Severnside Schutzhund Club Trial Report - 20 September 2009

Firstly I would like to thank the Severnside Schutzhund Club for their invitation for me to judge there trial. Having visited the club many times over the years for training or as a competitor in the trials, I expected a very well supported, run and organised trial, I was not to be disappointed.

Setting off at 9.15am on Saturday to go to do some training prior to the Sunday trial, my arrival at 7.30pm that evening was a surprise to all involved particularly myself, but that's another story, suffice to say if this was work I would have clocked off earlier in the day.

Sunday morning cool no breeze the start of interesting and enjoyable day. The short drive to the club was without incident a relief form the trauma of yesterday, with all paperwork in order we quickly completed indemnification and temperament evaluation of the entrants and of to the tracking fields.

Lush green grass approx 150mm no wind very promising, having the benefit of one of the most experienced tracklayers in the Assoc Mr I James to move things on Ian laid the SCH11 and SCH11 tracks whilst I was supervising the laying of the SCH1 entrants, saving some time.

First entrant, Sch1 Gavin Smith, a fellow judge who as expected, produced a track, showing correct presentation and handling. The dog tracking correctly from beginning to end with very minor tracking faults and a slight fault on the first article indication 98 points the high score of the day. Second was H Geen another experienced handler her dog began very correctly but at the start of the second leg lost a little discipline spoiling a very nice starting picture 92 points. Next A Rowley first time in Sch competition with his Rottweiler nerves got the better of Andy in the beginning, but the keen dog got him away and with a few difficulties on the corners made the final article so for Andy first hurdle over 85 points. Finally in Sch1 D Edmunds with his female who showed almost faultless tracking and article indication which I have not witnessed before, and during my calculation at the end I could here comments well that's got him scratching his head 86 points.

So with the Sch11 track laid and ready to go a very nervous R Lledra proceeded to show us a nice track which with better indication of the first article could have got a very good score 85 points.

For the Sch111 entrant A Singh it was not going to be his day the dog never really got going.

So tracking completed in 11/2 hours we were on our way back to the club.

First thing to do back at the club was the written test for the two new BH entrants, Jordan and Barry both completed the written test and on arrival at the field we witnessed the youngest ever in the UK BH entrant Jordan at just 11 years old as first to go we watched a very well handled and very well trained dog do a BH test which more experienced competitors would be very satisfied with, followed by Barry who with a little more attention from the dog will I hope do well in the future. The traffic and social ability test for these two very well behaved and balanced dogs proved to be no problem and I had the honour of announcing to all that the youngest ever BH entrant in the UK had qualified.

Moving quickly on we watched the 4 Sch1 entrants al gaining qualifying points with G Smith and Eddy giving a very good performance spoilt only with a small amount of mouthing on the retrieves and sniffing the ground in the position 95 points, H Geen showed sparkling heelwork with the overall score spoilt with a missed position and crooked presents in the recall and all the retrieves 88 points. A Rowley with the rottweiler needs a better heel position and better jumping to make more points 75 points, Last to run D Edmunds biggest point loss lack of control in the sendaway 80 points.

Sch 11 Obedience with Roger and his female was spoilt by not enough attention and focus at the start and lack of obedience at the end of the sendaway 87 points.

Sch111 A Singh very nice attentive heelwork spoilt by missed positions, and the retrieves need to be more precise and quicker 77 points.

After lunch the helpers were instructed albeit they are both grade A approved helpers and very experienced Sch1 G Smith with Eddy very nice work just missing out on the excellent grading due to the transition to the out phase and the guarding could be better 95 points total 288 grading overall Excellent.H Geen with Alfie a little noisy in the driving transition to out phase must be more clean and loss of control in the final transport cost a lot 86 points 266 overall grading Good. A Rowley powerful protection work the bigger points lost to the lack of speed in the long attack, early outing and small obedience problems 91 points 261 overall grading Good. D Edmunds needs to be better in the grips and much better in the guarding 77 points overall grading Good.

Sch11 R Lledra unfortunately disqualified by sending the dog to the basis position during the hide search exercise.

Sch111 A Singh lacking in the guarding and the obedience cost the points 78 points.

General comments from this and other trials I have recently judged to gain the bigger points in tracking the dogs need to be under a little more discipline - not pressure - in the obedience, ground speed, focus and retrieves need to be improved. In the protection obedience and transition phase to out need to be more clean. As a judge it is my job to now the rules, and as competitors it is to YOUR ADVANTAGE to know the rules. I thoroughly enjoyed my day and hope my critiques helped in the education of the spectators to the requirements of our sport.

Highlights of the day were Jordan s BH test and qualification and the number of new faces, hopefully our sport will continue to attract new faces and younger people.

Good luck to all the competitors in the future and I am sure I will see you all again.

Click here for scores.

By: Richard James