Passing the BH Test in IGP

Why the BH Matters and How to Pass First Time

If you have set your sights on passing BH test in IGP, you are aiming at the gold standard for real life obedience and stable temperament. The BH proves that your dog can stay calm, focused, and accountable in public and on the trial field. At Smart Dog Training, we prepare teams for passing BH test in IGP through the Smart Method, our structured system that builds clarity, motivation, and trust. With a certified Smart Master Dog Trainer guiding your plan, you can enter the field with a proven routine and a dog that performs with confidence.

In this guide, I will walk you through every element of passing BH test in IGP. You will learn the format, the rules that matter, how the judge reads your team, and the exact training steps we use at Smart. Everything here is designed to help you pass on your first attempt, and to do it with calm, clean behaviour that lasts beyond test day.

What Is the BH Test in IGP

The BH, short for Begleithund, is the entry level temperament and obedience test within the IGP framework. Passing BH test in IGP confirms that your dog is socially reliable, manageable in public, and responsive to your handling under pressure. The test has two parts. First comes the field obedience routine, then the traffic and character test in a public environment. It is a pass or fail outcome based on the overall performance and temperament.

Smart Dog Training prepares every team for passing BH test in IGP by building a repeatable routine under structured distraction. We focus on clear cues, precise handling, and a dog that understands how to work through pressure and find reward. This is how you produce obedience that is calm, not frantic, and that holds up when the judge is watching.

Eligibility and Requirements

Before you plan on passing BH test in IGP, check the basics.

• Dog age and identification. Your dog must meet the minimum age set by the event host and have valid identification and record book.
• Temperament. The dog must be safe around people and dogs. Any aggression or fear that impacts control will result in a fail.
• Equipment. A flat collar is required for the routine. Bring a standard lead for heeling on lead and a longer line for the traffic test if the judge requests one.
• Handler readiness. You must know the heeling pattern, positions, and judge instructions. Passing BH test in IGP is as much about the handler as the dog.

BH Test Day Format

Events often start with a brief identity check. The judge confirms your paperwork and may watch your dog’s behaviour in the group. The field obedience phase and the traffic and character test follow. The order can vary, so listen for the steward. Passing BH test in IGP requires a consistent standard across both phases because the judge forms an overall view of the team.

Field Obedience Breakdown

The field routine shows controlled heeling, clean positions, and a reliable recall while another team works. Passing BH test in IGP depends on clarity and consistency in each exercise.

Heeling on Lead and Off Lead

You enter the field with your dog at heel on your left. The judge or steward gives the start. The pattern includes straight lines, about turns, left and right turns, halts with auto sit, normal pace, slow, and fast. You pass through a group of people twice. After the on lead section, you remove the lead and repeat off lead.

Smart handlers train heeling as a behaviour chain. We mark attention, reward position, and build pace changes until the dog maintains focus without conflict. For passing BH test in IGP, we prioritise a quiet, neutral heel with a soft shoulder and steady rhythm. Flashy is not required. Clean and consistent is the goal.

Sit from Motion

From heel, you walk forward, cue sit while moving, continue a few paces, then turn and return to the dog. The dog should sit promptly and remain until you return to heel position. For passing BH test in IGP, the sit must be clear, fast, and stable without extra cues.

Down from Motion with Recall

From heel, cue down while moving, continue forward about 30 paces, turn and face your dog, then recall to front on the judge’s signal. Finish to heel. Passing BH test in IGP depends on a straight recall and calm front without jumping or bumping.

Long Down under Distraction

While another team performs, your dog lies in a down for about two minutes. You stand at a set distance with your back to the dog. No fidgeting or signals. This exercise measures impulse control and neutrality. Many teams lose the BH here. Smart training builds a long down as a relaxation skill with clear release. If you want passing BH test in IGP, invest time in this.

Traffic and Character Test

The judge observes your dog in a realistic public setting. Expect contact with a small crowd, joggers, cyclists, passing dogs, parked or moving cars, and basic handling like a brief tether or a short separation. The dog must remain safe, confident, and under control. For passing BH test in IGP, the dog should show interest without reactivity and recover quickly from brief surprises.

Equipment and Handling Rules

Only a flat collar is allowed for the obedience routine. No training tools are permitted on the field. Your lead must be held in the left hand or positioned as instructed. Hand signals are limited to the rules. For passing BH test in IGP, crisp handling matters. Keep your cues minimal, your body still, and your voice calm. The judge should not see nagging, double commands, or visible luring.

