The UDC Conformation Championship is a notable three-phase accomplishment. The UDC recognizes the AKC/DPCA conformation standard for evaluating the Doberman with While any AKC or FCI registered Doberman may enter a UDC temperament test and conformation show, to finalize the requirements for a UDC Conformation Champion a dog must be UDC registered (have a scorebook), earn three Challenge Certificates (CCs) under at least two different judges, pass the adult UDC temperament test, and earn a performance title such as an IGP BH-VT or AKC CD. The owner does NOT have to be a member of the UDC to register the dog and obtain a scorebook, and all valid wins and titles will be used to determine the dog’s eligibility for a UDC Championship at the time the dog is registered.

Because the temperament test is a requirement for the UDC conformation championship, each UDC sanctioned conformation event must offer an official temperament test prior to the start of the conformation show(s) so that every dog entered has a chance to take the temperament test appropriate for their age and class entered. There is only one temperament test offered per conformation event, regardless of the number of shows featured at a single UDC sanctioned conformation event.

If a dog fails the temperament test required to enter the show, the dog and handler may still show in the conformation show(s), earn a class placing and awards, and receive a conformation rating and critique from the judge, but the judge cannot award a CC, and the dog is not eligible for Winners or a “Best” award in the show. A dog can repeat the UDC Temperament Test at another UDC event as often as the owner wishes to repeat it until the dog is able to pass the test or the owner decides that this dog may not be able to meet the temperament qualifications for the UDC conformation championship.

The Doberman(n) was developed by Herr Louis Dobermann in Germany in the late 19th century as a personal guard. Herr Dobermann was a tax collector and needed a fierce deterrent to thieves and thugs. Breeders of today's Doberman value not only the conformational characteristics of the Doberman, but also the protective instincts of the breed. Responsible breeders attempt to select dogs for breeding stock that demonstrate stability

and sociability while they also show their willingness to protect themselves and their owners from a perceived threat.

Who Can Take the Test?

The UDC Temperament Test is a brief, pass/fail character test open to Dobermans that are registered with the AKC or an FCI-affiliated registry that can reveal quite a bit about the innate character and protective instincts of the dog. This test is required to earn the title of United Doberman Club Conformation Champion. Each dog that enters a UDC conformation show event must take the test appropriate for the age and experience level of the dog, unless the dog has already passed the test. A dog may enter the test without entering a conformation class.

There are four types of temperament tests: Puppy (for dogs up to 12 months of age, Youth (for dogs 12 months of age but less than 24 months of age), Adult (for dogs over 24 months of age), and Sport (for dogs over 24 months of age who have a level of training comparable to a schutzhund/IGP level 1 title or better).

There are "ideal" reactions; however, a less than ideal reaction does not necessarily mean that a dog fails the test. All exhibitors will receive a written temperament test evaluation from the judge.

Sociability Phase

All TT levels include a Sociability Phase, where the dog and handler converse with the temperament test judge and enter a group of milling, talking people. The handler should allow the dog to move freely within the group, with limited guidance from the handler. The

judge observes the dog's reactions to these ordinary social interactions. The evaluation reflects an energy rating and a sociability rating. The energy rating can be high alert, medium calm, low disinterest. The sociability rating can be very social, passive, reservation, or flight.

Defense Phase

Youth and Adult Temperament Tests also include evaluation of the dog's response to a threatening stranger. In the Youth TT, this involves a suspicious approach from a stranger who charges at the dog, yelling and waving his/her arms.  In the Adult TT, the threat includes gunfire (toward the ground) as a stranger suspiciously approaches the dog, and during the charge and direct challenge, the stranger aggressively swings a padded stick in addition to yelling at the dog and handler.

The possible protections ratings are Pronounced, Satisfactory, and Insufficient. A dog and handler may take the temperament test once during a UDC event, but may attempt to pass the temperament test at separate UDC events. A passing evaluation is not required to show in conformation, however, dogs must pass the temperament test to receive a Challenge Certificate or to win "Best" or "Best Opposite" awards.

