Newfoundland Club of America Draft Test Regulations

Chapter Two Regulations for Performance and Judging.

Section 1 – Standardized Judging.
Section 2 – Failed Exercises and Rejudging.
Section 3 – Dog in Distress.
Section 4 – Judges' Records.
Section 5 – Entrant's Evaluation.
Section 6 – Catalog Order
Section 7 – Use of Leash.
Section 8 – Required Equipment
Section 9 – Commands, Signals and Encouragement
Section 10 – Praise.
Section 11 – Handling Between Exercises.
Section 12 – Familiarization with the Test Courses.
Section 13 – Interference and Double Handling.
Section 14 – Discipline.
Section 15 – Qualifying and Non-Qualifying Performance.

Section 1 – Standardized Judging

Standardized judging is of great importance, and since NCA Draft Tests occur on natural terrain, the judges may, if necessary, make minimal adaptations to the exercises to fit the available site. Judges must act in a professional, impartial, and pleasant manner in accordance with the NCA Judges Code of Ethics. If, in the opinion of the judges, the test setup is not safe or will not adequately test a dog's and handler's abilities, the judges may disapprove of the Draft Test Committee's test setup and make suggestions for improvements. In no instance, however, should the judges add, delete or change any draft test requirement.

Judges selected by a Draft Test Committee for a draft test should be chosen for their ability to judge Newfoundland dogs working in harness. Judges should possess thorough knowledge of the draft test rules, a sense of fairness, and consideration for the efforts of dogs and handlers. The NCA WDC maintains a copy of the Qualifications for Draft Test Judges and a current list of approved judges which is also available on the

NCA web site. Two judges are required to judge a draft test, one of which must have a team title. Judges should use the NCA Equipment Guide to support and explain their judging decisions.

Section 2 – Failed Exercises and Rejudging

During the draft test, judges may permit a handler to assist his dog in completing a failed exercise. Only gentle guidance by the dog's collar is permitted as discipline.

If a dog fails a particular exercise, it will not ordinarily be rejudged. However, if in the judges' opinion, a particular and unusual circumstance affected the dog's performance, the judges may rejudge the dog on the complete exercise at their discretion. If the judges rejudge a dog on an exercise, they should explain the reason on the Judges' Record. The reason for the rejudging should be announced to the spectators. Exhibitors should not be failed for personal ideas that are not within the regulations or equipment set up as described in the equipment guide.

Section 3 – Dog or Person in Distress

If at any time during a draft test it becomes apparent to either the handler or a judge that a dog or person is in distress, the exercise will be immediately terminated and the dog will be recorded as failed unless the judges determine that the cause of distress is due to an unusual circumstance. In that case, the judges may permit the dog to be retested. The dog or person should be given a reasonable period of time to recover before testing resumes. If the dog or person does not recover sufficiently to continue testing without causing an unreasonable delay, the judges must mark the dog failed. If in the judges' opinion a handler is not showing reasonable consideration for the dog's welfare, it is within the judges' discretion to terminate the exercise and to mark the dog as failed.

Section 4 – Judges' RecordsForms

The judges will record the pass or fail performances for each dog on the Judges' Record forms following the conclusion of the test. Any significant comments on judges' score sheets should be noted on the Judges' Records. Entrants may view their score sheets. If the judges retain the score sheets for their own records, the test committee, at its option, may provide copies for the entrants.

Section 5 – Entrant's and Judge's Evaluations

The Draft Test Committee will provide each entrant and judge with a Test Evaluation Form with the name and address of the WDC Test Evaluations person. Entrants and judges should complete the forms and mail to the WDC Test Evaluations Secretary within ten (10) days. These evaluations may also be filled out electronically on the NCA web site under the Draft Test page of the Working Dog section. If it is a two day test with the same site and judges entrants will only have to complete one evaluation. If the

two day test has different sites or at least one different judge then entrants should complete two evaluations, one for each day. The WDC compiles information from these evaluations to send anonymous feedback to judges and test committees. Please remember to complete these evaluations they are very important.

Section 6 – Catalog Order

Catalog order will be determined by the order in which entries are received unless a handler requests, at the time of entry, a change due to handling two or more dogs or teams.

Handlers and dogs must exhibit in catalog order unless otherwise allowed by the judges.

It is the responsibility of each handler to be ready since judges are not required to wait for an entrant. If no arrangements have been made in advance, judges may mark absent and refuse to judge any dog or team that is not ready to be judged in catalog order.

Bitches in season are judged as stated in the Chapter I, Section 8, "Bitches in Season" in Chapter I. Exercises are performed in the order given in Chapter III, "Individual Division" and Chapter IV, "Team Division."

To facilitate judging, entrants may be divided into groups of equal size in catalog order for the Distance Freight Haul. The judges may switch an entrant from one group to another only for special circumstances, such as to accommodate a bitch in season. As the dogs begin the trail, judges may allow the dogs to find their position within the group according to each handler and dog’s working speed. Under no circumstances should groups be divided into dogs that are passing or have failed.

Section 7 – Use of Leash

All dogs at an NCA sponsored Draft Test are tested off lead unless otherwise specified in the description of an exercise. All dogs must be held on a leash or securely confined at all times when not being tested.

Section 8 – Required Equipment

Handlers

In addition to providing a collar and leash, the handler provides the dog's draft equipment (including appropriate harness, traces, and draft apparatus for site conditions) and a freight load that properly fits the draft apparatus. Equipment may be shared by two (2) or more exhibitors or by two (2) or more dogs owned by the same

exhibitor; however, the sharing must not interfere with the safety or the timely completion of the draft test.