How the Judge Assesses Your Team

While the BH is a pass or fail, judges still track quality. They watch for focused heeling, fast responses to cues, clean positions, and neutral behaviour in public. They also assess the handler. You must know the pattern, step off cleanly, and present your dog with composure. Passing BH test in IGP is easier when you show a rehearsed routine and thoughtful ring craft.

The Smart Method for Passing BH Test in IGP

All Smart programmes use the Smart Method. It is a structured, progressive system built to deliver calm, reliable behaviour. This is the backbone of passing BH test in IGP.

Clarity

We teach clear verbal markers for every phase. Yes to release and reward, good for maintained behaviour, and a neutral no reward marker to reset. For passing BH test in IGP, we separate training language from trial language so your dog hears only the cues allowed on the field.

Pressure and Release

Fair guidance helps the dog take responsibility for position and impulse control. We pair light lead pressure or spatial pressure with a clear release and reward. This builds accountability without conflict. It is essential for heeling and the long down when you are aiming at passing BH test in IGP.

Motivation

We use food and toys to create a positive emotional state. Rewards are placed with purpose. In heel, the reward comes from your left hip. In recall, it comes from center to promote straightness. Motivation drives engagement, which is why it underpins passing BH test in IGP.

Progression

Skills are layered at home first, then in a quiet field, then with staged distractions, then in new venues. We add distance, duration, and difficulty in planned steps. This is the direct path to passing BH test in IGP because your dog learns the picture they will see on trial day.

Trust

Consistency and fair feedback build trust. Your dog learns that your cues are reliable, your rewards are earned, and your expectations do not change with pressure. That bond produces calm, confident work, which is what the judge wants to see when passing BH test in IGP.

An Eight Week Plan to Test Day

Use this Smart template to organise your training. It is built for passing BH test in IGP with clear weekly goals.

Weeks 1 to 2 Foundation and Clarity

• Heel position. Shape a straight sit at your left side. Mark and reward a quiet head and shoulder alignment.
• Heel start and first 5 paces. Step off straight, mark the first seconds of focus, reward from the left hip.
• Sit and down on the spot. Build fast, clean positions with one cue.
• Long down foundation. Two to three minutes at home with you in sight. Add a calm release word.
• Traffic proofing at distance. Watch bicycles and joggers at a distance where your dog stays neutral. Mark calm focus.

Weeks 3 to 4 Pattern and First Distractions

• Complete heeling pattern on lead. Add halts, left and right turns, about turn, and pace changes.
• Sit from motion. Add two steps of continuation after the cue, then return.
• Down from motion and recall. Shape a straight recall to front. Avoid crooked sits by rewarding from center.
• Long down with another dog nearby. Keep duration short but increase the pressure of a working team in sight.
• Group heeling. Walk through four people twice. Reward calm attention as you pass.

Weeks 5 to 6 Off Lead and Proofing

• Off lead heeling in a fenced area. Keep sessions short and end on success.
• Sit from motion and down with recall off lead. Pay for fast responses to a single cue.
• Long down as another dog works the full pattern. Build to two minutes with you standing still.
• Traffic and character drills. Controlled exposure to bicycles, joggers, prams, and passing dogs.
• Handler mechanics. Rehearse ring entry, lead removal, and quiet posture between exercises.

Weeks 7 to 8 Trial Rehearsals and Taper

• Full routine with a mock judge. No extra cues. Record the session.
• Public neutrality. Practice brief separation, tethering, and calm greetings with friends.
• Micro fixes. Clean up the first five paces of heel, the recall front, and the finish.
• Taper the last three days. Short, sharp sessions and generous rewards. Protect your dog’s energy.

This plan is proven across our programmes and is purpose built for passing BH test in IGP. If you need a personalised plan, work directly with a certified trainer.

Ring Craft and Handler Mechanics

Great heeling starts with your first step. The judge notices your posture, your lead handling, and your timing. Use these Smart handler rules to support passing BH test in IGP.

• Stand tall and breathe before you step off. Your dog feels your nerves.
• Use a soft left hand on the lead during the on lead section. No constant tension.
• Keep your right hand still at your side. Avoid fishing in pockets or hovering over the dog.
• Count three silent seconds after each halt before moving again. This cleans up auto sits.
• Pause and centre yourself before the recall cue. Then deliver one clear cue.

Proofing for the Traffic and Character Test

Passing BH test in IGP requires a dog who is truly neutral in public. We design staged proofing that mirrors what the judge will do.

