General Regulations

The trial judge or his designee determines the course and suitability of each track at the available tracking fields.

The tracks must be designed differently. For example, it may not be that the corners and dropped articles in each track are identical. The starting point of the track must be marked well by a sign or marker stuck in the ground on the left side of the starting point.

The sequence of the particulars is dawn by lost by the judge.

The handler (track layer) has to show the articles to the judge or someone answerable to him, before the start of the track.

The only scent articles allowed are well- weathered ones( aged at least 30 minutes). The handler (track layer) lingers briefly on the starting point and then goes with normal steps in the direction designated by the judge. The corners are also made at normal pace.

The first articles is dropped after at least 100 steps on the 1st or 2nd leg, at the judge’s direction. The second object is dropped at the end of the track. The articles must be placed while moving. After the dropping of the last articles, the tracklayer must continue walking some steps in the same direction. Different articles must be used, made of leather, textile, wood[any two of these]. Articles length should be approximately 10 cm [about 4 inches], with a width of 2-3cm [a little over an inch], and a thickness of 0.5-1cm [less than half an inch]. They may not stand out in color much from the terrain on which they are dropped. During the laying of the track, the dog must be out of sight.

The judge and assistants may not interface with works of the dogs in the area in which the team (handler and dog ) is searching.

a) Voice Command

An example of a voice command for searches: Such! (Search!)

The Voice command for “search” is allowed at the start of the track, and after the first article. (it is pronounced almost like “sook” but with a softer, guttural ch/k.)

b) Performance of the Exercise

The handler prepares and brings his dog to the track. The dog can search freely or on a 10-meter long line. The 10-m tracking lead can lie over the back, at the side, or between the front and/or hind legs. it can either be directly fastened to the “dead ring” of the approve collar or to a harness (allowed are a chest harness or a bottger harness, without additional straps).

After being summoned for their test, the dog handler reports with his dog to the judge near or at the starting position, and tells the judge whether his dog will pick up the articles or indicate their position. before the track, during the search, and throughout the total exericse, there must not be any psychological pressure given to the dog. on the judge’s order, the handler leads the dog slowly and steadily to the starting point and tells the dog to search. The dog must right away take the scent intensely,steadily and with a deep nose. The dog must continue then with deep nose, in a constant, steady tempo, intensely following course. The handler follows his dog at the 10-meter distance at the end of the tracking lead. It is a free search (off-line), the distance of 10 m is likewise to be observed.

The tracking lead may sag, as long as it is not dropped by the handler. The dog must work out the corners surely. After the corner, the dog must continue searching at the same speed. As soon as the convincingly indicate its location without influence from the handler. The dog may remain standing when picking it up, sit, or come to the handler. Going on with the article, picking it up, sit, or come to the handler. Going on with the article, or picking it up while lying down are standing (or any combination of these). If the dog has indicated or picked up the article, the handler drops the tracking lead and proceeds to his dog. By lifting of the articles, he shows that the dog has found them. After this, the handler picks up the tracking lead again and continues the track with his dog. After performance of the track, the found articles are to be shown to the judge.

c) Evaluation / Scoring

The speed of search is not a criteria in the performance appraisal, as long as the track work is intense, steady, and convincing, with the dog showing a positive search attitude. Exuberance (without leaving dog showing a positive search attitude. Exuberance (without influence from the handler. The dog may remain standing when picking it up while lying down are faulty. The indications can be accomplished by lying, sitting or standing (or any combination of these). If the dog has indicated or picked up the article, the handler drops the tracking lead and proceeds to his dog. By lifting of the articles, he shows that the dog has found them. After this, the handler picks up the tracking lead again and continues the track with his dog. After performance of the track, the found articles are to be shown to the judge.

d) Evaluation/ scoring

The speed of search is not a criteria in the perforamce appraisal, as long as the track work is intense, steady, and convincing, with the dog showing a positive search attitude. Exuberance (without leaving the track) is not faulty. Inattentiveness, high nose, voiding (urinating or defecating), circling at the corners, constant encourgagement, using the line or verbal helps during the track or at the articles, is faulty, as is incorrect picking up ir indicating of the articles; points are deducted accordingly. If the dog leaves the track more than the length of a tracking lead, the track is halted; the exercise is over. If the dog leaves the track and is held back from doing so by the handler, the judge will order the handler to follow the dog. It this order is not followed, the tracking is to be halted by the judge. If the end of the track is not reached within 15 minutes after arriving at the starting point, the tracking is halted by the judge. The performance up to that discontinuance is rated.

If a dog both indicates and picks up articles on the track, this is faulty. Only the scent articles that were exhibited and approved at the beginning are allowed. Indication faults are recorded in connection with the evaluation/ scoring of the respective legs.

No points will be awarded if articles are neither indicated nor picked up.

The distribution or allotment of points for holding to the track on each leg will be made according to length and degree of difficulty.

Evaluation of the respective legs is made by the judge after consulting his notes and adding the points. If the dog does not actively search (if it dwells in place for too long without searching for the track), the exercise can also be stopped then, even if the dog is still on the track course.

IPO/schH/VPG-1, phase “B’ ODEDIENCE

General

The judge gives the order for the beginning of an exercise. Everyting following , such as turns, stopping, changes of pace, etc. are executed without further order.

The voice commands are established in the rules. Orders to the dog are spoken in a normal voice, and are short, single-word commands. They can be given in any language; however for each activity they always must be stopped without a score for that part. For the recall, the name of the dog can be used in lieu of the action command, but not both. The name of the dog together with any voice command counts as a double command.

In the starting position (“basic position”) for heeling, the dog sits close and straight at the left side of the handler so that the shoulder of the dog is close to the knee handler. Each exercise begins and ends with the basic position. Setting up the basic positon is allowed only once at the beginning of any exercise. A short praise is allowed only after each finished exercise, and only in the basic position. After that, the handler can take a new starting place and, for the dog, a new basic position. A clear time interval (approximately 3 seconds) must be observed, in any case, between praise and a new beginning.

From the basic position, the so-called “development” is worked out. The team must take at least 10, and at most 15, steps before a voice command is given for the performance of any different part of an exercise. Between the parts of an exercise and at its conclusion, clear pauses (approximately 3 seconds) are to be observed before the delivery of a subsequent command. This includes the pauses before and after taking up a new basic heel position, as well as when retuning to the dog that is sitting, standing, or lying at a distance. When picking up the dog, the handler can step in front of, or go around behind, his dog to the basic position.

The off-lead heeling is to be maintained while moving between exercises or their parts. The dog must also accompany the handler when getting the dumbbell for the retrieve. A loose grip or playing with the dumbbell is not allowed.

The about-face is to be executed by the handler pivoting to the left. During the about –face, the dog can either finish (go to heel) behind the handler or cross in front, the execution of which must be the same every time.

When commanded to heel, the dog can either go around behind the handler or turn in front to get to the basic position. This “finish” must be in the same style each time.