The UDC Breed Survey is an in-depth assessment of the Doberman's conformation, character, and health. The evaluation is modeled after the German ZTP (Zuchttauglichkeitsprüfung or breeding suitability test).  The UDC offers two Breed Survey designations: 

1) Breed Survey Basic (No Grips) (BSB), and 

2) Breed Survey Advanced (With Grips) (BSA). 

The dog must have earned an accepted performance title to enter the BSB, and must have earned at least a BH to enter the BSA. 

Certain health tests are required to enter either the BSB or the BSA (OFA or equivalent hips, VWD by DNA, and current (18 months) thyroid). The judge will assign a "b" health rating for dogs presented with only minimal health testing results. The health testing rating will be upgraded to "a" when the owner provides current (18 months) OFA CAER (eyes) and OFA Advanced Cardiac (Echo + 24-Hr Holter). All health results must be provded within 18 months of the Breed Survey evaluation to receive an "a" health rating.

Owners must provide proof of titles and health tests prior to the evaluation. 

In both evaluations, the breed survey judge examines the dog's conformation, noting strengths and deficiencies, measures height and length, and examines the dog's dentition, and if a male, the testicles.  The handler gaits the dog so that the judge may examine the dog's movement.

Immediately following the conformation evaluation, the dog and handler move into a temperament evaluation which includes testing the dog's sociability and stability in a large group of people, tying the dog out and leaving it "alone", testing for gun sureness, and finally examining the dog's interest and ability in engaging a threatening attacker. 

In the BSB, the attacker comes from hiding to strongly threaten the dog with a padded stick, but never comes close enough for a grip or a stick hit. It is considered a test for untrained dogs because there is no grip or out required, but we encourage owners to familiarize themselves and their dogs with the sequence of events in the Breed Survey before attempting a BSB. 

In the BSA, the attacker comes from hiding to strongly threaten the dog with vocal pressure, a visible sleeve and waving a (padded) stick. The dog must respond to the threatening stranger with a convincing fight and grip on the sleeve, only loosening the grip upon the owner's command. After the attack from hiding, the attacker runs down the field, then turns and comes toward the dog and handler screaming, at a run, waving the stick. The dog must leave the handler and run toward the attacker and again engage the attacker with a convincing fight and grip. The dog must maintain the grip, even when the attacker strikes him across the withers with the (padded) stick.  The dog should only release the grip on the owner's command. The dog must release the grip on command (OUT) on at least one of the grips to pass the evaluation (demonstrates control). The dog must return to a reasonably calm state within 2 or 3 minutes following the cessation of the attack, allowing the judge to touch him/her. 

The dog should definitely have been exposed to protection training before attempting the BSA, but the level of training and precision required for successful schutzhund competition is not required. The owner must simply be able to control the dog, and the dog must exhibit a desire to engage with the attacker with deep, quiet grips.

At the conclusion of the evaluation, the judge will assign a rating indicating the test taken (BSB or BSA, the conformation rating (E-Excellent,VG-Very Good, G-Good,S-Sufficient, D-Disqualified, J-Could Not be Judged), the temperament rating (1 (highest), 2, 3, Held Back, Failed) and the highest temperament rating that can be assigned for a BSB entry is 2, and the health rating (A - all tests submitted, B - minimal tests submitted). A dog that is disqualified in conformation or fails the temperament portion of the  test cannot take the test again. A dog that is Held Back in the temperament portion can repeat the test once, after a 3-month waiting period.

Example: BSA-E1A - This dog took and passed the Breed Survey Advanced with an excellent conformation rating, the highest temperament rating, and complete health tests required.

Please be sure to carefully review the rules for the UDC Breed Survey available here:

 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Gbk5s7OmVZLxtckoXArvsDpCtiZdW_vz/view?usp=sharing