• Small crowd. Four to six people stand close. You heel through, stop for a brief greeting, and move on.
• Jogger and cyclist. A helper jogs past at a safe distance, then cycles by. You maintain heel or a stationary sit with calm focus.
• Dog pass by. A neutral dog walks past at a right angle. Your dog stays in position and watches you.
• Brief separation. You tether your dog, step away, then return calmly.
• Car exposure. Open a car door, step around parked cars, and walk past a running engine without reactivity.

Every rep is marked by clarity. We reward neutrality, not just obedience. That principle is key to passing BH test in IGP because the judge values a dog who stays balanced in a real environment.

Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them

These are the errors we see most often when teams attempt passing BH test in IGP.

• Loss of focus in the first five paces. Fix by over preparing your first step. Mark and reward the first seconds of heel in training.
• Slow sit from motion. Rebuild the sit separately. Pay speed first, position second.
• Crooked recall front. Reward from center, step back as the dog arrives to straighten, then finish clean.
• Breaking the long down. Lower duration, increase distance, and reward calm after release. Layer distractions slowly.
• Nagging cues. Train with one clear cue and pause for the dog to respond. Reward correct choices. Avoid chatter.
• Handler nerves. Rehearse the full routine with a mock judge and video. Confidence comes from reps, not from hope.

Test Day Checklist and Warm Up

A tight routine lowers stress and supports passing BH test in IGP.

• Paperwork and ID. Pack the night before.
• Collar and leads. Flat collar for the field, spare lead, and a line for traffic work.
• Rewards for warm up. Food and a toy if your dog works for both. Keep them away from the field unless allowed.
• Potty breaks. Give your dog time before check in and before each phase.
• Warm up plan. Two to three minutes of focused heel, one sit from motion, one down from motion, then stop. Keep the brain fresh.
• Ring entry. Walk on with purpose, set your start point, breathe, and begin on the judge’s signal.

Working With a Professional Coach

Coaching accelerates progress and prevents costly habits. A certified Smart Master Dog Trainer can see the splits in your heel, the micro tension in your recall, and the triggers that break your long down. We use video review, structured homework, and staged proofing to set you up for passing BH test in IGP. If you want a bespoke plan or help polishing the last ten percent, book time with us.

Ready to turn your dog’s behaviour around? Book a Free Assessment and connect with a certified Smart Master Dog Trainer - available across the UK.

How Smart Dog Training Delivers Results

Smart is the UK authority for structured, results driven training. Our programmes are built only on the Smart Method. That means every step you take toward passing BH test in IGP is mapped and measurable. We do not guess. We teach clear markers, use fair pressure and release, build motivation, progress distractions in planned layers, and protect the trust between you and your dog. This is how we deliver reliable behaviour that holds in real life and on the trial field.

FAQs on Passing BH Test in IGP

What age should my dog be for the BH

Your dog must meet the host club’s minimum age rules and be mature enough to show stability in public. Most teams target passing BH test in IGP after the first year, once foundation obedience and neutrality are solid.

How long does the BH take on the day

Expect the process to take a few hours including check in, field obedience, and the traffic and character test. Passing BH test in IGP comes down to a few minutes of focused work, so manage your dog’s energy during waiting periods.

Do I need a perfect heel to pass

No. You need a clean, attentive heel without forging, lagging, or wide turns. The BH rewards consistency and control. For passing BH test in IGP, prioritise quiet focus and clean handling over flashy animation.

What happens if my dog breaks the long down

The judge may reduce your rating or fail the exercise depending on the rules and the extent of the break. To keep passing BH test in IGP on track, train the long down as a relaxation behaviour and proof it gradually in new places.

Can I reward my dog on the field

No food or toys are allowed during the routine. All rewards happen before or after the performance. Smart training builds value for markers and the work itself so your dog can perform for passing BH test in IGP without visible reinforcement.

How do I handle my nerves

Routine is the antidote. Rehearse the full pattern with a timer and a mock judge. Use breathing before you step off. Work with an SMDT for feedback. Confidence grows from rehearsal, which directly supports passing BH test in IGP.

Conclusion

Passing BH test in IGP is not about luck. It is the result of a clear plan, fair accountability, and real proofing in environments that look like the test. The Smart Method gives you that plan. Shape a quiet heel, clean positions, a straight recall, and a rock solid long down. Build neutrality for the traffic and character test. Rehearse the routine until both you and your dog could do it on autopilot. If you want direct coaching, our nationwide team is ready to help.

Your dog deserves training that truly works. With certified Smart Master Dog Trainers (SMDTs) nationwide, you'll get proven results backed by the UK's most trusted dog training network. Find a Trainer Near You