Complete NVBK Rules:

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TABLE OF CONTENTS:

I. introduction to the ring rules………………………………………… 2

II. obedience exercises:......................................................................................... 6

A. heel (with and without leash): Total of 10 points……………. 6

B. refusal of baits: 20 points........................................................................... 8

C. positions (down, sit, stand) total of 12 points.................................. 9

D. down (1 minute): 8 points.............................................................................. 11

E. retrieval of a thrown object: 10 points.......................................... 12

F. identification and retrieval of an object: 10 points....................... 13

G. straight ahead: 10 points............................................................................ 16

III. jumping exercises:............................................................................................ 17

A. palisade jump: 20 points............................................................................... 18

B. jump over a fixed hedge: 10 points.......................................................... 19

C. jump over hedge with ditch: 10 points.................................................. 20

D. jump over a large ditch: 2O points......................................................... 21

IV. biting exercises:................................................................................................ 22

A. guard of the object: total 50 points.................................................. 24

B. attacks: total 70 points.............................................................................. 29

C. defense of the master: 40 points........................................................... 34

D. search and escort of the decoy: 50 points...................................... 37

E. general appearance: 20 points................................................................ 41

I. introduction to the ring rules

The N.V.B.K. program is divided into 3 sections:

· Obedience exercises

· Jumping exercises

· Biting exercises

This order always has to be followed

Each of the 3 divisions is subdivided into different exercises.

The order of these exercises can be changed except for the exercise “heel with leash”.

Each competition has to start with this exercise, which is used to present handler and dog to the public. The order of the other exercises is decided by the jury.

Obedience exercises however can never start with the exercise “identification of the object”. Biting exercises can never start with the exercise “search for the decoy” (first there has to be contact between dog and decoy). If the biting exercises start with the exercise “guard of the object with muzzle”, the next exercise cannot be “search for the decoy” either.

Overview:

· Normally the jury consists of 2 judges, at least one of them a national judge. The national judge who handles the bell, cannot use it on his own initiative. He always has to take his colleague’s opinion into account. The judge handling the bell always has to be close to the dog, the other judge has to follow attentively. If a competitor fails in a certain exercise it is not obligatory to ring the bell.

· The judges have to take the following points into account:
® category of the contest
® weather circumstances
® factor “luck” has to be excluded (use of smoke,…)

· The relationship between handler and dog has to be watched attentively. Each brutality shall be punished severely, not only during the exercises, but also in the time between the exercises (this also counts for the test dog).

· If, during an exercise, the dog places one or more paws ON the line, he won’t be punished. It has to be OVER the line or OUT of the square to lose points.
There have to be fixed lines for obedience exercises and attacks (lines made of sand or chalk are forbidden). Lines can be maximum 5cm (approximately 2 inches) wide.

· Competitors are not allowed to have noisy objects (coins, chains, keys,..) in their pockets. This can mean exclusion.

· Each competitor has to present is “competition book” and his insurance papers to the jury, prior to competing. If not, the judges decide whether he is excluded or not.

· Each ill-treatment towards to dog leads to instant exclusion and at least a month of suspension.
This will be mentioned on the report of the judges. The “competition book” will be withheld and sent to the National Secretary. No notes shall be made in the competition book. The concerned competitor won’t get any points or prize, if he has to leave the field for bad behavior.

· The field where the contest takes place is under N.V.B.K. rules the whole duration (day or 2 days). Training before or after the contest is ABSOLUTELY forbidden.

· Only official N.V.B.K. forms can be used to give points. If not, this has to be mentioned on the judges’ report.

· If a dog has a bandage on the neck, he isn’t allowed to perform. Bandages at one of the dog’s paws are allowed with a certificate of a veterinarian. If a dog has to wear a bandage for a longer period (several contests) the “Commission off Judges” will decide (Veterinarian’s certificate obligatory)

· If a dog willingly or because of unforeseen circumstances, goes for one of the members of the ring personnel, the handler MUST call back his dog. If not, sanctions will be taken immediately. The exercise can not be done over again and the handler will get one month of suspension. The judges will immediately withdraw the handler’s competition book and return it to the National Secretary.

