Choose A Page

Dog Sports Open  |  Decoy Competition  |  Judges Instructions  |  Contact Us | Print This Page

Judges instructions for Dog Sports Tournament

Above all, the dog/handler team (hereafter referred to as "team") should present an idea of working together as one Good handling skills, adaptability and understanding of the dogs' capabilities are to be rewarded as much as allowed. Excess force, over correction, brutality are to be punished. Expecting the dog to do something dangerous, or showing disappointment in the dog's performance by poor handling, or sportsmanship, is penalized as well.

Obedience: 

All the regular points apply, however, skill level (beginning, intermediate, advanced) needs to be taken into account. Nervousness at the beginning level should not be penalized, unless it results in brutality or harsh corrections. A team's failure to perform due strictly to handler error should be so noted on the score sheet. Handling tips should be given at the beginner and intermediate level. Thoughtful, or innovative approaches to problem solving should be rewarded, especially when presented in a novel way. For example: A handler chooses a new approach to doing an exercise, without seeing this approach by any other handler. This innovation, especially when it results in a good score, should be remarked upon and rewarded if possible.

Some rules: 

Lagging should be penalized more than forging. Control around distractions is important, however, and there is a distinction between the lagging of a dog that is distancing him/herself from the distraction, and a slow, sullen dog. Keeping in mind that this is a new approach to competition, double commands should be noted, but not penalized as much as in other applications, especially in distraction situations. A dog that shows fear of it's handler should be especially penalized. Body language commands are not to be penalized. Commands may be given by any means (hand, voice, whistle).

Collars: 

It should be noted what type of collar the dog is wearing in the obedience portion of the test. That same collar should be utilized throughout the test. Handlers may present their dog in a prong, or pinch collar, however, an automatic 56 point deduction is given before the test starts. In addition, the prong collar must remain on the dog during the protection phase of the test.

Grounds for excusing a team:

Uncontrollable during obedience. This is left to the discretion of the  judges, however, examples would be.... Unable to remain in a stay; constant tugging or pulling on the leash; showing aggression to passive person; showing aggression to judges during obedience portion; showing aggression to the handler at any time during the test.

Excusing a beginner:

Every attempt should be made to allow a beginner to continue. However, aggression during the obedience is strongly discouraged. A warning should be issued to the handler if this occurs, and another chance given. If the dog persists, it is permissible to excuse the handler to regain control of his/her dog, and re-enter the test at a later time of the same test day. A handler that is obviously under the influence of alcohol, or other drugs, is automatically excused. A dog that is clearly a danger to other people must be excused. Failure to pass the obedience portion of the test is not immediately grounds for excusing, however, the handler should be informed that he or she has received a failing score on obedience, and told to "correct" the dog during the bitework phase. In all case, if an accidental bite of a person, or animal occurs and is due to BAD HANDLING, INATTENTIVENESS, or POOR SPORTSMANSHIP on the part of the handler, the dog team will be excused. IF an accidental bite occurs on another animal, but the handler did try to intervene, or in the opinion of the judges, handled the situation to the best of their ability, they may be allowed to continue.

Suggested Scoring:

OBEDIENCE:

The score sheet should represent your impression of the dog and handler as a team. Especially important would be those faults resulting in a dog out of control.

Suggested point loss:

PROTECTION

Suggested point loss:

COMMANDS

The dogs should bite well when the handler is attacked, and should do so without a command.

A dog that appears to wait for a command, even though the handler is being assaulted, should be penalized.

Suggested Penalties:

• Dog waiting for command, if the dog commits strongly after the command

-5 points

• If the dog is weak, or appears to go slowly to defend, even with a command

-10 points

• Dogs that need to be excited or agitated to begin the aggression should be penalized more than those that may be a bit quick to bite in the handler aggression.

• Extra commands to say

-1 points

• If the dog outs by voice

no penalty

• If the dog outs by voice AND collar correction

-2 points

• If the dog needs to be grabbed by the collar to out

-5 points

• If the dog needs further correction, or a combination of all of the above, or a flank pull, or the decoy has to go into a "freeze" or Schutzhund style position to help the handler gain control

-10 points

HANDLER

A good handler should be rewarded.

• A handler who appears to "act" in a normal fashion, could be given plus points, (even if the dog receives negative points, extra commands to stay).

