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What is the Ztp and the BST?
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The Zuchttauglichkeitsprufung (Ztp) and Breed Suitability Test
(BST) are basically the same breeding suitability test. The test
evaluates the dog's conformation and character to determine if the
dog is a suitable candidate in a breeding program in both type and
temperament. In Germany, a litter may not be registered unless both
the dam and the sire have passed the Ztp! The United States
Rottweiler Club (USRC) calls the test the BST and the Allgemeiner
Deutscher Rottweiler-Klub (ADRK) calls the test the Ztp. |
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There are several prerequisites prior to taking the test:
The dog must have passed the BH
The dog must be tattooed and registered
The dog must not have any disqualifying faults according to the
FCI standard
The dog must have a passing hip evaluation from The Orthopedic Foundation
for Animals (OFA). The USRC allows The
Institute for Genetic Disease
Control at Davis, CA (GDC) or HD- or
HD+/- from the ADRK in addition
to OFA). The USRC does
NOT recognize the University of Guelph (OVC) grading.
The dog must have a 3-generation certified pedigree
*Show ratings are not required but the dog must have no
disqualifying faults
There are two parts to the test: (i) conformation and (ii) character.
Conformation
In the first part, the dog is critiqued (as in a sieger show) by a
qualified international judge (usually an ADRK or FCI judge) and
compared to the FCI Standard - only in much greater detail compared
to a sieger show! The color of the eyes are graded, teeth checked and
counted with emphasis on full dentition and a scissors bite. Then
everything on the dog is measured: height from the withers, body
length, muzzle, chest depth, chest circumference and the skull. The
judge inspects the dog’s tattoo to ensure it matches with the
paperwork submitted. The dog is then weighed. When one of my dogs
did the test, we were taken into the kitchen, through several hundred people.
The dog was required to step on steel scales to be weighed. The dog
is then required to do a short obedience routine such as heeling
through a group of people, the group then converges on the dog (it
must be stable) and then is heeled down the field. Gunshots are
fired. If the dog shows a reaction, it must recover right away.
Character
The second part of the test is similar to the SchH I protection
routine, only harder (in my opinion). There is an attack out of the
blind and a courage test. In SchH I, the dog is at least in drive
(alert) on the attack out of the blind. For the Ztp/BST, the dog is
not permitted to see the helper and may not realize it is on a
protection field which means the dog may not be in drive. For this
reason, many dogs fail the test at this point because they cannot
take the threat. The helper hides in a blind, the dog is heeled
towards the blind. The leash is taken off the dog. Upon the
judge’s signal, the helper comes out of the blind towards the
dog when the dog is almost at the blind, at which point the handler
releases the dog. The attack surprises the dog. The dog must bite the
sleeve fully, is given two stick hits over the withers with a padded
stick, the helper drives the dog until directed to stop by the judge.
If the dog does not ‘out’ (release the sleeve) the dog
fails. After outing, the dog must stay by the helper and guard him.
Upon a signal from the judge, the handler returns to the dog and
picks it up. The dog and handler then go into a blind.
The last part is the courage test. The judge directs the helper to
come out of the blind at the opposite end of the field (approximately
120 paces) than the dog and handler. The handler is not permitted to
stimulate the dog (ie the dog must remain quietly beside the
handler). The helper runs half way across the back of the field and
then runs directly at the dog and handler, threatening with the
stick. The dog is released. The dog must run at the helper at a full
run and bite the sleeve. The handler is not allowed to move from the
position from where the dog was released. The dog is given the
command to ‘out’ by the handler who is still at the
original position. If the dog does not ‘out’, the dog
fails. Once the dog has outed, the dog must stay with the helper and
guard him. The judge signals the handler to return to the dog. The
handler returns to the dog and a leash is put on. The test is ended.
The handler and dog report to the judge. The dog’s performance
is then critiqued to the spectators. There is no score given. It is
either a pass or fail.
Retesting Rules Should the Dog Fail either Part of the Test
If the dog is not within the FCI standard (i.e. too tall or too
short etc.), or has a disqualifying fault, the dog may never be retested.
If the dog fails the second part of the test, it is allowed to
attempt the test once more
upon the judge’s discretion!! If the judge believes
the dog is of faulty character, the dog can be banned from future
testing. After failing twice (under USRC and ADRK rules), the dog may
never be retested.
Submitted by:
Jane Mitchelmore Wolfshohle
Rottweilers Reg’d
Note: Jane has trained and titled a dog to both
the Ztp & BST titles and trains with the Victoria Rottweiler Club
Pictured above is Jane's bitch V-Rated
CH Schosshund's Boom Bustin Echo, ABST, SchH II, BH, AD, CD, Ztp
with helper, Terry Deelstra |