· Dogs are removed from the field for the following reasons:
® dangerous conduct (dog attacks a member of the ring personnel)
® crippled dogs
This has to be mentioned on the judges’ report.
If a competitor has to stop because of injury or illness (handler or dog) he isn’t allowed to restart later. However he’ll get the points of the already performed exercises and the prize money..

· The judges have to take care as to punish for the act of preparing a dog for an exercise. This isn’t allowed except in cat 3 (can be punished in general appearance)

· All unforeseen circumstances are subject to the judges’ authority. This has to be mentioned on the judges’ report and discussed in the Commission of judges.

· Subscriptions have to be done on official forms, at latest one month before the contest and presented to the judges. If a competitor is absent, his subscription will be sent to the National Secretary, together with the judges’ report.

· Females always have to perform last. Females in heat cannot perform.

· Mistakes made by the secretary fall under the judges’ responsibility, until the end of the season. Eventual adaptations or corrections will be written in the competition book by the concerned judges. The National Secretary will also be informed.

· Official “judgment cards” only have to be used on national championships.

· All help from third persons is forbidden and the handler will lose all points for the concerned exercise (name of the helper has to be mentioned on the report).

· Judges aren’t allowed to judge a contest at their own club (exception can be made for unforeseen circumstances).

· On national championships and grand prix, all competitors have to be present at the proclamation. Only valid excuses are accepted.

· On the program 20 dogs can be mentioned and 2 reserves (only 20 dogs are allowed to perform however)

·         If a platform is used for the attacks following dimensions have to be respected:
® 1,5m high
® surface: 3,5 x 4m or 4 x 4m
® The surface has to be totally surrounded by a closed fence
® the ramp also has to be 3,5 or 4m and a closed fence is allowed on both sides.
    There has to be an open fence however on both sides, to make it easy to get
      on the platform
® Inclination of 22°

· All exercises can be performed on a platform, except for the identification of an object and the search for the decoy.

· Pools:
Have to be at least 7m long and 4m wide (entrance). Where the dogs have to enter and come out of the pool, there has to be a slope, made out of soft materials (inclination 22,5 to 25%). Depth may vary between 20 and 35cm.

Pools that don’t match these measures still can be used for:
® throwing in the object to retrieve.
® departure for attacks (if the first line of departure isn’t more than 2m away)

· The handler is allowed to omit one exercise, if he mentions it to the judges in advance

· Whistle signals given by another person than the handler are ABSOLUTELY FORBIDDEN during each exercise of the contest.

· In cat 3 the use of staircases is forbidden in every exercise.

· The slope of the platform can not be used for:
® as the spot to place the dog for the retrieving of the object or the identification
and returning of the object, nor for the exercises down or positions.

· All exercises will be performed on clearly visible places for all spectators.

· The handler is allowed to let his dog drink twice under normal weather circumstances. Once during obedience and jumping exercises and once during the biting exercises. He has to ask for it first and the spot will be clearly defined by the judges.

· Water can be used during the exercises (towards or on the dog) but only if it is a spread stream.

· If the weather is hot, there always has to be at least a hose and cold water to cool off the dogs. A basin or showers are optional. This has to be checked by the judges.

· There always has to be an emergency number, where a veterinarian can be reached if necessary.

II. obedience exercises:

OVERVIEW:

1.      Heel           total 10 points

a) with leash (always the first exercise)              4 points
b) without leash                                                    6 points

Presentation of handler and dog to the public is obligatory (this will always be the first exercise

2. Refusal of baits (food refusal) 20 points

3.      Positions   total 12 points
® Down                4 points
® Sit                     4 points
® Stand up           4 points

4. Down one minute 8 points

5. Retrieval of an object 10 points

6. Sent discrimination (Identification and retrieval of an object) 10 points

7. Straight ahead

The exercises “retrieval of an object” and “sent discrimination” will always start at ground level. It isn’t allowed to make the object land or place the sticks on a staircase either.

A. heel (with and without leash): Total of 10 points

WITH LEASH: 4 points

Each contest will start with this exercise. This is done to present the handler and the dog to the public and to be able to put the leash away after this exercise.

