Schutzhund

  Fartenhund   Ausdauerprufung Fartenhund Level 2

  Fartenhund 2 (Superior Tracking):  An article by Allyson Tohme

On Saturday 30 June 2007 my Twiggy became the first Weimaraner to achieve the FH 2 thereby joining a tiny handful of similarly titled dogs in the UK. Eligibility for entry is confined to dogs that have earned an FH 1 which in turn is contingent on gaining a BH and being a member of the BSA (British Schutzhund Association).

In 2006 Twiggy was the only dog of any breed in the UK to gain the FH 1 and I planned to enter an FH 2 whenever one became available; once again Bolton Schutzhund Club came up trumps.

The total number of points available are 100; 80 for the track and 20 for the articles (6 x 3, 1 x 2). The age of the track is 3 hours old with a cross track laid 30 mins before it is to be worked. The length has to be at least 2000 paces, with 7 corners, 2 of which must be acute and the track must also include an arc.

One of the interesting features of the FH 2 is the start which, instead of commencing at a tracking pole, is indicated by an article placed by the tracklayer in what is essentially a 20m x 20m search square; the entrance of which is marked by two poles. This article is not included in the scoring and there is a maximum timescale of 3 minutes within which the dog must locate the identification article, determine the direction of the track and commence working it. The handler may not cross the start line until the 10m tracking line has run out.

Style is an issue and before the start of the track the handler must inform the judge whether the dog retrieves articles or indicates them by standing, sitting or lying down. In addition dogs are also required to track at the end of a 10m line (if used) and work at a consistent pace throughout; no physical or verbal assistance is allowed. The track is terminated should the latter occur, the dog leaves the track by more than a line length or if the handler ignores the judge’s instruction to follow the dog.

Although the event was marked by torrential rain all day Twiggy managed to complete the track in fine style missing only one article with a total score of 92 points rating as Sehr Gut (Very Good) under Leistungrichter Walter Schier from the ADRK in Germany.

Thus Twiggy is now Fursdon Twylyte Tramontano K9MS2 AD BH FH1 FH2 CDex UDex WDex TDex!