BREED SURVEY PROCEDURES . December 2007

1. PURPOSE OF THE BREED SUITABILITY TEST. To promote uniformity in Rottweiler breeding, especially in the breeding of working dogs, to promote the correct temperament as well as to provide an ever growing pool of bloodstock in which the use of dogs with disqualifying faults has been eliminated.

2. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR QUALIFICATION.

2.1 In order to qualify, dogs must meet the overall requirements called for in the Breed Standard of the Rottweiler dog, as published by the F.C.I. and accepted by the Rottweiler Breed Council (RBC) and KUSA.

a) The dog must be identified by a RBC and KUSA approved method.  

b) The dog must have been x-rayed for hip dysplasia and conform to the requirements as set by the RBC from time to time.

c) At the time of presentation at the survey, the dog must be at least 18 months of age. The dog must also be in a good and healthy condition.

3. RECOMMENDED FOR BREEDING are:

3.1 Those dogs which fulfill the requirements as set out by the Rottweiler Breed Standard as adopted by KUSA.

3.2 NOTE: Dogs must have a correct set of 42 teeth. Double P1 and incisors are to be noted but this is no cause for deferment or disqualification. Any dog with a level bite may be resubmitted after reaching the age of 30 months.

3.3 NOTE: Only when missing teeth can be substantiated as having been present to the satisfaction of the RBC, by having been x-rayed by a Veterinarian acceptable to the RBC, may the dentition requirements of the Breed Standard be considered to have been met.

3.4 NOTE: In order to pass the Breed Suitability Test (BST), the dog MUST pass the guard and defence exercise, within the limits as specified by the RBC from time to time.

3.5 NOTE: Dogs which have been found to have disqualifying conformation faults, may not be presented again.

4. DEFERRED QUALIFICATION.  

4.1 Dogs which failed the guard and defence exercise in the Breed Survey, may be presented again for a repeat survey, after a minimum period of six (6)months.

4.2 Dogs may be presented up to three times for the Breed Survey if they are unsuccessful at first. After the third unsuccessful Breed Survey attempt, the dog may not be presented again.

 5. BREED SURVEY DATES.

5.1 Specialist Rottweiler Clubs intending to hold Breed Surveys, must publish schedules thereof indicating times, dates and venues, at least one month before these events. Should this happen within the same week as a Club’s annual Rottweiler Specialist Show, the event will be covered by the same Show’s License. For any other dates, separate Licenses must be applied for.

6. BREED SURVEYS. 

6.1 Applications for Breed Surveys to be accepted by the Specialist Rottweiler Clubs who present these Surveys from time to time. The Clubs should submit the names of their Breed Surveyors to the RBC, to confirm that they are suitably qualified.

6.2 The Breed Survey must be undertaken by a RBC approved and appointed Breed Surveyor. In the case of a BST/ZTP test to be performed on a Rottweiler, the Breed Surveyor must either be

a) a KUSA qualified Working Trials/IPO Judge, 

b) a KUSA qualified Working Trials/IPO Helper, or 

c) have participated and qualified a Rottweiler in IPO1 him/herself. Should the Surveyor in question not conform to the aforementioned a), b) or c), he/she may officiate, with the proviso that he/she be assisted by another RBC approved and appointed Surveyor, who conforms to the requirements contained in a), b) or c).

6.3 The decisions made by the Breed Surveyor/s are final. Details of the survey are to be entered on RBC approved score sheets.

6.4 In the case of a Surveyor being assisted by a co-Surveyor during BST/ZTP, such surveyors may not be members of the same family.

7. FORMS TO BE PRESENTED AT THE SURVEY. On the day of the survey, the owner or handler of the dog to be Breed Surveyed, must present the following documentation to the Breed Surveyor:

7.1 A KUSA pedigree certificate of registration.

7.2 A RBC and KUSA approved certificate to substantiate that the dog’s hips have been examined and meet the minimum hip score requirements as laid down by the Council from time to time.

7.3 Any previous and unsuccessful RBC recognised Breed Survey report issued for the dog that is being surveyed.

8. THE ORGANISING CLUB’S RESPONSIBILITIES.

8.1 The Club is responsible for ensuring that a KUSA registered IPO Helper and a standby is available.

8.2 To ensure that no more than fifteen (15) dogs are to be presented for the Breed Survey in one day.

8.3 To provide a suitable demonstration dog.

8.4 To provide Breed Survey score sheets issued to the Club by the Council. BA Certificates are to be ordered from KUSA by the Clubs themselves. 