The dog, wearing a leash of 1m (± 3,5 feet) will follow his master, and will always keep going forward. The way that has to be followed is defined by the judges.

Only one command is allowed. A dog that circles, BEFORE his master is moving, won’t be punished.

The dog is not allowed to go before his master with more than a neck’s length and may not move away from him sideways either.

The dog can follow on the left or the right side and may change sides. The handler is allowed to change the leash from one hand to the other only 1 time and it has to be done behind his back. All commands by voice or gestures are forbidden.

The handler has to walk in a natural way (relaxed, with moving arms) and the route has to be followed until the end, without stopping. Walking with one or two fists clenched to the chest will be judged as unnatural. The leash has to be taken at the side, where the dog is following his master and only one end can come out of the handler’s hand (bottom).

Penalty points: POINTS

· Dog sometimes is too far ahead or behind from 1 to 2

· Dog sometimes pulls the leash from 1 to 2

· Handler and dog take off before the sound of the bell 2

· The end of the leash isn’t completely hidden in the
handler’s hand 4

· Leash comes out of the handler’s hand at the top 4

· Handler pulls the leash 4

· Extra command (voice or gesture) 4

· Dog continuously pulls the leash 4

· Dog is always too far ahead or behind 4

· Handler doesn’t walk in a natural way 4

· Dog circles around the handler 4

· Handler avoids dangerous point (food, square)
or changes his route on purpose 4

· Handler doesn’t reach the arrival 4

· Leash at the wrong side 4

· Handler accidentally changes the route judges’ decide

· Handler accidentally lets go of the leash not punished

WITHOUT LEASH: 6 points

Same rules as the exercise with the leash but now the dog is free. The dog can only change sides behind his master

Penalty points: POINTS

· Dog sometimes is too far ahead or behind from 1 to 2

· Handler and dog take off before the sound of the bell 2

· Extra command (voice or gesture) 6

· Dog is always too far ahead or behind 6

· Handler doesn’t walk in a natural way 6

· Dog circles around the handler 6

· Handler avoids dangerous point (food, square)
or changes his route on purpose 6

· Handler doesn’t reach the arrival 6

· Handler accidentally changes the route judges’ decide

B. refusal of baits: 20 points

If the bait consists of meat, the meat has to be soft and without any bones. Before the dogs enter the field, baits are placed in different places. They cannot be placed however in a distance of less than 10m from the spot where the dog has to identify the object or where the object that has to be retrieved is thrown.

During the contest 2 pieces of bait are thrown (not presented) to the dog (in front of the dog).

This is done at a clearly defined moment, identical for all dogs.

It must be avoided that the bait is thrown in the dog’s mouth. If this should happen and the dog drops it immediately, he won’t be punished.

The dog is allowed to stay down, sit or stand up. If the dog keeps moving away, so that the bait can’t be thrown, he’ll lose half of the points.

Afterwards, the handler is allowed to get his dog or to call him (only if the dog isn’t trying to get to the bait ® this will be punished as preventing the dog to take the bait).

· Baits can’t be thrown during an exercise

· If there accidentally is food on the field, that wasn’t placed there by the judges, the dog won’t be punished if he eats or licks it

· If the bait should get dried out or wet, because of the weather circumstances, it has to be replaced right after the noon break.

· The person who throws the bait, has to do this from a distance of at least 4m and in the same direction. If the dogs moves away from the first bait, he’ll move toward the dog for throwing the second piece, but he has to keep the same distance.

· If the dog comes toward the person and takes the bait out of his hand, the exercise will be stopped with loss of all points.

· If the dog moves away more than 1m from the first bait (costs 2 points) and takes off when the second piece is thrown, he won’t lose more than 2 points.

· Baits have to be placed during each contest.

Penalty points: POINTS

· Dog moves away more than 1m 2

· Dog keeps moving away so that the bait can’t
be thrown 10

· Dog licks or eats the bait 20

· Handler feeds his dog during the contest 20

· Handler prevents his dog from taking the bait 20

C. positions (down, sit, stand) total of 12 points

The dog will perform this exercise in a 2x2m square. The judges decide where this square is placed so that the public can’t hinder the dog. Dog and master have to be completely visible to each other. Minimum-distance 15m.

