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So I guess it is back to the conditioning drawing board!

Melissa,
When I did the BH with my dog that portion of the temperment test was as you described it. I had assumed the test was standard, but have found out by attending some more trials that it can be anything a judge deems a proper test for stability! So you will need to "condition" for more than one scenerio.

Ie, in the last trial I attended the handler was told to down the dog in the middle of a group of about 15-20 people, and then leave to stand far outside that group. The judge stood within 2 ft of the dog and had the group "mill" (walk quickly) in one direction and on his command, turn around quickly and mill in the other.

Then the judge had the group take several steps backward and on his command walk quickly inward, toward the circle's center, to stand almost over the dog. So close in fact, he had to warn folks to be careful not to step on the dog's tail! He called it "pressing" the dog.

The judge waited a few seconds to observe any reaction as the group loomed over the dog, then gave the handler permission to call the dog out of the group.

I was impressed that the two dogs I saw that went through this didn't break! I don't think our own dominant/sharp, male dog would accept such an invasion of his space.

At the training clinics I used to go to, that is exactly the training scenario we would imprint in the dogs. First, the group advancing, then the group would form a circle around the handler and the dog, who is in a sit. Then the group would advance in a circle, as close as the temperment of the dog would allow. The dog was expected to hold the sit. Then the group withdrew, handler platzed the dog, left the group. The group would then advance close. With my dog, one person or two would hold a treat, so she wouldn't be too freaked out. Then the handler recalled the dog from between someone's legs. Then more group work, standing talking, jogger, and so on.

This was REALLY good work for the dogs. And, yup, the dogs who could not handle the group in close without growling would up failing the B.

I hope my next Schutzhund club uses this as part of the training.

Altho, I wonder if every dog who fails this test due to sharpness is necessarily a dog who should fail, or has, as they say, a 'lot of temperment'. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />