Part A: TRACKING

Maximum score: 100 points Verbal command: "search/such" -staying on the track = 80 pts -3 articles (7 + 7 + 6) = 20 pts

This is a search for lost articles on a stranger's track. The track is about 800 paces ( 2400') long, at least 60 minutes old, with three articles to be found. The dog may track free or on a 10 meter ( 30') tracking line; both ways will be scored the same.

The stranger's track contains four right angles. The judge determines the lay of the track in conformity with the available tracking terrain. The tracks must be laid out differently; for instance, every track cannot have all the
corners and all the articles at the same exact distances as the other tracks. The starting-point of the track must be well marked by a marker placed into the ground to the left of the starting-point. After the track layer has lingered a little while at the starting-point, he proceeds forward in the prescribed direction and places the first article after about 100 paces, and the second article in the middle of the second or third leg, without interrupting his stride. The third article is placed at the end of the track. After placing the last article, the track layer walks a few paces farther in the same direction, then steps sideways and returns out to one side of the track.

The handler may work his dog free or on the 10 meter ( 30') tracking line; both ways are scored equally. If the dog has not reached the end of the track within 20 minutes of his starting time, the judge will terminate the tracking work.

Procedure

The dog and handler must remain out of sight of the track during the laying of the track. The track-scent should, so far as possible, not be altered by the placing of the articles on the track. The track layer may not scuffle his feet or stop. The articles must be laid on the track, not beside it.

The handler prepares his dog for the tracking work. When called, he reports in to the judge with his dog and advises the judge whether the dog will pick up or indicate the articles. Doing both together (on the same track), i.e. picking up and indicating, is faulty.

On the judge's instruction, the dog is taken to the starting-point slowly and calmly and is started on the track. Any type of compulsion is to be avoided prior to the tracking, during the starting of the track, and throughout the tracking work. The dog is to be given ample time to take up the scent at the start of the track. Everything must be avoided that might tend to urge the dog to press forward impulsively.

The dog should take the scent calmly with a deep nose. As soon as the dog begins to track, the handler must stand still and let the 10-meter line slip freely through his hands. Then he follows his dog. If he is tracking without a line, the handler is to maintain the 30' distance behind his dog. As soon as the dog has found an article, he must immediately (without influence from the handler) pick up the article or indicate it convincingly. If the dog picks up articles he may then stand still, sit or return to the handler with the article. The dog may not lie down to pick up articles, nor may he proceed forward holding a picked up article; both are faulty behaviors. Indicating of articles may be done while lying down, sitting or standing still. When an article has been indicated, the handler drops the line and goes immediately to the dog. He shows that the dog has found the article by lifting the article high into the air. Then the handler continues the tracking work with his dog. After the end of the track, the handler must show the articles to the officiating judge.

It is permitted for the handler to go to the dog that has picked up an article. The tracking line may hang slack, so long as the handler does not let it fall from his hand (while tracking). The tracking line must be fastened to a breast-harness, Sniffing of the starting-stake is not faulty. If the handler gets to a point that is off the track by more than one length of the tracking line, the tracking is terminated.

If the dog leaves the track and the handler tries to hold him back, the judge will order the handler to follow the dog; if the handler holds the dog again, the tracking will be terminated.

Part B: OBEDIENCE

Maximum score: 100 points

Each individual exercise begins and ends with the basic position.

The judge gives the signal to begin each exercise. All further movements, such as turns, halt, change of pace etc. will be carried out without signals from the judge; however, the handler is permitted to request the judge to give commands (signals) for all of these movements. The transition from fast pace to slow pace must be shown without putting any normal-pace steps in between. The "leftabout-turns" may be made in either of two ways.

I. Free heeling (10 pts)

Verbal command: "heel/Fuß"

The handler reports in to the judge with his dog sitting off-leash beside him. The leash may not be visible to the dog. On the verbal command "heel/FuR", the dog must go with his handler willingly. At the start of the exercise, the handler and dog must go straight out 40-50 paces without stopping, make an about-turn, and after 10- 15 paces must show the fast pace and the slow pace (at least 10 paces each.) Then, in normal pace, the handler and dog must perform at least one right turn, one left turn, and one about-turn. The "about-turn" is to be shown as a leftabout-turn. The dog must always have his shoulder-blade at knee-level on the handler's left side, and the dog may not forge, lag or travel wide.

The handler may give the verbal command "heel/Fuß" only when starting forward and when changing pace. When the handler stops, the dog must sit quickly without influence from the handler. During this procedure, the handler may not change his basic position and especially may not move to accommodate a crooked-sitting dog.

Upon the judge's signal, the handler takes his dog through a group of at least four people. The handler must stop once in the group. The group members are to move about one another. Lagging, forging, heeling wide, and hesitation of the handler at the turns are faulty.

While the handler is performing the "free-heeling" exercise (but not while he is going through the Group), two shots (caliber 6-9 mm) are to be fired. The dog must remain indifferent to the gunshots. Any dog showing gun-shyness will be immediately excused from the trial. It is definitely faulty if the dog shows a desire to attack at the sound of the shots, even though he remains under the handler's control. Only the dog that is indifferent to the gunshots will receive full points.

2. Sit out of motion (5 pts)

Verbal command: "sit/sitz"

From the basic position, the handler goes straight forward with his free-heeling dog. After at least ten paces, the handler gives the verbal command "sit/sitz", and the dog must sit quickly without the handler altering his pace or looking backwards. The handler goes on another 30 paces, then stops and turns to face his dog. At the judge's signal, the handler returns to the dog and takes up the basic position on the dog's right side. Up to 3 points will be deducted if the dog lies down or remains standing instead of sitting at the command.

3. Down with recall (10 pts)

Verbal commands: "down/platz"; "come/hier"; "heel/Fuß"

From the basic position, the handler proceeds straight forward with his dog for ten paces, then goes directly into a fast pace. After at least ten paces further, the verbal command "down/platz" is given and the dog must quickly lie down, without the handler altering his stride. Without looking back, the handler runs a further 30 paces, stops, and turns immediately to face his dog. After a short pause, the judge signals the handler to call the dog. The dog must come in rapidly and happily and sit close in front of the handler. On the verbal command "heel", the dog must go quickly to sit beside the handler. If the dog sits or remains standing after the verbal command to "down", up to 5 points may be deducted.

4. Stand out of walking pace (5 pts)

Verbal command: "stand/steh"'

From the basic position, the handler with his free-heeling dog goes straight ahead. After at least 10 paces, on the verbal command "stand/steh"', the dog" must quickly stop and stand still, without the handler altering his stride or looking backwards. After a further 30 paces, the handler stops and turns around to face the dog. On the judge's signal, the handler goes back to pick up the dog. The exercise ends after the handler has returned to the dog's right side, has given the verbal command "sit/sitz", and the dog is sitting.

5. Stand out of running pace (10 pts)

Verbal commands: "stand/steh"'; "come/hier"

From the basic position, the handler and his free-heeling dog run straight out. After at least 10 paces, the dog must stop still on the verbal command 11 stand/steh"' without the handler altering his stride or looking backward. After a further 30 paces the handler stops and turns to face the dog. At the judge's signal the dog is recalled. The dog must come in fast and sit close in front of the handler. On the verbal command to "heel/FuR", the dog must quickly go to sit beside the handler.

6. Retrieving a 2 kg (4.4 lb) dumbbell on flat ground (10 pts)

Verbal command: "fetch/bring"

The dog sits free next to the handler. The handler throws a 2 kilogram dumbbell about ten paces ( 30') away. Upon the single verbal command "fetch/bring", the dog must run rapidly to the dumbbell, immediately pick it up, and return to the handler at a fast pace. The dog must sit close in front of the handler and must hold the article in his grasp until the handler takes the it from him with the verbal command “out/aus.” On the verbal command
"heel/Fuß", the dog must sit quickly beside the handler The handler must remain in the basic position until the dog has retrieved the dumbbell and is sitting next to him.

7. Retrievina a 650-gram ( 1<1/2> lb dumbbell by a clean jump Over a brushhurdle I meter (39") high, 1.5 meters (5') wide (15 pts)

Verbal commands.- "jump/hopp"; "fetch/bring"

The handler positions himself at an appropriate distance from the hurdle with his dog sifting free beside him. Then he throws the 650-gram wooden dumbbell over the hurdle. On the verbal commands "jump/hopp," "fetch/bring" the dog must perform a clean jump over the hurdle without disturbing it, immediately pick up the article , return over the hurdle, sit close in front of the handler, and hold the article in his grip until the handler, after a brief pause, takes the article from him with the verbal command "out/aus."

At the verbal command "heel/Fug", the dog must go rapidly to sit beside the handler. The verbal command "fetch/bring" must be given before ,the dog has reached the dumbbell.

8. Scaling-jump over a slanted wall 1.9 m (6') high and 1.6 m ( 5') wide to retrieve handler's article (15 pts)

Verbal commands: "jump/hopp"; "fetch/bring"

The slanted wall consists of two boards, hinged at the top, each being a scaling, board 1.5 m (5') wide and 1.9 m (6') tall. The lower parts of these boards, at ground level, are placed a certain distance apart from each other so as to produce a final vertical height of 1.8 m ( 6').

Each side of the wall has three wooden cleats fastened across it, each about 2448 mm (1"-2") wide.

The handler positions himself an appropriate distance from the scaling wall while his dog sits free next to him. Instead of a handler's article, the handler may throw a dumbbell over the wall. At the verbal commands “jump,” “fetch” the dog must scale the wall, immediately pick up the article, return over the wall and sit close in front of the handler. He must keep the article in his grasp all the while, until the handler, after a brief pause, takes it from him with the verbal command "out/aus". At the verbal command 'heel", the dog must rapidly go to sit beside the handler. The verbal command "fetch/bring" must be given before the dog has reached the dumbbell.

9. Send-away with down (10 pts)

Verbal commands: "go out/voraus"; "down/platz"; "sit/sitz"

On the judge's signal, the handler with his free-heeling dog proceeds several steps straight ahead in the direction he has been instructed to go. Simultaneously the handler lifts his arm and gives the verbal command "go out/voraus" and stops still. The dog must go out at a fast pace at least 40 paces (75') in the indicated direction, and must lie down immediately upon the verbal command "down/platz." The handler may keep his arm raised high, to show the direction, until the dog has downed. On the judge's signal, the handler picks up his dog by returning to the right side of the dog and giving the verbal command "sit/sitz".

10. Down under distraction (10 pts)

Verbal commands: "down/platz"; "sit/sitz"

Before the start of another dog's obedience exercises, the handler downs his dog at a distance of about 40 paces, without leaving the leash or any type of article with the dog. Now the handler, without looking around, proceeds at least 40 paces from his dog to a place out of the dog's sight but within the trial grounds. On the judge's signal, the handler picks up his dog by returning to the right side of the dog and giving the verbal command to "sit."

Part C: PROTECTION WORK

Maximum Score: 100 points

1. Searching for the Helper (10 pts)

Six blinds are to be set up in a staggered fashion, three on each side, along the length of an area measuring about 100 meters (300 ft.) long and about 80 meters (240 ft.) wide. A Helper with a full protection suit, protection sleeve and soft stick is placed in the last (sixth) blind, out of sight of the dog.

The handler (HF) positions himself, with his dog off leash sitting beside him, on an imaginary midline at the level of the first blind. By raising one arm high into the air, the HF signals the judge that he is ready to begin the work. Upon a signal from the judge, the HF begins the Protection Work. Upon the handler giving short voice commands and hand signals with the right or left arm, which may be repeated, the dog must quickly leave the handler and run to and around the blinds in order. The HF must move along the imaginary midline, and may not leave this position during the search for the Helper.

Once the dog has completed a search to one side, the HF may call the dog to him with a short voice command and, while still moving (on the center line), he may send the dog in another direction with a new short voice command. The voice command used to recall the dog to the handier may be combined with the callname of the dog. The dog must always run in front of the handler (while crossing the field to search). When the dog reaches the last blind, the handier must stop and stand still, and no further commands are allowed.

2. Hold and bark (5 + 5 = 10 pts)

The dog must confront the Helper attentively and bark continuously. The dog may not jump on or e the Helper Upon a signal from the judge, the HF goes to his dog. Upon another signal from the judge, the HF will position himself with his dog in the basic position, at a distance of one step (one pace) away from the Helper. Now the HF orders the Helper to move out of the blind a distance of five steps (paces).

3. Attempted escape of the Helper (15 pts)

Upon a signal from the judge, the HF with his free-heeling dog steps away from the blind and positions himself at a distance of five paces from the Helper. The handler leaves his dog in a sifting position guarding the Helper, and goes back again into the blind (to search the blind for weapons etc.). Upon a signal from the judge, the Helper tries to escape. Upon a voice command from the HF, the dog must immediately and without hesitation prevent the escape by means of an energetic and strong grip. Upon a signal from the judge, the Helper stops and stands still. The dog must release upon a single command and must guard the Helper closely and attentively.

4. Defense of the dog during the guarding phase (15 pts)

After a guarding phase of about five seconds, and upon a signal from the judge, the Helper makes an attack upon the dog. Without any influence by the HF and without hesitation, the dog must defend itself through energetic and powerful griping. Once the dog is griping the sleeve, he is to receive two stick hits. The hits are permitted on the thighs, side-portions (rib-cage) and in the region of the withers (top of shoulder blades). Upon a signal from the judge, the Helper stops and stands still. Upon a single short voice command, the dog must release and then guard the Helper closely and attentively. The HF goes to his dog and prepares for the back-transport. The stick is not taken from the Helper, but the Helper must carry it so that the dog does not see it until Exercise 6.

5. Back-transport (5 pts)

Next follows a back-transport of the Helper over a distance of about 30 paces. The HF orders the Helper to go ahead, and walks with his dog at heel at a distance of 5 paces behind the Helper. A short voice command is permitted at the start of the back-transport.

6. Attack on the dog during the back transport (15 pts)

During the back-transport, and without stopping, the Helper will make an attack upon the dog. Without any influence by the HF and without hesitation, the dog must defend itself through energetic and powerful griping. Once the dog has seized the sleeve, the handier must stop and stand still.

Upon a signal from the judge, the Helper stops and stands still. Upon a single short voice command, the dog must release and then guard the Helper closely and attentively. On the judge's signal, the HF goes to his dog, disarms the Helper, and positions himself for the side-transport.

Next follows a side-transport of the Helper to the judge over a distance of about 20 paces. A short voice command at the start of the transport is allowed. The HF must walk on the right side of the Helper, with the dog between the HF and the helper. During the transport, the dog may neither jump on nor grip the Helper. The group stops in front of the judge, and the HF presents the stick to, the judge. The Helper leaves the field or goes into the sixth blind.

7. Attack on the dog out of motion (15 pts)

The handler with his dog will be sent into the middle of the field, at about the level of the third blind. The dog, off leash, must sit next to his handier.

Upon a signal from the judge, the Helper, carrying a stick, steps out from the sixth blind in a running pace and runs to the midline of the field. When he reaches the midline, the Helper turns toward the HF without breaking his stride (and begins running toward the HF). As soon as the Helper has reached a point about 30 paces from the HF and his dog (which is sitting at heel beside him off leash), the judge gives the HF a signal and the HF (verbally) releases his dog. The handier himself may not move from his position.

The Helper makes a frontal attack upon the dog, accompanied by intimidating utterances and fierce threatening motions. The dog must thwart the attack through energetic and powerful griping. Upon a signal from the judge, the Helper stops and stands still. Upon a single short voice command, the dog must release and then guard the Helper closely and attentively.

8. Defense of the dog during the guarding phase (15 pts)

After a guarding phase of about five seconds, and upon a signal from the judge, the Helper makes another attack upon the dog. Without any influence by the HF and without hesitation, the dog must defend itself through energetic and powerful griping. Once the dog is griping the sleeve, he is to receive two stick hits. The hits are permitted on the thighs, side-portions (rib-cage) and in the region of the withers (top of shoulder blades). Upon a signal from the judge, the Helper stops and stands still. Upon a single short voice command, the dog must release and then guard the Helper closely and attentively.

Upon the judge's signal, the HF goes to his dog, disarms the Helper, and prepares for the side-transport. Now there is a side-transport of the Helper to the judge over a distance of about 20 paces. A short voice command at the start of the transport is allowed. The HF must walk on the right side of the Helper, with the dog between the HF and the Helper. During the transport, the dog may neither jump on nor grip the Helper. The group stops in front of the judge, and the HF presents the stick to the judge. The Helper leaves the field. The dog must remain in the free-heeling position while the dog and handier walk to the place where the critique will be given, and during the critique the dog must remain sitting free in the heel position. After the critique, the dog handler leaves the field with his dog heeling free beside him.