Search and Escort
Breakdown of points
Discovery: 10 points
Escort: 30 points
PENALTIES:
 -10 |
 -10 |
Dog does not search despite the second command
| -40 |
-40 |
Dog does not discover the Decoy during the allotted time
| -40 |
-40 |
Dog does not bark during the allotted time
| -10 |
-10 |
Dog bites within the blind
| -5 |
-5 |
Dog does not guard closely at the blind, per m escaped
| -1 |
-1 |
Handler runs to the blind (deducted from G.A.)
| -2 |
-2 |
For each bite during escort or after “out”
| -2 |
-2 |
Additional command to “out”
| -2 |
-2 |
Dog lets the Decoy escape, per meter
| -1 |
-1 |
Handler does not maintain 3 m distance during escort
| -10 |
-10 |
Handler interferes with Decoy during escape
| -30 |
-30 |
Dog does not guard closely for 5 seconds before the Judge's signal
| -5 |
-5 |
Dog barks without having discovered the Decoy
| -5 |
-5 |
The dog leaves the guard at the Judges’s signal
| -2 |
-2 |
Dog does not return within 10 sec of the recall command
| -5 |
-5 |
Number of hiding places: 6 fixed plus one movable, which may be placed at the discretion of the Judge. During this exercise, the second decoy needs to be at least 5 meters from the field in an area that can be closed so that if the dog leaves the field they cannot see and reach the second decoy.
Time allotted for search and bark: 2 to 3 minutes at the Judge’s discretion, depending on the surface of the field. It is important that the Judge or a member of the Jury is placed where he can see what happens in the blind. In effect, if the dog is not vigilant, the Judge can authorize the Decoy to flee, and the meters escaped would be penalized.
The dog must have the possibility to access the blind, where the decoy enters the blind. There can be more than one entrance to the blind.
The Decoy absolutely must follow the course indicated by the Judge, to put all the dogs on an equal basis. His walk must be natural and his attitude as identical as possible toward all the dogs, without provocation on his part. He must attempt to escape three times, at his own initiative, according to the behaviour and vigilance of the dog, independently of the possible escape from the blind. In case the dog loses vigilance after the third escape, the judge may penalize the dog and request an additional escape before the horn to signal the phase of the guard of the decoy.
The decoy should not fixate too much on an obstacle to steal meters. He can go over a particular obstacle no more than three times before escaping. During the second pass over of the obstacle the judge may inform the decoy that he still has another chance to pass over. The decoy cannot use the same obstacle more than once.
This exercise must demonstrate the dog’s ability to bring a fleeing lawbreaker to bay, and the Decoy must act in this situation like a prisoner attempting to escape.
When the Dog in White appears, the Judge impresses upon the Decoy the proper attitudes and behaviour, he defines the course and maintains a good balance between the spirit and execution of the exercise.
The use of jumps in order to assist in fleeing is forbidden.
Obstacles may be used as a diversion during escapes, but not in more than 2 escapes.
Stay commands at the end of escapes are forbidden.
After the escort has started, it is only allowed to use the “out” command, all extra command after the dog has stopped biting will result in the loss of all points of the escape. The “out” command consists of the dog’s name, followed by the handler’s choice of a command word. (There cannot be a pause between the two words).
The dog and his handler will leave the field accompanied by the Deputy Judge. They return at the signal of the Judge, when the Decoy has hidden. If the dog is vigilant, after the discovery of the Decoy, the handler himself will (upon the Judge’s approval) call the Decoy out of the blind. He must walk without changing his pace.
Once the dog has alerted, the handler, on authorization of the judge, will approach at 3 m to the hiding place at a point marked on the ground at 3 meters of the blind before asking the decoy to step out. If the handler runs to the blind there will be a penalty against General Attitude. Also, if the dog leaves the “zone of vigilance”, the Judge may allow the Decoy to attempt an escape. A dog is considered vigilant if he looks at….follows….watches…. the decoy. If the judge is alone, he/she should place themselves close to the discovery spot so they can have a good view. If the dog does not make the discovery in the allotted time, then the exercise is cancelled. If the dog makes the discovery but does not bark in the allotted time, he loses 5 points of the search; but the handler, on the Judge’s signal, will return to the blind to continue the exercise. As long as the dog has not signalled the discovery of the Decoy by barking, the Judge may not allow the Decoy to leave the blind even if the dog has passed and continues his search.
It will be allowed the regulation time for the search. If the dog returns to the handler, within a radius of 3 m, before the end of the allotted time, the handler may give an additional search command, which will be penalized.
If the dog bites the Decoy, whether it has barked or not, it loses 5 points. If the dog alerts the handler by barking, without having discovered (see) the Decoy, it is penalized 5 points.
Decoy needs to be hidden to keep the spirit of the exercise. If the dog leaves the field (if the fence is not substantial), the handler must call back his/her dog. He will not be penalized and the clock will stop. At the judge’s signal, the handler stays at his/her place and calls back his/her dog. The exercise continues when the dog is back in the field. If the dog returns within 3 meters of the handler, another Search command is allowed and will not be penalized. However, if the field is regarded as well fenced and the dog leaves, the clock will not stop. The judge will signal the handler who stays at his/her place to call back his/her dog. The time allotted for the exercise will not be changed.
If dog restarts search without assistance from the handler, no penalty. If extra command is given (-10).
Once decoy is discovered, a dog that bites decoy for 15 seconds without barking will lose 10 points, plus -5 GA. The judge will signal the handler to go to the 3m mark. Additional “out” commands will be penalized.
1. If dog does not stop biting after 30 seconds, the team is disqualified.
2. If dog stops biting, the handler will ask decoy to step out of the hiding place.
During the course of the exercise, the Decoy must avoid when he attempts to escape, and keep as far as possible from the dog. There will not be a one meter allowance for the escapes. He will stop his escape attempts only when the Judge sounds the horn and the handler gives the command, about 3 seconds after the bite. The distance escaped, while the dog is biting, will not be penalized; but if the dog lets go before the handler’s command, the Decoy will continue to escape. The Decoy may not resume walking after an “out” command, except on the Judge’s signal. During the entire escort, the handler must remain at least 3 m from the Decoy, behind or beside him, but never in front of him. If meters lost are more than 30, the team keeps the discovery points minus the penalties for faults during discovery.
The Judge indicates the end of exercise by several horn blasts. The handler commands “stop” and the Decoy stops walking. When the escort stops, the dog assumes a guard in place, with the same penalties of those for Defence of the Handler. The handler recalls the dog to heel and puts himself at the disposal of the commissioner.