In most clubs and dog schools, the companion dog test is the final test of the dog’s bond and obedience. The companion dog test is a state-recognized test for dogs and dog handlers and is mandatory for all service and assistance dogs as well as for many dog sports. However, it also has advantages for families with dogs, as many hotels only accept dogs if they have passed the companion dog test. It is also recognized as proof of competence and partly as an alternative to the character test. Regardless of the reason for the exam, in this article, we show the most important regulations and the procedure for the companion dog exam.
What is the Companion Dog Test?
The Companion Dog Test, also known as the BH for short, is a state-recognized test of a dog’s temperament, behavior, and obedience and of the dog owner’s expertise. During the test, the handler and the dogs are evaluated as a team and fixed sequences and situations are tested that are intended to show how the dog interacts with its human and how it behaves in public and in contact with strangers and other dogs. Especially in the street part of the test, stressful and everyday situations are tested, such as cyclists passing close to the dog, loud people, and street noise.
There is no requirement for dog owners to take the Companion Dog Test, however there are some areas where the test is a requirement. For example, the companion dog test is mandatory for assistance dogs, rescue dogs and police dogs. There are also some hotels that only allow a dog to be taken with them if it has passed a companion dog test, and for some types of dog sport the test is also mandatory if the dog is to participate in tournaments. A companion dog test can only be held in a club that belongs to the FCI, i.e. the Fédération Cynologique Internationale association. These clubs include all VDH (Association for German Dogs) clubs and some dog schools that also run under the FCI.
What is the Companion Dog Test?
The Companion Dog Test is a state-approved test of a dog’s behavior, temperament and obedience. Dog and owner are tested as a team and various everyday situations are simulated and basic obedience is tested with a fixed running pattern. The test consists of four parts, proof of competence through a written test by the owner, impartiality test and identification of the dog, obedience, and the traffic part.
Important admission requirements before the companion dog test
In order to take part in the companion dog test, there are a number of requirements that the dog and owner must meet. These conditions are the same for every test and apply in every federal state.
- Age of the dog: A basic condition for participation in the companion dog test is a minimum age of 15 months, which the dog must have already reached. Younger dogs are not allowed to take part in the test, but there is no upper limit.
- Proof of competence: The proof of competence is taken before the actual exam and can also be taken separately at another school or an approved veterinarian. The important thing is that this is always done before the exam. The knowledge of the dog owner in dealing with his dog, dog behavior, and general rules in dealing with the dog is queried.
- For example, on the dog’s body language or traffic rules for dog owners.
- Membership in a dog club: In order to be able to take the companion dog test, the owner of the dog must be a member of a club that is recognized by the FCI. This includes all VDH clubs and some hunting dog clubs.
- Identification of the dog: The identification of the dog takes place at the start of the test, for this the dog must be marked with a microchip or a tattoo in the ear. The tattoo is now only applied very rarely, but the microchip is mandatory for the dog. This unique marking has been entered in the pet passport by the veterinarian and is considered an official identification mark. The handler is usually presented with his dog to the judge supervising the test, or he presents himself with his dog.
- Some clubs also insist on liability insurance for the dog, but since this is not standard for every club, we have listed this point separately.
Who is allowed to take the companion dog test?
The companion dog test may only be conducted by an authorized test judge and/or a training manager who belongs to an association recognized by the FCI. This is the only way that the test passed is valid throughout Germany and is also recognized as a character test and proof of competence or dog license. There are modified forms of the test, such as the team test, which are not state-recognized and are not recognized by many federal states and offices. The dog handler should therefore be absolutely sure that the selected club is also allowed to offer the companion dog test.
Test of the dog owner
During the companion dog test, not only the dog but also the owner is tested, and how the two interact in the team is assessed. The so-called proof of competence is therefore also given directly before the examination. This is taken by the handler and is a test of knowledge of dog husbandry, training, needs, and body language. The certificate of competence is officially not a direct part of the test, but it is required before the companion dog test and is therefore taken directly before the test or submitted by the owner if he already has one. For the certificate of competence, a questionnaire consisting of multiple-choice questions is carried out. Since most of the questions are also available online, you can study for the test in advance. In most federal states, this is considered proof of the specialist knowledge and qualification to keep and train a dog in a species-appropriate manner.
Companion dog test process
The companion dog test has the same fixed procedure in every club, which is prescribed by the FCI. Usually, there are fixed dates for the test, because it has to be conducted by a qualified judge. For each part of the exam, there are points or a percentage that must be reached as a minimum.
The first part of the exam: certificate of competence
As already mentioned, the certificate of competence can also be taken before the examination. Because this is not considered an official part of the exam and in most cases, it is taken directly before the exam. The dog owner is asked various questions, which are answered in multiple-choice. The answers that the dog owner thinks are correct are ticked. There are also open questions at the end of the test, to which the dog owner is asked to write a short text as an answer. The certificate of competence is passed if the owner answers at least 70 percent of the questions correctly.
The certificate of competence only has to be submitted once. Even if the owner wants to take the companion dog test again with another dog, he no longer has to do this part of the test. The proof is also valid beyond the exam and is recognized by all federal states, also as a dog handler’s license.
