experience to know how far myself or my dog could get but I am definitely committed to progress as far as we can.

This is so kind of you, i will send you a PM tomorrow. Thanks ?

 

[Clodagh]

Ok, I’ll ask… what’s BH? bank holiday? Bite heel?

 

[CorvusCorax]

Begleithund, traffic safe companion dog test, entry level for IGP, there's initial microchip scan and impartiality around people, formal heeling on and off leash, around a group, sit, down with recall, down stay while the other dog works, then as a group, bike/jogger/car/neutral dog in motion, tie out solo and do all again, then impartiality around a group of people again.