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Pop the Champagne - We got our BH!

4K views 28 replies 22 participants last post by  Rosamburg 
#1 ·






We have SO MUCH work to do obedience wise before we can even consider moving on in the next levels of IGP... but for now we can forget about it. To many people a BH-VT isn't a real title - but look, it depends on who you are trialling under, and it also depends on what it means to you. I beg to differ, the amount of work that goes into it is non-negligble... is a CD or a Novice title not a real title either? I put so much pressure on ourselves to get our BH done this year so we could try for a ZTP before 2020 (due to the DV's rules changing after that) - meanwhile I also had to bring her protection up to a level many thought she might not be able to achieve. Which I realise, I still haven't posted pictures from the protection seminar - woops! As such my already anxiety-prone self was a nervous wreck any time I stepped on the field... and that goes right down the leash. At the start things were starting to go askew again, but somehow I managed to trust myself and trust my dog and keep cool, keep going. Our first exercise was rated insufficient as a result - but heeling off leash was good, sit out of motion was good, down out of motion and recall was good and the Long down was very good.

Our routine was far from being as nice as what we are capable of. But the judge was still able to see the work we had put in there, and gave us our golden ticket. I talked about it with my club's president and she said that few people talk about it, but there's this sort of mental barrier until you've gotten your first BH - until you have that first BH it definitely feels like you are still on the outside looking in, and might even have impostor syndrome. Once you get it, it feels like you've got your foot in the door.

So now, we are going to forget about full OB for a little while and come back to it down the line. We will introduce individual exercises like jumps and send outs - since she loves to run she should have fun. And for the rest of the season we are going to continue our protection and get started on tracking beyond scent pads.

Our two remaining goals for this season are going to attempt a ZTP in Europe and participating in the UDC's Breed Survey at the end of November. We could do a BSB no problem but I would like to go for a BSA, and I think she'll be able to by then, just gotta keep working on her Outs in conflict.

When the judge gave us our critique I listened... when he told us we passed I dropped down to hug Nadia and fought the tears in my eyes. I almost cried multiple times - happy tears. Others might have quit where we failed. Multiple times. But I guess that's just one more thing this dog has taught me: failure is not the end of the line - it is a test of perseverance. I am more resilient and persistent than I knew I guess.

And I have to once more, offer a little thank you to DT. I wouldn't have found this dog or gotten into this world without you.
 
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#7 ·
Huge congratulations to you and Nadia--anyone who doesn't think a BH-VT means much hasn't looked into what is demanded of dog and handler from the lowest levels to podium levels of IGP (I wish they'd quit changing the name--I had just about got used to the change from Schutzen to IPO)

Perseverance really counts in this venue and I can't toast you in champagne either (doesn't go along with my meds)but I sure wish you the best of luck and great success.

dobebug
 
#12 ·
Congrats!
 
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#18 ·
Thank you everyone! It's also a personal pride knowing she is the first dog in her pedigree to earn a BH-VT and as such, the first to earn an IGP related certificate. Although two of her grand-parents had RAs, and her grand-uncle was a certified SAR dog (certified in multiple specialities to boot) and overall has several relatives have ThDs as well as other OB and Rally titles, and one or two ancestors with a WAC, so it's not like her capabilities came from "nowhere". Nonetheless it's nice - and she and her littermate are also the first dogs in their pedigree to have Barn ratting titles. But they are show lines. Working show lines, but still primarily showlines, so I feel any performance, sport or work title or certification is something to be celebrated and selected for and preserved while maintaining functional balanced structure and aesthetic beauty.

I'm having questions about the ZTP as of now. The DPCC just became a member club of the International Dobermann Club, to be able to select a national team for the IDC World Championships in working sport venues. But it also means possibly the opportunity to organise ZTPs in Canada as well as a grace period before the date the new rules come into effect regarding dogs whose parents don't have a ZTP. Waiting for clarification on that end from the UDC and IDC/DV.
In any case I have my sight sets on the UDC Breed Survey in November. Would be neat for Nadia to become the first in her pedigree with a BSA.

Here's another picture because she is just too cute when focuses!
 
#25 ·
Amazing! That really warms my heart to read. Keep working, be consistent. And don't give up! Also know when to increase pressure and when to lay off, above all keep it FUN. For you and your girl. Hope you will share your progress with us here!

Congrats! It is an accomplishment to be proud of. Not easy peasy. Going forward into protection?
Thank you! Yes, we got a late start to the sport and have only been training IGP since January 2019 (so about a month and a half before she turned 4 years old). We did have a Ring background which we started in late 2017 where she got her CSAU but eventually were let go from the club a few months after joining because she wasn't training like a Malinois and the trainer didn't want to figure out the doberman puzzle.

We have one last important date this year, November 24th we will be attempting to pass the United Doberman Club's Breed Survey Advanced. After that we will continue to work on protection. A good friend and esteemed trainer suggested I finish up her protection before I tackle the other phases again now that I have her BH. Depending on where she's at next year I would either want to try for an IGP1 or if I see her protection is going fantastic but the other phases are so so, I might go DVG and do SPr1-3.
 
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