Schutzhund-Versatility Test for Working Dogs,
Level-3 (IPO/SchH-3/VPG-3).

Three divisions:

Phase A 100points
Phase B 100 points
Phase C 100 points
Total 300 points

IPO/SchH/VPG-3, Phase “A”: TRACKING

A track is laid by someone else with its course unknown to the handler: at least 600 steps, 5 legs, 4 corners (approximately90°), and 3 scent articles supplied by the tracklayer and left on the track for at least 60 minutes. Time allowed for completion is 15 minutes.

Holding to the track: 80 points
Finding articles (7+7+6 points): 20 points
Total: 100 points

General regulations:

The trial judge or his designee determines the course and suitability of each track at the available tracking fields. The tracks must be designed differently. For example, it may not be that the corners and the placing of dropped articles in each track are identical. The starting point of the track must be marked well by a sign or marker stuck in the ground on the left side of the starting point.

The sequence of the participants (order of tracking) is drawn by lots by the judge after the tracks are laid.

The tracklayer has to show the articles to the judge or someone answerable to him, before the start of the track. Only well “aged” scent articles, left for at least 60 minutes on the track, may be used. The tracklayer lingers briefly on the starting point and then goes with normal steps in the direction designated by the judge. The corners are also made at normal pace. The first article is dropped after at least 100 steps on either the 1st or 2nd leg, at the judge’s direction. The second object is dropped wherever the judge advises, and the third one at the end of the track. The articles must placed while moving. After dropping the last article, the tracklayer must continue walking some steps straight ahead in the same direction. Different articles must be used, made of leather, textile, and wood. The article length must be a maximum of approximately 10 cm [about 4 inches], with a width of 2-3 cm [a little over an inch]. They may not stand out much in color from the terrain on which they are dropped. All articles are to be visibly numbered, and those numbers are to agree with the ones in the records that the judge and trial manager have. During the laying of the track, the dog and handler must be out of sight.

The judge, tracklayer, and assistants or companions may not be within the working range of the dog; i.e., where the handler and dog are searching.

a)Voice Command

Example of a command to begin searching: Such!
The commands to “search” are permitted at the start of the track, and after the first and second articles.

b) Performance of the Exercise

The handler brings his dog to the track. The dog may search freely, or on a 10 meter long line. The 10-m tracking lead can lie over the back, at the side, or between the front and/or hind legs. It can either be directly fastened to the “dead ring” of the approved collar or to a tracking harness (allowed is a chest harness or a Bottger harness, without additional straps).

After being summoned for their test, the dog handler reports with his dog (in the basic position) to the judge near or at the starting position, tells the judge his and his dog’s names, and whether his dog will pick up the articles or indicate their position. Before the track, during the search, and throughout the total exercise, there must not be any psychological pressure given to the dog. Pon instruction of the judge, the handler leads the dog slowly and steadily to the starting point. The dog must right away take the scent intensely, calmly, and with a deep nose. The dog must continue then with deep nose, in a constant, steady tempo, intensely following the course. The handler follows his dog at the 10-meter distance, whether at the end of the tracking lead or doing a free search (without lead or line). The tracking lead may sag, as long as it is not dropped by the handler. The dog must work out the corners surely. After the corner, the dog must continue searching at the same speed. As soon as the dog has found an article, it must immediately pick it up or convincingly indicate its location without influence from the handler. The dog may remain standing when picking it up, sit, or come to the handler. Going on with the article, or picking it up while lying down, are faulty. The indications can be accomplished by lying, sitting or standing (or any combination of these). If the dog has indicated or picked up the article, the handler drops the tracking lead and proceeds to his dog. By lifting of the articles, he shows that the dog has found them. After this, the handler picks up the tracking lead again and continues the track with his dog 10 meters ahead. After completion of the track, the found articles are to be shown to the judge.

C) Evaluation/ Scoring

The speed of search is not criterion in the performance appraisal, as long as the track work is intense, steady, and convincing, with the dog showing a positive search attitude. Exuberance (without leaving the track) is not faulty. Inattentiveness, high nose, voiding (urinating or defecating), circling at the corners, constant encouragement, using the line or verbal assistance during the track or at the articles, is faulty, as is incorrect picking up or indicating of the articles; points are deducted accordingly. If the dog leaves the track more than the length of a tracking lead, the track is halted ; the exercise is over. If the dog leaves the track and is held back from doing so by the handler, the judge will order the handler to follow the dog. If this order is not followed, the tracking is to be halted by the judge. If the end of the track is not reached within 20 minutes after arriving at the starting point, the tracking is halted by the judge. The performance up to that discontinuance is rated.

If a dog both indicates and picks up articles on the track, this is faulty. Only the scent articles that were exhibited and approved at the beginning are allowed. Indication faults are recorded in connection with the evaluation/scoring of the respective legs. No points will be awarded if articles are neither indicated nor picked up.

The distribution or allotment of points for holding to the track on each leg will be made according to length and degree of difficulty. Evaluation of the respective legs is made by the judge after consulting his notes and adding the points. If the dog does not actively search (if it dwells in place for too long without searching for the track), the exercise can also be stopped then, even if the dog is still on the track course.

IPO / SchH / VPG-3, Phase 'B; : OBEDIENCE

General Regulations

The working out of the exercises – the start, etc. – is implemented without any instruction from the judge.

The voice commands are already established in the rules (for VPG_1 and -2) Orders to the dog are spoken in a normal voice, and are short, single – word commands. They can be given in any language; however for each activity they always must be the same. If, after the third command, a dog does not execute an exercise or apart of an exercise, the respective exercise is to be stopped without a core for that part. For the recall, the name of the dog can be used in lieu of the action command, but not both. The name of the dog together with any voice command, but not both. The name of the dog together with any voice command is considered as double voice commands.

In the starting position (“basic position”) for heeling, the dog sits close and straight at the left side of the handler so that the shoulder of the dog is close to the knee of the handler. Each exercise begins and ends with the basic position. Setting up the basic position is allowed only once at the beginning of any exercise. A short praise is allowed after each finished exercise, but only in the basic position. After that, the handler can take a new starting place and, for the dog, a new basic position. A clear time interval (approximately 3 seconds) must be observed, in any case, between praise and a new beginning.

From the basic position, the so- called “development” is worked out. The team must take at least 10, and at most 15, steps before a voice command is given for the performance of any different part of an exercise. Between the parts of an exercise and at to its conclusion, clear pauses (approx. 3 seconds) are to be observed before the deilivery of a subsequent command. The includes the pauses before and after taking up a new basic heel position as well as when returning to the dog that is sitting, standing, or lying at a distance. When picking up the dog, the handler can step in front, of or g o around behind, his dog to the basic position.