8.5 A suitable area or club training grounds with a firm surface such as a lawn, spacious enough to be able to adequately evaluate, without interference, a single dog in stance and in motion with or without a lead. During the event, the following equipment must be available:

8.5.1 A measuring stick

8.5.2 A head template

8.5.3 A linen tape measure

8.5.4 A weighing scale with a base of at least 500mm X 500mm, to be able to measure (at least) 70kg, which should be tested before use.

8.5.5 An eye colour tester as per ADRK or RBC approved copy.

8.5.6 A RBC approved protection sleeve and stick, suit, hide and a starting pistol or handgun.

8.5.7 A large table with chairs, writing equipment and if needed, a weather proof shelter and a vet on call.

8.6 The organising Club is responsible for ensuring that dogs previously presented, as well as dogs present on the day, are identified and that a microchip scanner is available therefore.

9. REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTRY.  

9.1 The minimum age for the Breed Survey is 18 months.

9.2 Dogs belonging to the Breed Surveyors, or their families, or the IPO Helpers or their families, may not be surveyed on that day.

10. CONDUCTING THE SURVEY. Dogs should be taught to be evaluated in a calm, natural composure, at stance and in movement (walk and trot, on and off lead, to allow strange hands to examine them and also to have their teeth examined.) Dogs that do not meet these requirements may be deferred for later re-examination. THE SURVEYORS MUST:

10.1 Evaluate the construction in stance, embracing: overall picture and proportions, balance, expression and sex characteristics, size (measuring the withers height, depth of chest, chest girth and trunk length), bone strength and weight, muscles and stability, skin and coat, colour and markings. Further detail to cover: skull shape & strength, jaw development, teeth and neck. Withers and back including the loin, fore- and under chest, ribs, belly, stomach and sex organs, shoulders and front legs, croup slope as well as fore- and hind angulation.

10.2 Evaluate the movement: in walk and trot, on lead and free moving, freedom of shoulder and forward movement. Thrust and hindquarter flow, thrust over back, behaviour of muscles and joints during movement, reduction or increase of possible faults noticed earlier.

10.3 Assess gun-sureness: When firing, the distance must not be less than fifteen paces from the dog. Two shots fired in succession with a starters pistol or a handgun of 5.6mm or 9mm caliber. If the dog shows a flight reaction after the first shot, the handler must sit his/her dog and take the leash off and move a short distance away. Only then may a second shot be fired (alternatively, the surveyor may decide to repeat the test from a different direction). If the dog shows further flight reaction, it should be eliminated from the test and deferred.

10.4 Evaluating temperament: Each dog presented for survey has to undergo a temperament test as described below. The acceptance for the Breed Survey is dependant on the passing of the temperament test. Dogs which show faulty temperament may be excluded from further surveying. Dog and handler must move through a group of no less than 6 (six) people, (WHO MAY NOT INTERFERE WITH THE DOG BEING TESTED IN ANY WAY), turn around and assume a sit position in the middle of the group. The group then moves in slowly and tightly around the dog and handler, remains so for a few seconds and reverse slowly back to its prior position. At a signal from a Surveyor, the group then does so rapidly, for a second time, remain close up for a few seconds and withdraw equally rapidly. This exercise must clearly show the self-confidence of the dog and its confidence in its handler. After emerging from the group, the dog and handler immediately commences with the Guard and Defence exercise. Assessing the Guard and Defence exercises: The dog handler moves approximately fifteen paces with his dog on the lead, then removes the lead whilst on the move.

