THINGS YOU NEED FOR STARTER ZTP:

• copy of the pedigree
• letter sent to the DV that you want to participate at the ZTP
• HD-result from Germany or from DV recognized country. if you dont have a HD-result at the time when the ZTP takes place then you can parttake, but the ZTP will be taken away from you if your dog doesnt get at least HD-2
• dog needs to have at least BH
• the parents need to have a HD-result, no matter if German or not, copies of the results have to be sent to the DV

At a STARTER ZTP Dog owners from any country except Germanyare allowed to take part. German owner is not allowed to take part at the Starter ZTP, because dogs with Starter ZTP are not allowed to be used in Germany for breeding, just their children.

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THINGS YOU NEED FOR NORMAL ZTP:

• Copy of the pedigree
• letter to the DV asking for participation at the ZTP
• HD-result from Germany or a from DV recognized country, if you dont have a HD-result at the time when the ZTP takes place then you can parttake, but the ZTP will be taken away from you if your dog doesnt get at least HD-2
• dog needs to have at least BH
• both parents need to have a German HD result or a result from a country recognized by the DV.
• one parent needs to have a NORMAL ZTP to be allowed to take part and both need to have a german HD result or a HD result done in a country recognized by Germany.

Everyone who has a dog that fullfils the requirements is allowed to take part in NORMAL ZTP. People outside Germany are allowed to take part at a ZTP in Germany, but Germans are NOT allowed to take part at a German ZTP abroad.

• The purpose of ZTP is to ascertain those Dobermanns which are, according to the breeding standard, suitable for breeding, and to eliminate unsuitable dogs from the selection.
• ZTP's can only be judged by breed judges. The judge and the helper are to be named by the club's official committee.
• ZTP's can only be held if they are authorized by DV (Dobermann Verein) and the event has been made public. Also, ZTP's should only be held if there are at least 10 dogs enrolled. The maximum number of dogs to be judged in one day is 20.
• ZTP applications to DV must include the name and address of the club which is orginizing the trial, as well as the name of the ZTP trial chairman, the name of the judge, and the deadline for entries. The exact location and start time of the ZTP trial shall also be included.
• ZTP's are independent events. They cannot be held in conjunction with conformation shows or Schutzhund trials. The ZTP can only be carried out, if on the day of the trial, the judge is presented with at least 8 dogs, and if the trial location is considered suitable for the trial. The ZTP judge is responsible for determining the suitability of the trial location.

All Dobermanns which have been bred according to the breeding requirements of the DV and have been properly X-rayed for hip-displaysia, can participate in the ZTP. The results of the X-ray have to be submitted on the day of the trial. Furthermore, all dogs have to have the BH (trial of obedience). Foreign bred Dobermanns, whose owners have their permanent residence in Germany, have to have proper transfer papers. Foreign bred Dobermanns can participate in any ZTP, as long as all DV requirements have been met. The minimum age for dogs participating in a ZTP is 14 months. .

• Dogs which have been "Held-Back" (did not pass) at an earlier ZTP, can only be re-entered once their waiting period has expired. Dogs which do not pass the ZTP the second time they are judged, cannot be entered again.
• The trial chairman checks the required documents and prepares the trial papers. She/He is also responsible for the uninterrupted completion of the entire trial, as well as the availability of all equipment necessary for the trial. A suitable Schutzhund helper has to be available.

There has to be an insurance for this trial. All dogs in the trialing location have to be kept so as not to disturb the trialing in any way. Prong collars are not permitted on dogs, during any part of the trial.

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TRIAL PROCEDURE

1. Examination for the conformation ratings
2. Temperament trialing - Reasons for elimination of a dog are further discussed: aggressive, shy or fearful dogs are
     to be excluded from breeding.
3. Determination and announcement of ZTP Ratings

• If the ZTP is held the day before a conformation show with the same judge, and the same dog is entered in both ZTP and conformation show, then the ZTP rating will be announced the day of the conformation show.
• Dogs will be judged first, followed by bitches. The observations of the judge shall be entered in the ZTP papers and signed by the trial chairman. The decisions of the judge and his conformation and temperament ratings are indisputable. Objections regarding formal errors must be brought to the trial chairman's attention on the day of the trial. If a resolution cannot be achieved, the matter is to be presented to DV committee for a decision.

The ZTP rating is applicable during the dog's breeding age, unless revoked by a DV committee, because of newly discovered or earlier concealed genetic faults. This revocation of a ZTP rating must be made in writing to the owner via a registered letter. Dogs owned by the judge or his close family cannot participate in the trial judged by him. After conclusion of the trial, the results are to be given to each dog's  owner, co-owner or handler. A duplicate has to be sent to DV within 3 days following the trial. Another duplicate shall be given or sent to the officiating judge. All financial matters shall be settled immediately.

 

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JUDGING RULES AND PERFORMANCE REGULATIONS

Prior to the start of the ZTP, the judge briefly explains to all competitors the purpose of the trial, and the exercises involved. At the start of trialing the competitor and his dog report to the judge. The trial chairman checks the authenticity of the dog's pedigree with the help of the dog's tattoo. The handler informs the judge about the training, care and possible changes in ownership of the dog in question.

