The FCI (Federation Cynologique International) govern the IPO (International Trial Rules).
They publish the rules for competition yearly.
IPO (Internationale Prüfungs-Ordnung) is a series of 3 tests with graduated difficulty in 3 phases, all preceeded by a temperament and trainability test, the B.H. (Begleithund) or companion dog test.
Then there are additional tests available such as fitness for breeding - A.D. (ausdauerpruefung) and the FH Advanced Tracking tests.
There are set ages that a dog must reach before which they can enter each degree.
The BH comes in two parts, the first consisting of heelwork on and off lead with movement through a crowd of people. There is also a down stay under distraction. (dogs work on the field in pairs). The second part of the test is soundness under traffic conditions (people and vehicles) with and without the handler present. A dog has to be 15 months old before they can enter for their BH.
IPO 1-3 consist of three phases
A- Tracking
B- Obedience (including some agility and retrieves)
C- Protection (searching for and dealing with threats from a ‘helper’)
There are various rules and etiquette that have to be observed by the dog and handler team, for example, style of the dog in all three phases is very important.
In Tracking the dog must scent with a full nose and be steady paced and accurate before being awarded a high score. In Obedience, the happy, willing attitude of the dog to submit to the handler’s direction is paramount as well as accuracy in the exercises. In Protection the judge looks for explosive attitude with total control in the very stylised episodes.