10.5 The dog may be held by the chain and they move for another thirty metres to the point of the attack on the handler. This happens when the `helper’ (read: assailant) suddenly appears from the hide and attacks the handler (the `helper’ may not physically touch the handler). The dog must immediately intervene by taking hold of the `helper’s protective arm and maintain its grip. At this point, the dog is struck twice with an approved, flexible leather covered stick, on the withers. Upon indication of the Surveyor, the `helper’ will cease the attack. The dog should release on command, whereupon the handler restrains the dog by its slip chain. The `helper’ now rapidly moves away in a straight line. After approximately thirty paces, he starts threatening, but continues in the same direction. After approximately twenty more paces, the handler releases the dog after him. With strong threatening movements, the `helper’ now turns and approaches the dog head on, who must intercept and take hold of the protected arm immediately. During this confrontation, there are no stick blows. Upon an order from the Surveyor/s, the handler should command the dog to release. If the dog does not let go, the Surveyor may order the handler to move closer and repeat the command. (If after several commands the dog does not let go, the handler must be instructed to proceed to the dog and effect a manual release. At this stage, the Surveyor may decide to defer the dog to another survey.) Once the dog has released the `helper’, it should be moved away on instruction of the Breed Surveyor and a short escort of the `helper’ by dog and handler, to the Surveyor, takes place. NOTE:

 i) If the dog avoids the stick, he/she should be deferred for a later Breed Survey.

 ii) The dog must remain focused on the `helper’, without help from the handler.

iii) Dogs which, in the above described exercises, do not bite, or leave the `helper’ after ending the fight, or flee from the stick blows, cannot pass the Breed Suitability Test and should be deferred.

10.6 The original survey report must be made available to the owner of the dog within 30 days. The Club keeps a copy and another copy is forwarded to the RBC within 10 days of the test.  

BREED ASSESSMENT PROCEDURE

1. THE BREED ASSESSMENT. The Breed Assessment differs from the Breed Suitability Test in the respect that, whilst the examination of the dog is EXACTLY the same (INCLUDING the gunshot and Temperament test), it does not require a Guard and Defence test . It contains the following: At the completion of the ‘crowd’ exercise, the handler will walk his dog to a pre-determined spot approximately twenty (20) meters from a hiding place. The handler will be required to remain stationary and will allow the dog freedom of movement to the extent of the lead. On the Surveyor’s signal, a ‘helper’ (clad in protective suit and armguard and armed with a stick) will emerge and challenge the handler. After allowing reaction time for the dog, the ‘helper’ will run diagonally across and stop in a position approximately ten (10) meters away and challenge again. The helper will then continue directly towards the handler and dog in a confrontational manner, to a distance of a minimum of five (5) meters, or when the Surveyor instructs the ‘helper’ to stop the threat. At no time do the ‘helper’ and dog make any contact. At a signal from the Assessor / Surveyor, the ‘helper’ then returns to the hiding place, behind which he leaves his suit, stick and arm guard. He then appears again in regular apparel and in a friendly manner strolls up to the handler, whom he greets. He also greets the dog. The Assessor / Surveyor takes note of the extent to which the dog has regained its exposure. The dog must not attempt to flee or show signs of fear, nervousness or retained aggression. A lack of reaction (e.g. tail tucked) is also considered undesirable. The dog’s reaction to this situation / exercise is to be recorded on the Survey form by the Surveyor. In the case of a dog which is in training for any guard and defense work, the handler must indicate this before the start of the exercise and the dog should not be penalized for normal alert reactions.  

1.1 AIM The Breed Assessment / Breed Survey must be provided for dogs whose owners, for some reason or other, cannot train their dogs for I.P.O., and who wish to use them for breeding. The Breed Assessment provides everything that the Breed Survey does, except for the physical contact with the dog. All other requirements with regard to disqualifying faults, hip dysplasia and temperament remain the same.

1.2 BREED ASSESSOR This remains essentially the same as for item 6.2 of the BREED SURVEY PROCEDURE above, except that there is no need for the Surveyor to conform to the requirements contained in a), b) or c).

GUIDELINES FOR BREED SURVEYORS : UNDESIREABLE TRAITS.

i) Dogs with a reddish shine on their coats must be noted in the Breed Survey.

ii) The eye colour of the dog must meet with the minimum prescribed 4a colour, against a Council approved eye colour tester for BST and BA.

CONCLUSION. On conclusion of the test, the Assessors MUST check all documentation and also be aware of the fact that two different score sheets are used for BST and BA. No later than 10 days after the test, the following documents must be sent to the Secretary of the RBC:

a) List of all participating dogs.

b) BA / BST certificate copies, together with photocopies of the relevant pedigrees and H.D. certificates.