+5 points

+10 points

Civil Agitation:

Tie Out Exercise:

The dog should appear very intent on the decoy, always looking forward. His aggression level should rise with the decoys' aggression, and proximity. Good defensive display is what is required here. Aggressive barking, snarling, focus on the body/face of the decoy, lunging area all very positive. What we are trying to avoid....

Avoidance:

In all cases, signs of avoidance..(yawning, turning the back towards the approaching decoy, sniffing the ground instead of focusing on the approaching decoy, going into an "obedience mode" are heavily penalized.

 

-25 points

Play behaviors:

Dog should NOT show any playful behaviors. Play bows, going down in the front legs, but erect in the rear, "happy" barks, basically prey responses should be penalized. Be aware, however, that we are looking at trainers from all disciplines.

A dog that appears to down on the approach of the decoy may be reacting to previous training (as in French Ring) in anticipation of the attack command.

Do not penalize this behavior as much as you would typical play behaviors. Watch and gauge the seriousness of the dog.

 

-5 to -10 points

Reward dog/handler teams that seem to work well together, dogs that "check" back in with their handlers, dogs that seem to be aware of the body of the handler.

Penalize those handlers that do not "help" their dog, or who, due to training, cause their dogs to behave incorrectly.. (ie. giving an inappropriate command, like sit, or down, while the decoy is approaching).

Please note on the score sheet if you are penalizing the dog, or the handler. Also note the compatibility of the dog/handler. Size, handling skill, all are a part of this. If a person is very small, but has a huge, powerful dog that they cannot or would not be able to handle in a "street" protection situation, that should be noted. The Tie Out Exercise is to determine three things.

• A handler who tries to control the decoy should be rewarded: (ie: *stop fighting my dog, stand still, etc.) should be rewarded

+2 to +5 points

The dog should not need the presence of a suit or sleeve to trigger defensive display. If you feel the dog is "looking" for equipment, penalize that dog. Suggested penalty, if the dog does not go into the decoy, but rather focuses on the side, or appears to look for equipment.

If the decoy throws something, and the dog focuses on the thrown item, and NOT the decoy, this would also be evidence of a prey/play behavior.

-10

A dog that, in your opinion, would scare off the aggressive stranger should be rewarded. Those dogs who "wait" for the decoy to come close, or who are silent, but lunging, should not receive as high a score as those who bark, snarl, snap, and appear very aggressive to anyone, whether a dog trainer or not.

A dog that would pull its handler down, or overpower the handler in a typical "street" situation should be penalized over the dog that seems to match the owners strength. This can be a trained situation. If a dog appears very controlled, (standing next to the handler, but still appearing very defensive, snapping, growling, barking, lunging) it should be rewarded over the dog who, without the tie back, would move its handler. Keep in mind the apparent strength and physical abilities of the handler when judging this portion. DO NOT penalize a dog based on whether or not he/she strains on the leash or tie back.

Because we keep in mind that a large dog would probably deter most attacks simply by appearance, suggested penalty for overpowering:

-5

Plus points can be given for good handling, a handler who through skill, or training, obtains a good response should be rewarded. For example: A decoy is approaching and it appears that the dog is intimidated. If, through body language, commands, or movements, the handler works the dog into a proper response, he/she should receive + points, even if the dog receives negative points.

Good handler skills, and response to adverse reactions from the dog are noted, and rewarded. So, in the above situation, the dog may be penalized for going into avoidance.

-5 to -10

BUT, the handler gets the dog through the exercise, by praise, or encouragement, or movement. To note the difference between that handler, and another handler who just stands there, not interacting with the dog, just observing the dogs' reaction, he or she should receive positive points:

+5 - +10

Penalty points can also be given for handler who appear disgusted, or disappointed by their dogs' behavior.

We are looking for equipment sensitivity, as well as the ability for the dog to deal with an uncomfortable, confined area. The dog should move freely about the vehicle, and show strong aggression. Dogs that remain silent while the decoy is being vocally aggressive should be penalized. Dogs that show no interest, or who appear intimidated by the vehicle, should be heavily penalized. Once again, prey behavior is not as desirable as a strong defensive display.

Once we are looking at the higher levels, control becomes an increasingly important issue. However, team work, and innovation are equally important. At the advanced level, suggested penalties are:

Obedience

All obedience is off leash.

• Extra commands

-1

• Slow to perform commands

-1

• Refusal to perform

-2 to -5 (depending on what the distraction is, and how long it takes the handler to get the dog to perform..)

