The purpose of the breeding certification program is to identify and recognize dogs of merit as a guide to breeding. Although this program is and for a number of years must be optional, it is the ultimate objective that it will become the breeding requirement, that is, prerequisite for litter registration.

The association shall publish, without charge and in a special section, litter announcements when both the sire and dam are breeding certified.

Since the IPO is the internationally recognized title, the term shall be used in this document. In all instances, unless specifically otherwise stated, the corresponding Schutzhund title shall be taken as equivalent.

Bouviers des Flandres fulfilling the following requirements shall be designated as certified for breeding:

A Bouvier des Flandres which is certified for breeding and achieves the IPO III (IPO I for females) and has two or more progeny with breeding certification shall be designated as a Select Producer.

The NAWBA Protection Exercise shall be identical to the Schutzhund I protection exercise with the following exceptions:

The results shall be announced in terms of ratings, as indicated herein, rather than scores.

The handler shall have the option of completing a "reduced obedience" version of the test, which shall lead to the corresponding reduced ratings.

In the "reduced obedience" version of the test, the handler may omit the bark in the blind exercise and may use a leash with the dead ring of the chain collar in the attack on the handler exercise. (The leash shall be less than four feet in length and must be released immediately as the helper emerges from the blind.)

The handler shall remove the leash prior to the courage test.

The courage test shall be done in the normal manner

Although the precision and obedience requirements are reduced, the character, courage and hardness of the dog must be judged against the most rigorous standards. The dog must go directly to the sleeve and bite firmly and accept the stick hits.

These tests are to be taken most seriously as breeding certifications. Although the handler must act in a correct and sportsmanlike manner, and may not give extra help to his dog, the emphasis is to be on the character and performance of the dog rather than the precision of the handler.

No scores are to be announced.

Dogs entering for the reduced obedience requirements are to be rated as either "sufficient" or "insufficient."

To be sufficient a dog must bite firmly on both the attack on the handler and the courage test, release the grip without physical intervention at least once and be under reasonable handler control.

(The guiding criteria should be to ask yourself "would I like to train a puppy out of this dog" rather than the details of the performance.)

Dogs entering the complete Schutzhund I test shall be rated "insufficient," "sufficient" or "especially recommended."

To be sufficient a dog must bite firmly on both the attack on the handler and the courage test, release the grip without physical intervention at least once and be under reasonable handler control.

A dog who would receive a passing score and a rigorously evaluated rating of "pronounced" in courage and hardness in a complete Schutzhund I routine should receive the ratting "Especially Recommended."

When in doubt, the judge may repeat a portion of any exercise once. If doubt about the fundamental character of the dog remains, the judge must give the lesser rating. (Judges must not construe this provision to mean that a dog is automatically entitled to a "second chance." Only in instances of serious doubt may an exercise be repeated.)