A Dog entered in the test must wear a well-fitted plain buckle, slip or snap-around slip collar. Fancy collars, special training collars, halter collars and collars that are improperly fitted are not permitted. There shall not be anything hanging from the collar.

The harness must fit the dog. At test sites where the Distance Freight Haul encompasses hilly terrain, the WDC strongly recommends that an entrant use a siwash-style harness for the dog’s safety and efficiency in hauling. If an appropriate harness and apparatus are not used in such terrain, the judges may fail the handler for improper equipment for trail conditions.

If at any time during the test the equipment breaks down in a manner that could not have been anticipated by the handler, the judges may allow the handler to make an emergency repair. The repair must be made within ten (10) minutes with materials that the handler carries or carries in the apparatus. The handler must make the repairs without assistance from others.

Draft Test Committee

The Draft Test Committee must provide the following test items:

· ropes, standards or ring gates for basic control and test area where needed;

· exhibitor numbers;

· watch or stop watch to time "stays";

· clipboards and pencils or pens for judges;

· markers for the distance freight haul;

· obstacles; intriguing distractions;

· scale for weighing the freight loads.

- Cellular phone

In addition, the Draft Test Committee must have first aid equipment available and a vehicle large enough to carry a dog and handler.

Examples of removable obstacles include the following: gates, saw horses, logs, branches, and highway construction cones. Obedience equipment must not be used. When deciding what removable obstacles to use, the Draft Test Committee should

consider the types of obstacles working dogs encounter in parades, neighborhoods, the woods, and a trip to a store.

Prior to the beginning of the draft test, the judges will inspect and approve or disapprove all of the equipment provided by the Draft Test Committee. The equipment must be suitable for the test site. Judges will use the NCA Equipment Guide as a reference for judging equipment.

Section 9 – Commands, Signals and Encouragement

During the testing, a handler may give commands, signals and encouragement to the dog by voice, arm signal or with a whistle. Multiple commands and signals are permitted. When one command only is specified for an exercise, it may be a voice, hand, or simultaneous voice and hand command. A simultaneous voice and hand command is considered a single command. While an entrant may encourage the dog in a pleasant, upbeat manner, undue and frequent yelling, shouting or reprimands should be considered undesirable and unnecessary for a dog under control. Such behavior constitutes a failure of the exercise.

Section 10 – Praise

Physical praise and petting are encouraged between and after exercises. A handler shall not carry or offer food during the exercises or in the testing area.

Section 11 – Handling Between Exercises

A dog may be guided gently by the collar between exercises. No other physical guidance is permitted and will result in a failure.

Section 12 – Familiarization with the Test Courses

Ninety (90) minutes before the start of judging, handlers and dogs (except bitches in season) are allowed a thirty (30) minute period to familiarize themselves with the test areas. At least three (3) stewards must be available to walk entrants on the Distance Freight Haul course, and to monitor the test areas. Handlers may walk the course with their dogs on lead, but not hitched to an apparatus. Handlers will not be permitted to walk the Maneuvering or Distance Freight Haul courses after this time period.

Sixty (60) minutes before the start of judging, all entrants will check in with the Draft Test Secretary. If a handler is not present within fifteen (15) minutes of check-in time, an entrant from the alternate list will be assigned the absent handler's position.

Thirty (30) minutes before the start of judging, handlers and stewards must meet with the judges for instructions. Judges will answer questions at this time.

Section 13 – Interference and Double Handling

Double handling or interference is not permitted. If a judge notices assistance or interference while a handler and dog are performing, the judge must act promptly to stop the double handling or interference. If the circumstances warrant (in the judges' opinion), the judge shall mark the dog failed for the exercise when aid was received.

Section 14 – Complaints and Discipline

Complaints against judges, exhibitors, or members of the test-giving committee will be dealt with according to the NCA Working Dog Committee Grievance Policy. The Test Committee is required to have copies of the Grievance Procedure with the approved forms at the Draft Test. Any person attending a Draft test may obtain a copy of the NCA WDC Grievance Procedure and forms from the Draft Test Chairperson. All complaints must be filed with the Test Chair within thirty (30) minutes of the end of the test. The WDC and the NCA Grievance Policies are also available on the NCA web site.

Section 15 – Qualifying and Non-Qualifying Performance

A dog’s ability to perform assigned tasks with its handler is the primary quality emphasized in a Draft Test. In addition, judges must consider a dog's willingness and smoothness of performance. A dog that willingly completes each task within a reasonable time period and without physical assistance should be marked as passed.

To earn a title, both judges must pass dog and handler on all exercises in either the Individual or Team Division.

The judges will inform entrants if they pass or fail at the completion of each series of exercises as follows:

· Basic Control after Group long down

· Harnessing, Hitching, Equipment Check after Entrant's completion of the exercise

· Maneuvering Course, Basic Commands after Entrant's completion of the exercise

· Freight Load and Out-of-Sight Stay after Group Exercise

· Distance Freight Haul after Group Exercise

Judges will mark entrants with a failing performance during any portion of the test for the following Failures Common to All Exercises:

1. A dog is not under the handler's control.

2. A handler yells at his dog frequently to maintain control of his dog.

3. A handler abuses the dog or fails to show consideration for the dog's welfare.

4. The dog upsets the draft apparatus.

5. A dog urinates while being tested (except during the freight haul when it will be limited to one occurrence).

6. A dog defecates while being tested (except during the freight haul, when the handler must clean up appropriately).

7. The handler or dog violates specific test site regulations.

Back