The present rules are published to set the common requirements for trainers on dog training, and to determine the common general order of skill testing, these rules come into effect when published.
Rules and regulations for trainer testing and for working dog testing published in 1985 by the Central Committee of DOSAAF, USSR are annulled when the present new rules come into effect.
Organization of testing procedure
General regulations
1. The goal of dog testing is:
a) to estimate dog’s training level;
b) to determine dog’s suitability for stud breeding;
c) to estimate club members’ practical skills on dog training;
d) to sum up the results of training work;
e) to conduct reiterated dog testing to give higher marks.
2. Dog testing is organized by kynological organizations; this testing is conducted during a year on the sports-and-training grounds or other convenient places that have no distracting irritants.
A place for testing is arranged beforehand: the ring grounds are equiped and fenced, the obstacles and way-guides are set, border lines marking is put, the routes are laid, the block-stations are equiped and so on. Before trials it is allowed for dogs to test sports exercisers, 5 minutes before trials they should stop it.
It is not advisable to conduct testing when rain, snowfall, strong wind, low (below - 20°Ñ) or high (above + 30° Ñ) temperature. As an exeption are the clubs that situated in cold or hot climatic regions, where dogs are adoptable to such conditions. A day and a place for testing are determined and announced beforehand.
3. Dogs that are admitted to testing, should be of the required age and have a brand to identify them.
Ill dogs and pregnant bitches are not admitted to testing. Bitches in heat are tested in the last place in time determined by the club.
4. Reiterated testing (if the requirements to get a diploma are not satisfied), as wel as training testing to get the higher degree, grade or mark, is organazed a month after the first testing. Dogs are disqualified, if they fail in testing to get the higher degree, grade or mark. Dogs that got the higher degree, grade or mark may confirm it at trials.
5. Dogs that got the obedience diploma, are admitted to testing on courses including the Protection Course.
6. RKF working trials experts (a “judge” below) judge dogs on trials. A judge may retest a dog on every skill, if he doubts a dog carried out a skill rightly. Judge’s decision is final and without right of appeal..
7. A judge cann’t assess and qualify dogs trained under his guidance, or his own dogs and his relatives’ dogs.
8. A person who arranges trials should register a grade list and a form of the summary results report (with the brand number of every dog) for every participant and his dog.
All the papers he passes to a judge before trials begin.
9. One or two taught assistants are invited to help; they must work in a safe outfit.
10. Judge’s daily work quota should be:
- the General Trainng Course, the Protection-and-Guard Work Course, the Complex Training Course - not more than 20 dogs;
- the Search-and-Rescue Work Course, Search Work Course - up to 5 dogs;
- other courses - up to 10 dogs.
11. At trials tainers should be dressed comfortably, that clothes couldn’t prevent from rulling a dog properly.
Dogs should not have leads, rigid collars or medals on. But testing of skills that require presence of outfit is considered as an exeption.
12. A diploma is signed by a judge who assesses a dog at trials, and given to an owner. Judge’s signature must be deciphered, RKF certificate number should be put next to judge’s signature.
13. In a week after trials a judge must present filled in and signed grade lists and summary results report of trials to the club. The papers should be presented in duplicate. One copy of the summary results report should be sent to the according federation.
Generalized trials data for a year are put down in the club register.
Trainer and dog’s actions
Their training degree
14. A trainer should rule a dog by the commands ( by voice and gestures simultaneously) that the present Rules set. A voice command and a gesture must be given by a trainer immediately after judge’s instruction. It is allowed to rule a dog by a gesture within 5 seconds.
A judge controls all trainer’s actions.
A trainer, by judge’s instruction, must rule a dog definitely, use the intonation skillfully, give the commands accurately and watch dog’s behaviour carefully.
When a dog carries out a skill or the whole complex, it is allowed to encourage a dog by stroking.
To use dainty as an encouragement is not allowed.
Trials begin with trainer’s report. A trainer and a dog stop at 2-3 m in fron of a judge, a trainer gives his name and reports he is ready for trials.
15. In accordance with got marks dogs get the diplomas. To get a diploma dog’s rating should conform to the table of minimum marks.
16. Judges estimate dog’s work on every skill or complex in accordance with the requirements of the concrete regulations. Uncontrolled dogs and too aggressive dogs or dogs that demonstrate fear are disqualified.
17. In National training programs a special attention should be given to clear differentiation of trainer’s mistakes and dog’s ones. For example, insufficient dog’s preparation, or dog’s distraction, or unskilled rulling of a dog by a trainer (unnecessary commands, lax control, unskilled usage of intonation, an inopportune command) may cause a frequent command.
Characteristic behaviour features of every breed must be taken into consideration when judging.