The conformation evaluation is done according to the guidelines set forth by the governing club, its rules and regulations and breed standard. Special attention should be paid to faults which would affect working ability, such as a weak muzzle, long weak back, faults of front and rear legs as well as bad movement. Deviation in body dimensions by more than 2 cm have to be judged by reduction of conformation ratings. Greater deviations are leading to exclusion of breeding. Dogs with faults of their dentition - such as less than 42 teeth, deviations in the tooth pattern, or overshot/undershot bites, are to be deemed unsuitable for breeding purposes. The behavior of the dog during the examination of the mouth is to be specially noted, as it may be serve as an indication for certain temperament problems.

Minimum Rating Required for Males: Very Good (because a male is more used in breeding)

Minimum Rating Required for Females: Good

After the evaluation of confirmation the judge will instruct the handler to lead his dog in different directions over the trialing area for a duration of about 300 paces, with the dog's leash being held loosely. During this walk, the dog/handler team has to encounter 4 to 6 persons who are either moving or stationary. After this, those 4 to 6 persons will form a group. The group formation should not be in any particular stiff and rigid pattern. Here the judge is encouraged to vary the procedure: he can make the group move towards the handler/dog, or he can have handler/dog move towards the group. When these two parties encounter, it is important to create situations which are as natural as possible and similiar to everyday situation (i.e. meeting a stranger and shaking hands, dropping of items, opening of an umbrella, etc.). During this exercise it is particularly important not to show any threat towards the dog - this is strictly being used to evaluate the dog's self-confidence, fearlessness, temperament, obedience and nerve threshold. After this the judge directs the handler and his dog to the previously determined location, where the handler ties the dog without the use of obedience commands such as "Down" or "Platz", and goes out of dog's sight. During the time the dog and the handler are walking to the tie out location, two gunshots are to be discharged from a distance of about 15 paces, using 6mm ammunition. Gun-shy dogs are unsuitable for breeding; gun-sensitivity is to be strictly distinguished from gun-shyness.
The tie-out location is to be freely accessible from all sides (i.e. away from walls, fences, etc.). The dog has to be left alone for about 5 min. The judge shall approach the dog from a distance of about 5 to 8 steps, and either pass him or walk around him at a distance of approximately 2 to 3 steps, without threatening him in any way. He stops in front or beside the dog, drops an exercise book or something similar. The behavior of the dog in the absence of it's handler is to be specially observed. After this, the handler shall return to his dog and take him out of the trialing area.  At the direction of the judge the helper shall proceed to the hiding place.

Part 1.
The judge will direct the handler to walk his dog into a specific direction.  The dog shall be on leash. At the direction of the judge, the helper will now come out of the hiding place and attack the handler and dog from the front. The dog should show his protective instincts and protect his handler. The helper starts threatening the dog only after he has engaged in the fight. During the fight the dog will be threatened verbally and physically, but does not receive any stick-hits. Upon order from the judge, the helper stops the attack.
Notes for Part 1:
It is very important that the helper wears a protective suit consisting of pants and jacket. The stick used for threatening, shall not be too bendable. The helper must carry insurance for this trial-work. The hiding place shall definitely be variable so that no pattern training of local club dogs can be done. Cars, corners or recesses of walls or tree/shrub groups can be selected for this purpose. The helper can only work upon order from the judge, in other words, the attack and the end-position are determined by the judge. The attack will always be done towards the front of the handler, not the dog. If the dog engages in the fight, the helper will turn to the dog and threaten him verbally and physically. The stick can be used only as a threat, but never to actually hit the dog.  The dog is allowed to bite the helper in locations other than the arm.
Part 2.
The helper now turns away, and starts running a distance of about 50 paces. The handler holds the dog by his collar only, first shouting at the helper tostop, then sending the dog. The helper flees first, but at the direction of the judge turns and attacks the dog, when he has gotten as close as approximately 8 to 10 steps. The helper tries to threaten the dog again, however even here there shall be no stick-hits used. The handler may, at his discretion encourage the dog verbally. Upon order from the judge, the helper shall stop the attack. The handler shall return to the dog, place him back on leash, and report back to the judge.

Notes for Part 2:
The helper must absolutely go to about 50 paces distance. The judge will instruct the helper, as to when to launch the attack on the dog, at which time the helper must threaten the dog verbally and physically. The stick will again be used as threat only.

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CHARACTER CLASSIFICATION

There are four possible classifications:

• 1A
• 1B
• Held-Back
• Unsuitable for Breeding

1A
Dogs which are overall correct. "1A" can only be awarded to a dog which gives a completely sure and correct impression in the static as well as the fighting periods of the trial.
1B
Dogs which are overall sufficient. "1B" will be awarded to a dog which performs acceptable in the static periods of the trial and which shows some protective and fighting drives.
Held-Back
Dogs must be rated "Held-Back" if there is sufficient doubt about the dog's behavior as it relates to soundness of temper and breed-suitability. A dog with this rating may not be shown to another judge, until the expiration of a 3 months waiting period. A dog can only be rated "Held-Back" one time.
Unsuitable for Breeding
Shy, nervous, timid dogs can not be rated suitable for breeding.

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Resources used:

Translation from German by Britt E. Nickelsen britt@danika.com

Adapted from www.dobis.net