The second part of the test: impartiality test
After the submission of proof of the certificate of competence, the actual test takes place with the identification of the dog and then an impartiality test. Identification is carried out by reading the microchip or by tattooing in the dog’s ear. In most clubs, the dog handler introduces his dog with the name entered in the vaccination card and the given name before the next section begins. But this varies from club to club. This is followed by the impartiality test, which is also called the character test and, like this, is valid in every federal state as proof of the dog’s manageability and peacefulness.
This part is taken over by the performance judge or the respective training inspector. He touches the dog in various places to test how it reacts to direct contact with a stranger, and its behavior around other dogs is also observed and evaluated. The dog should not show fear or aggression in these situations. If he behaves calmly and evenly, he has passed this part of the test.
What do you have to do for the companion dog test?
In the companion dog test, the owner must show that he can master all everyday situations with his dog and that his dog follows him happily and attentively – even when distracted. There are fixed schemes for all four parts of the exam, which can be practiced in advance in the club. Basically, the owner must be familiar with the attitude, training and body language of the dog, the dog must be touched by strangers and must master the basic commands. The dog must also remain calm in a public place. This is all tested with and without a leash.
The third part of the test: obedience
The third part of the companion dog test is the main part of the test. Here the obedience of the dog is assessed. To do this, the owner must carry out various commands with his dog and demonstrate them with a fixed running sequence. This takes place at the club’s training ground. It starts with walking on the leash at a normal walking pace and then at a fast pace. The dog should run right next to its owner and look at him happily and attentively while running. At the beginning of the walk, an audible signal may be given as a command, if the owner remains standing in the designated position, the dog should sit right next to the owner and remain in the seat. When the dog walks, the leash must be slack the entire time and the dog should voluntarily follow its owner.
Next, the handler leads his dog through a group of people and pauses for a moment near a stranger. The dog should continue to orientate itself towards the owner and ideally ignore people. After this has been successfully completed, the exercises without a leash follow, the so-called free heeling. A fixed running pattern is also expected here, in which the dog walks freely and attentively next to its owner. First, a straight line is run, in which the handler orders the dog to sit after 10 to 15 steps. The dog has to remain in the seat while the handler takes another 10 to 15 steps and then picks up the dog again and lets it run with the command “foot”. The whole thing is repeated with the command to sit down instead of the seat. The handler moves 30 paces away and calls his dog away. The recall should end in a direct lead and the dog must return to the left side of its human with the command to heel.
At this point, the exercise is usually completed in parallel by two dog-human teams to see whether the animals can be distracted by another dog. The process can vary slightly depending on the club, but there is always the possibility to practice the running pattern in the respective club in advance. The handler can receive points for all exercises; he needs at least 42 points out of a total of 60 to pass, which is 70 percent of the points.
The fourth part of the test: external test
The last part of the companion dog test is a street part, where the roadworthiness of the dogs is checked in everyday life. The dog should show a calm and balanced behavior during this and orientate itself to its humans and their commands. The test can take place in different places, such as a parking lot, a train station, or a shopping street. The four-legged friend should walk past objects and people on a loose leash, such as children playing or joggers and cyclists. Part of this exercise is also tying up the dog and walking away from the animal. The owner is out of sight and the dog should still wait quietly while people and dogs walk past it.
After this part of the test has also been passed, the dog and its owner have passed the companion dog test and receive their certificate with written confirmation of the test. If the test is not passed, it can be repeated at any time. It is advisable to always let a few months pass between the exams and to work on the problems and train during this time.
How much does the companion dog test cost?
There is different information about the costs for the companion dog test, which are always determined by the respective club. The companion dog test and the preparatory course are often offered as a complete package. Such a course can cost between 120 and 300 euros – depending on the club. Normally, the costs for the examiner and the registration amount to around 80 euros, not including the preparatory course and the fees for general membership in the association.
Optimal preparation for the companion dog test
In order to pass the companion dog test without major problems, good preparation is essential. For this purpose, the dog owner should choose a club and register there. Most clubs offer preparation for the BH, where the owner can practice the running pattern and get to know the exact procedure of the test. The association can often even provide sample questions for the written part of the exam. In any case, a dog club can work with distraction on the individual points of the test and the trainers give tips and help with problems.
However, optimal preparation for the companion dog test also takes time; at least three months of training is usually recommended. However, it can sometimes take six months of training before the dog is ready to take the test. Therefore, an early start is advisable and the dog-human team should always approach the exercises calmly and have fun.
Where can the companion dog test be taken?
The companion dog test can only be taken in a club that is recognized by the FCI. This includes all VDH clubs in particular, but also all shepherd dog clubs, Boxer clubs, Dobermann clubs, and many hunting dog clubs. A test judge must be present to conduct the various tests and often also a training manager if the companion dog test is for further training of the dog, for example in the case of assistance dogs and guide dogs. Dog schools usually do not offer the companion dog test, which is usually conducted by private trainers and has no connection to the FCI, but there are exceptions here, which is why it is worth asking a dog school in advance.
