What does IBgH stand for?
Internationale Begleithunde-Prüfung: the FCI international companion dog test, in three levels, with obedience exercises only.
FCI-IGP trial
IBgH 1-3: the FCI obedience tests for companion dogs
IBgH (Internationale Begleithunde-Prüfung) are the three FCI obedience-only tests: no tracking, no protection. They are the natural continuation of the BH for companion dogs and for teams that want internationally recognised titles without entering the full IGP programme. Each level carries 100 points and is passed with at least 70.
What is the IBgH test?
IBgH is the FCI-IGP "companion dog" test in three levels that evaluates obedience only: heeling, positions out of motion, recall, retrieve, send-out and the long down under distraction. There is no tracking phase and no protection phase, so no helper is needed and no gunshot sureness is tested (no shots are fired at BH or IBgH).
The levels build up gradually: IBgH 1 is heeled on leash, IBgH 2 introduces the retrieve and the send-out, IBgH 3 adds the stand out of motion, the retrieve over the 140 cm scaling wall and an exercise order drawn by lot by the judge.
Who can enter and from what age
- any dog identifiable by microchip or tattoo, regardless of breed or size;
- 15 months reached on the day of the trial, at all three levels;
- a passed BH for IBgH 1; a passed IBgH 1 for IBgH 2; for IBgH 3: IBgH 2 or FCI Obedience 1 or IGP 1;
- a dog that has already passed IGP 1 or an Obedience trial must start directly at IBgH 3.
Exercises and points per level
| Exercise | IBgH 1 | IBgH 2 | IBgH 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heeling on leash | 30 | 20 | - |
| Free heeling | 30 | 20 | 20 |
| Sit out of motion | 15 | 15 | 10 |
| Down out of motion with recall | 15 | 15 | 10 |
| Stand out of motion with recall | - | - | 10 |
| Retrieve on the flat | - | 10 | 15 |
| Retrieve over the scaling wall (140 cm) | - | - | 15 |
| Send out with down | - | 10 | 10 |
| Down under distraction | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Total | 100 | 100 | 100 |
Source: FCI-IGP 2025, "Distribution and values of the exercises in the individual levels". In IBgH the dog does not have to sit in front of the handler on the recall or the retrieve: it may go straight into the basic position.
Scoring and passing
Every exercise has its own points; extra commands cost 1.5 points (first) and 2.5 points (second), and if the dog still does not perform after the second extra command the exercise scores 0. A position error (the dog lies down on "sit", for example) costs 50% of the exercise. A dog that does not release the dumbbell on the third command is disqualified for disobedience.
Passing requires at least 70 points out of 100. Ratings follow the FCI scale: excellent 96-100, very good 90-95, good 80-89, satisfactory 70-79. The special title FCI-IBgH special goes to a dog that passes IBgH 3 twice within the same two-day event.
| Rating | Share of points | Out of 100 | Out of 300 (IGP 1-3) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent | 96-100% | 96-100 | 286-300 |
| Very good | 90-95% | 90-95 | 270-285 |
| Good | 80-89% | 80-89 | 240-269 |
| Satisfactory | 70-79% | 70-79 | 210-239 |
| Insufficient | below 70% | 0-69 | 0-209 |
What the trial day looks like
- temperament evaluation and microchip check in a neutral place, before entering the field;
- reporting in to the judge: handler's name, dog's name and level;
- dogs work in pairs: one performs the exercises while the other is in the long down under distraction;
- at IBgH 3 the order of exercises 2-6 is drawn by lot from five variants, the same for all participants;
- the result is entered in the scorebook whether the trial is passed or not.
How this connects to what we do
For our teams IBgH is the recommended path after the BH when the goal is high-level obedience rather than protection. The exercises (positions out of motion, recall, retrieve, long down) are exactly the ones in our advanced training course, and a dog that owns them also works cleaner on the trail.
Official regulations
The figures on this page come from the documents below; on trial day the text of the regulations is what counts.
- A.Ch.R. - FCI-IBgH regulations, Romanian translation (PDF)
- FCI - International Utility Dog Regulations 2025 (PDF)
Related pages
Questions and answers
Frequently asked questions
Do I need the BH before the IBgH?
Yes. A passed BH is the prerequisite for IBgH 1, and each further level requires the previous one (for IBgH 3, Obedience 1 or IGP 1 are also accepted).
Are gunshots fired at the IBgH?
No. Gunshot sureness is tested only in IGP trials; no shots are fired at BH or IBgH.
How many points do I need to pass?
At least 70 out of 100 at each level.
Can I skip straight to IBgH 3?
Only if you already hold IGP 1 or an FCI Obedience title; in that case you must start directly at IBgH 3.
Start with the BH.
Every FCI-IGP trial starts from the companion dog test. We prepare teams for it and guide them onwards.