The judges decide the order of the 3 commands (the same for all competitors).

The order for the start-position has to be given to the dog, while handler and dog both are in the square.

If the dog changes this position and the handler has to reposition the dog, this also has to be done while dog and handler both are in the square.

The dog has to be completely in the square, before the handler can start with giving his commands from a distance. If he is not, the judges or the ringmaster will tell the handler.

If the dog doesn’t execute the first command, two additional commands are allowed. The start-position has to be continued until the judge whispers the command to the handler, who commands his dog. If the dog doesn’t execute the order after 3 commands, the exercise is finished (the dog keeps the already achieved points).

If the dog leaves the square and moves towards his master more than ¼ of the total distance, while executing the orders, the exercise will be finished. Saying the dog’s name before the command is regarded as an additional command. A command can consist of two words (f.i. “sit down) as long as it is said fluently and without breaks.

If a dog doesn’t take the ordered position after two additional commands, the exercise will be finished. The handler keeps the already achieved points.

Commands can only be given while both are in the square.

If a handler commands before the judge tells him to, the judge will order an additional command to the original position, before the handler can give the command again.

(for instance: starting position is “sit”. Handler goes to the judge who tells him the next command is “stand up”. Handler orders “stand up” and then “down”, without the judge telling him to. ® The judge will order the handler to make his dog stand up again, before he can order “down”)

Penalty points: POINTS

· Additional command (voice or gesture) to give the
order for the start-position 1

· Use of the hand to place the dog 1

· Handler out of the square while giving the order for
the start position 1

· Dog changes position or comes out of the square for
a moment while the handler moves toward the judge 1

· Dog with one paw out of the square 1

· Handler has to reposition the dog 1

· Dog changes position or comes out of the square for
a moment while the handler moves toward the judge
but corrects this before the handler reaches the judge 1

· Dog changes position and comes out of the square for
a moment while the handler moves toward the judge 2

· Dog is outside the square (1point for every meter) 1/m

· Additional command during the exercise 2

· Dog changes position without command 2

· Handler says the dog’s name before the command 2

· Handler doesn’t wait for the judge’s order to give
the next command (2 additional commands) 4

· Dog refuses to execute the start-position after
3 commands 12

· Handler stops or looks back while moving away
from the dog 12

· Dog refuses to execute an order after 2 additional
commands loss of all points that could still be achieved

· Handler has to reposition his dog and does this
while being out of the square 12

· Handler out of the square during the starting
command 12

· Dog moves toward his master for more than
1/4 of the total distance loss of all points that could still be achieved

D. down (1 minute): 8 points

Dog has to stay down for one minute on a spot, defined by the judges (there has to be enough room so that the dog can stay down comfortably and cannot be startled).

The dog can’t be placed in one of the pits (jumping exercises). During this exercise, the handler is out of the sight of the dog.

The order to stay down has to be given near the dog. If the dog doesn’t execute the order after 2 additional commands, the exercise is ended. If the dog moves away more than 1m, before his master is out of sight, he has to be repositioned. This has to be told by the judges or the ring-master. This is allowed only twice.

The judges can change the spot for the down exercise during the contest if necessary because of external circumstances (heat, water, other dog pies on the spot). Sniffing (more than 10 sec) won’t be extra punished in General Appearance.

No abnormal noises are allowed during this exercise.

Penalty points: POINTS

· Additional command (voice or gesture) 1

· Handler stays near his dog for too long 1

· Handler has to reposition the dog 1

· Dog barks during the exercise 2

· Sniffing continuously for more than 10 sec 2

· Sniffing from time to time (> 10 sec total) 2

· Sit up and lie down again in less than 10 sec 2

· Sit up during the last 10 sec 2

· Dog moves away crawling more than 1m 2

· Dog starts to roll over 2

· Additional command from a distance 8

· Handler looks back while moving away 8

· Dog sits up more than 10 sec &nb