The Kennel Club has approved the following changes to the regulations for working trials.
The below regulation has been amended to ensure clarity around what is expected when a trial is cancelled.
Amendment to Regulation I5.b
To:
- Any cancellation or abandonment of a trial without prior permission of the Board must be reported in writing to the Kennel Club without delay, and must be carried out in accordance with the relevant Kennel Club published event cancellation policy.
(Insertion in bold)
(Effective 1 January 2022)
The below regulation has been added to allow trial organisers the choice of how they wish to accept entries. A consequential amendment has been made to a subsequent regulation to reflect this.
Additional Regulation I22.a and Amendment to Regulation !21.c.(14)
New Regulation I22.a.
To:
Societies have discretion to accept online entries only, postal entries only, or both online and postal entries. Schedules must clearly state the way in which entries may be made.
(Insertion in bold. Subsequent paragraphs to be renumbered)
(Effective 1 January 2022)
Regulation I21.c.(14)
To:
If accepting postal entries; A separate official entry form which must include the ‘declaration’ to be signed by the entrant as on the specimen entry form issued by the Kennel Club.
(Insertion in bold)
(Effective 1 January 2022)
The below regulation has been amended to allow clubs to hold single-stake championship trials which would give them flexibility to hold smaller trials, where they were unable to run larger events due to land availability or other constraints.
Amendment to Regulation I24.a
To:
Societies must schedule one other tracking stake in addition to the working trial certificate stake. Societies may schedule a single Championship CD, UD or WD stake, provided there is no Championship TD or PD stake on the same dates.
(Insertion in bold)
(Effective 1 January 2022)
The below regulation has been amended to disallow lockouts for any of the Patrol exercises following a review of the PD Stake as a whole.
Amendment to Regulation I26.f
To:
- Where a person is working more than one dog in the PD Stake, the judge must not prevent any competitors from watching the Patrol Round. Lockouts are not permitted for any of the Patrol exercises. There must be a run through of the complete Patrol test in the presence of the competitors before judging of the Patrol exercises commences.
(Deletion struck through. Insertion in bold)
(Effective 1 January 2022)
The below regulations have been amended to clarify and simplify the responsibilities of judges.
Amendment to Regulations I(B)6. 7, 9 & 10
Regulation I(B)6.
To:
- Retrieve a dumb-bell.—The dog should not move forward to retrieve nor deliver to hand on return until ordered by the handler on the judge or stewards’ instructions. The retrieve should be executed at a smart pace without mouthing or playing with the dumb-bell and the dog should sit in front of the handler. After delivery the handler will send the dog to heel on the instruction of the Judge or Steward. Extra commands shall be permitted in the Introductory stake.
(Insertion in bold)
(Effective 1 January 2022)
Regulation I(B)7.
To:
- Send away and directional control.—The minimum distance that the judge shall set for the send away shall be 18.288m (20 yds) for the Introductory stake and the CD stake and 45.72m (50 yds) for all other stakes. In the Introductory stake the maximum distance that the judge shall set for the send away shall be 45.72m (50 yds). The TD and PD stakes shall also include change of direction or directions of a minimum of 45.72m (50 yds). When the dog has reached the designated point or the judge is satisfied that after a reasonable time the handler cannot improve the position of the dog by any further commands the dog should be stopped in either the stand, sit or down position at the discretion of the handler. At this point in the TD or PD stakes the judge or steward shall will instruct the handler to redirect the dog. In all stakes, whilst the judge should take into account the number of commands used during the exercise, importance should be placed upon the handler’s ability to direct the dog to the place indicated.
(Deletion struck through. Insertion in bold).
(Effective 1 January 2022)
Regulation I(B)9.
To:
- ‘Speak on command’.—The judge will control the position of the handler in relation to the dog and may require the handler to work the dog walking at heel. If the dog is not required to walk at heel, the handler may place the dog in the stand, sit or down. The dog will be ordered to ‘speak’ and cease ‘speaking’ on command the instruction of the judge or steward who may then instruct the handler to make the dog ‘speak’ again. ‘Speaking’ should be sustained by the dog whilst required with the minimum of commands and/or signals. Continuous and/or excessive incitements to ‘speak’ shall must be heavily penalised. This test should must not be incorporated with any other test.
(Deletions struck through. Insertions in bold).
(Effective 1 January 2022)
Regulation I(B)10.
To:
- Agility.—the descriptions below should be followed for agility:
- No part of the clear, long jump or scale equipment to be traversed by the dog shall be less than 914.4mm (3ft) wide nor be in any way injurious to the dog. The tests shall be followed in any sequence decided by the judge Clear Jump, Long Jump, Scale, commencing with Clear Jump. The test must commence with the clear jump and then be followed in any sequence of the long jump and scale.
- The scale should be a vertical wall of wooden planks which must be grooved, or chamfered along their bottom edge, to assist the dog. Slats are not permitted. The top surface of the scale may be slightly padded. The handler and dog should must approach the face of the scale at a walking pace with the dog at heel.
(Deletion struck through. Insertions in bold).
(Effective 1 January 2022)
The below regulations were amended to provide clarity to the regulations dealing with how the bite exercises should be conducted, and to minimise risks to dogs and stewards.