• Sullen behavior, or slinking, showing fear of the handler

-5

• Attacking or attempting to attack distractions during obedience

-5 for livestock

-10 for humans

• However, if the handler intervenes quickly, and prevents an actual bite

+2 to +5 (depending on the skill, quickness, and ability to fully prevent the attack from occurring, as opposed to intervening, but the dog still doing some damage, or having contact.)

• A handler that does not attempt to stop his/her dog, or to intervene in any way except by commands, should be penalized.

For example: The dog is sent towards a decoy. The dog veers off, to chase sheep. The handler stands at the departure point, yelling at his dog.

No Handling Points

-10 for the dog attempting to attack the sheep

-5 for not going to bite, or

-25 for the entire exercise.

Different Team:

The dog is sent towards a decoy, the dog veers off to chase sheep. The handler instantly runs towards his dog, or towards the decoy, to get the dog re-interested in the attack on the decoy.

-10 for the dog attempting to attack the sheep, BUT

+10 to +15 for good handling and then

-5 for failure to respond to a command.

If the dog veers back to the decoy, the exercise can be continued, and the dog/handler team would only lose a total of:

-5 for failure to respond and any extra commands points needed.

This would be up to the discretion of the judges, as to the severity of the situation, and the attempts or non-attempts of the handler to intervene. It is to be constantly remembered that it is the TEAM WORK that we are looking for.

General Observations.

In my opinion, the attacks on a running, or distance decoy are not as "realistic" as those that revolve around handler protection. A dog that is distracted while running away from his handler, then, is not to be penalized as severely as a dog who fails to protect his handler from attack because he is distracted. A dog who, when presented with a clear attack on his handler, does not show quick desire to bite, is to be penalized more severely, than a dog who, because of high prey drive, chases or attempts to chase sheep, or other livestock, while the decoy is moving away from the handler.

In all cases, we will instruct the decoys to turn distance attacks into handler attacks if the dog fails to bite, or pursue the decoy at a distance.

So for example: In the scenario, "Glasses, glasses", there is a distraction decoy, a passive decoy, but veers off towards the sheep. Either decoy, (which ever is closest, even if it means the distraction decoy) should be instructed quickly to attack the handler.

IF the dog comes back without a command to protect his handler, he will receive:

-5 points for failure to perform/attacking the sheep.

IF the dog needs a command:

-10, plus

-1 each additional time the dog has to be told.

-25 for the exercise.

With this in mind, it is to be remembered that accidental bites (as in Help I've been shot!) on the "policeman" should not be penalized as much as when the dog leaves the handler to attack a passive, or non-threatening decoy at a distance from his handler.

IN the same light, a dog that is working out of "love of the fabric" or is clearly a "jute junkie" should not be overly rewarded over the dog that is clearly defensive of his handler

Please try to be specific as possible on the score sheets so that the competitors can have a good idea of why they scored the way they did. Don't hesitate to slow down the competition, or to pause while filling out the score sheet.

If you would like to converse with the other judge, please announce "TIME OUT" and when you are ready to re-start, announce "TIME IN". This will allow the competitors to relax, and understand that they are not being judged at that time.

If you want some different behavior from your decoys, announce "TIME OUT" and proceed directly to the Decoy. The Decoy judge will accompany you, and observe your instructions to the decoy. He will then judge the decoy on his/her ability to follow your instructions. When ready to judge, announce "TIME IN".

At any time, after any "TIME OUT" is announce, either by a decoy, Ringmaster, or judge, judging is to cease.

Purpose of the "ring master"

The ringmaster is to insure that everything is going smoothly. IF you have questions, changes, observations, need anything, ask the ringmaster. They will be outfitted with a loud speaker, or may just yell commands to others for you. In addition, they will act as stewards, getting the competitors to come on the field, and excusing them after the competition.

Decoy judge

The decoy judge is only to concern himself with the actions and deportment of the decoys. If the judges wish to ask the decoy to change something, they may ask the decoy judge to relay their wishes. He will not be responsible for any commentary, or scoring, on the handler/dog team. If you have a comment about the decoy work, please share it with the decoy judge. He may or may not have the same vantage point that you do.

He is allowed, however, to call "TIME OUTS" just as a regular judge, and must be kept informed of all decisions regarding bitework, changes, additions, or instructions. He may be asked for input regarding an attack, if it is felt that the decoys work influenced, either negatively, or positively, the outcome.