Amendment to Regulation I(B)1 and new Regulation I(B)18
Regulation I(B)1. Method of handling
To:
Although implicit obedience is necessary, dogs and handlers must operate in as free and natural a manner as possible; persistent barking, whining, etc. in any exercise other than location of person or speak on command should be penalised. The handler must not have food or a toy on their person whilst being tested. In any exercise where the dog is required to bite a protected steward (protected consistent with safety), it must be on the right arm. Any indiscriminate biting must be severely penalised.
(Deletion struck through)
(Effective 1 January 2022)
New Regulation I(B)18. Health and Safety, Bite Exercises
To:
In any exercise where the dog is required to bite a protected steward (protected consistent with safety), it must be on the right arm. Any indiscriminate biting will result in the dog being excluded from the remainder of the test. At no time in any exercise should the sleeve be presented to the dog in an obvious and exaggerated manner, but equally it must not be obscured in such a way as to make it inaccessible to the dog. A protected steward shall, for both their safety and that of the dog, take the energy impact of the bite, landing all of the dog’s feet as soon as possible, and without any such movement that causes the dog to be swung or lifted up in a circular motion.
(Insertion in bold)
(Effective 1 January 2022)
The below regulations have been amended with the objective of modernising and simplifying the language used in the regulations, and providing additional clarity, whilst making no material changes to their content.
Amendments to Regulations I(B)14, I(B)16, and I(B)17
Regulation I(B)14. Test of Courage
To:
This is a test of courage rather than of control, and the method of testing is at the Judge’s discretion. Handlers must be prepared to have the dog tested when off the lead by a protected steward. The protected arm must be accessible. The dog must be judged on its courage and attitude.
(Insertion in bold)
(Effective 1 January 2022)
Regulation I(B)16. Recall from protected stewards
To:
The ‘protected steward’ protected consistent with safety, will be introduced to the handler whose dog will be free at heel. After an unheated conversation the ’protected steward’ will run away. At a reasonable distance the handler will be ordered to send his dog. When the dog is approximately half way between handler and the ‘protected steward’ he will be ordered to be recalled. The recall may be by whistle or voice. The ‘protected steward’ should continue running until the dog returns or closes. If the dog continues to run alongside the ‘protected steward’, the ‘protected steward’ should run a further ten or dozen paces to indicate this.
The dog will be off lead beside the handler. The position of the dog and the command given to send the dog must be the same as that for the Pursuit exercise. The ‘protected steward’ will be challenged and will reply in order to gain the dog’s attention before running away as directed by the judge. The handler will be told when to send his dog. When the dog is approximately half way between the handler and the ‘protected steward’ the judge will signal to recall the dog. The ‘protected steward’ should continue running until the dog returns to the handler or bites the sleeve. The recall may be by whistle or voice.
(Deletion struck through. Insertion in bold.)
(Effective 1 January 2022)
Regulation I(B) 17. Pursuit and detention of protected stewards.
To:
The ‘protected steward’ (a different one for choice) and handler should be introduced as above, and the dog sent forward under similar conditions. The ‘protected steward’ must continue to attempt to escape and, if possible, should do so through an exit or into a vehicle once the dog has had a chance to catch up with him. The dog must be regarded as having succeeded if it clearly prevents the ‘protected steward’ from continuing to flee by holding him by the protected arm. If the dog fails to make a convincing attempt to detain the ‘protected steward’, it shall lose any marks that it may have obtained for the recall from ‘protected stewards’ exercise or alternatively, it shall not be tested on the recall that follows the pursuit and detention of protected stewards exercise.
The dog will be off lead beside the handler. The position of the dog and the command given to send the dog must be the same as that for the Recall exercise. The ‘protected steward’ will be challenged and will reply in order to gain the dog’s attention before running away as directed by the judge. The handler will be told when to send his dog.
A run-out point may be set by the judge.
The dog must detain the protected steward by holding him by the protected arm until commanded by the handler to release.
If the dog fails to detain the ‘protected steward’, it shall lose any marks that it may have obtained for the Recall exercise, or it shall not be tested on the Recall.
(Deletion struck through. Insertion in bold.)
(Effective 1 January 2022)
The below regulations have been added in order to standardise equipment to ensure, as far as possible, the safety of protected stewards and dogs.
New Regulations I(B)18.a, b and c
Regulation I(B)18.a.
To:
Patrol Dog - Equipment and Protective Clothing
- The judge must either provide the equipment or check its suitability. Sleeves must have a tapered edge, and a jute cover, and must be suitable for all dogs entered. The cover must not be brand new, nor frayed. There must be a hand grip inside the sleeve. Close weave covers must not be used. There must not be external buckles, or a joint in the sleeve which leaves a gap. The sleeve must not be obscured by clothing or anything else. Puppy sleeves may not be used. ‘Scratch pants’ which protect the helper from dogs’ nails may be worn. The sleeve must be accessible should the dog bite.
(Insertion in bold)
(Effective 1 January 2022)
Regulation I(B)18.b.
To:
- For Quartering the ground, Search and Escort, Recall from protected stewards, and Pursuit and Detention of protected stewards, protected stewards must wear a sleeve as described in the Equipment and Protective Clothing regulation on the right arm.
(Insertion in bold)
(Effective 1 January 2022)
Regulation I(B)18.c.
To:
- For the Test of courage, protected stewards must wear a sleeve on the right arm as described in the Equipment and Protective Clothing regulation, or a ‘bite jacket’ with a light-coloured jute area on the right arm. Items used in the Test of courage must be designed to be non-injurious to the dogs, with no sharp points or hard objects inside any sacks used.
(Insertion in bold)
(Effective 1 January 2022)