United States Police Canine Association Inc.

Complete rules and regulations for the annual canine certification trials of the United States Police Canine Association, "Police Dog 1."

The certification will comprise:

1. Obedience - To show the extent of control by the handler at heel and at a distance.

2. Agility - To demonstrate the dog's ability to surmount various obstacles.

3. Searching - To locate and retrieve articles containing the scent of a stranger and to locate a hidden suspect in a box (Box Search).

4. Criminal Apprehension and Recall - To show the control of the dog under various circumstances including attack under gun fire.

GENERAL RULES AND DEFINITIONS

Rules may be discussed for clarification prior to certification, but no changes will be made prior to the test.

1. The term "association" when used in the context of these regulations shall refer to the rules committee, the judges committee, or the national executive council of this organization.

2. Entries;

A. The entry of dogs from each department is unlimited (see Rule F.)

B. However, each department may enter only one team, consisting of four dogs, into each trial.

C. Each region/district may enter as many teams as they like consisting of four dogs from that region or district, forming a region/district team.

a. Region/District teams will only consist of members from that geographical region.

b. The alternate team member must be designated prior to the commencement of the certification. If during the certification, a designated member of the team can not continue, the alternate member's scores will be considered for the overall team score.

D. Contestants comprising a team must be announced to the officials four hours prior to the first event, and each contestant may only participate on one team, either a region/district team or a department team.

E. Contestants must be members of the U.S.P.C.A. and a full time law enforcement officer of a city, town, county, state of federal agency. The handler must also be a working K-9 off icer assigned to a K-9 and duties appropriate to same.

F. Each contestant must quality annually in a sanctioned Regional/District Certification before being eligible to enter the National Field Trials. Annually shall mean from the end of one National Trial to the beginning of the next National Trial.

a. Qualifying score shall be 560 points, or better, out of a possible 700 points.

b. A score of 560 points, or better, in the National Trials will earn a Certificate of Excellence in Police Dog Field Trials. Medallions for 560 and above will also be issued and supplied by the Nationals.

c. A score of 490 points, or better, in any sanctioned Regional/District Certification will earn a P.D. 1 rating.

G. A qualifying score of 70% must be obtained in Obedience and Criminal Apprehension in order to qualify for P.D. I and the National Dog Trials. A team scoring less than 70% in Obedience will be permitted to continue in the certification for experience only at the descretion of the Chief Judge.

H. Each contestant is allowed to enter only one dog into either regional, district or national certifications and it must be the dog used in the performance of his K-9 officer responsibilities.

I. Position for testing order will be drawn prior to the first event unless indicated otherwise in the rules.

3. Judges and Judging:

A. All judges for both regional, district and national certifications must be an active regular or associate member of the U.S.P.C.A. and must have handled or trained a PD I dog. The Chief Judge must be a certified trainer. A National Judge at the National Field Trials may only represent the geographical area in which they live. Those already certified regional and national judges are grandfathered in effective Sept. 22, 1989.

B. The Chief Judge at the National Field Trials shall not judge. The Chief Judge is thereto oversee the complete operation including judging, scoring, stewards and all other events of the Trials. Once the Field Trials have started, it shall be the Chief Judges responsibility to make any and all final decisions regarding the completion of the trials, such as factors caused by weather, time schedules, etc.

1. The Chief Judge at Region and District Certifications shall have the same responsibilities, but may be a scoring judge if needed, and must be f rom an outside region or district.

2. National's will pay for the Chief Judge one time per year for a Region or District PD I Certification.

C. The Chief Judge will also be responsible for the fair and equal method of testing for all contestants. The senior judge for each event will be responsible to see that their event is run according to the rules of the association.

D. The host city of the national certification will select the Chief Judge, from an outside Region or District, and the executive council shall select the remaining required judges.

E. There will be five judges for each event in the national trials, (high and low judge score discarded), however, only three judges will be necessary for the regional and district certifications (all scores will be recorded).

F. Region and District certifications require at least one certified judge for each event and national certifications require five certified judges for each event.

G. Judges are not required to explain their scoring and should not enter into any discussions with any contestant who appears to be dissatisfied. Any interested person, who thinks there has been an mathematical error in identifying a dog, may report the fact to one of the officers of the association or the trials committee. However judges should explain any Major point deduction on the score sheet whenever possible.

H. No judge shall require a dog or handler to do anything, nor shall they penalize a dog or handler for failing to do anything not required by these rules.

I. No National scoring judge shall compete or participate in the national trials other than in a judging capacity-i.e. runner, etc.

J. Judges must carry a mental picture of a theoretically perfect performance in each exercise and score each dog and handler against this visualized standard, which shall combine the utmost willingness, enjoyment, and precision on the part of the dog, and the naturalness, gentleness, and smoothness of the handler. Lack of willingness or enjoyment on the part of the dog must be penalized, as lack of precision in the dog's performance or roughness in handling.

K. Members of the rules and judges committees cannot rule on protests of their own department. This committee, ruling on protests, shall consist of three or larger odd number.

L. There shall be no penalty of less than one half point.

M. If a dog fails in a particular part of an exercise, it shall not ordinarily be rejudged or given a second chance unless so stated in these rules, but, if in the opinion of the judges, the dog's performance was prejudiced by peculiar circumstances, the judges may, at their own discretion, rejudge the dog on the entire, or that portion of, the exercise which the dog failed.

N. Dogs will be judged on obedience control during all phases of the trials. Lack of control or disobedience by the animal will result in points deducted from the score achieved and in which the dog showed lack of control and/or disobedience.

0. Scores will be considered unofficial until checked by scorekeepers. Scorekeepers will not change a judge's score sheet unless it is an obvious math error and then only after the error has been signed by the judge and Chief judge.

P. One non-scoring judge or test steward, will be positioned at the 18 yard line in the Criminal Apprehension phase and will give a signal to the handler when the dog's head has passed the 18 yard marker. When the dog crosses the 18 yard marker a 100 waft light (amber type) will go on. Also, a white line must be provided as a marker for the 18 yard line. He will also inform the judges if the dog leaves the line before commanded or if the dog is recalled early.

4. Stewards;

A. There will be two types of stewards for each event, "Field and Test."

a. Field Stewards hold any leashes or other gear and check and list equipment of handler and dog.

b. Test Stewards will conduct or direct the particular exercise. During the National Field Trials Test Stewards will be certified NON-SCORING judges if available.

B. Stewards will ask contestant if they are ready.

Handlers will respond to the affirmative or negative. Stewards will commence the exercise when the handler is ready.

a. There will be no lengthy or unnecessary delays by either stewards or competitors.

C. In some circumstances a judge may act as a steward and also judge.

D. Stewards must immediately conceal leads without disturbing the dog.

5. Contestants' Requirements;

A. Contestants must obtain at least 70% of the total possible points in obedience phase in order to continue to the other phases or events. (See General Rules, Section G.)

B. Handlers will not carry with them during the test, any leashes, or paraphernalia that would indicate an attempt to control or influence the dog. No spiked or pinch collars, electric devices, whistles, ultra sonic devices or related aides not specifically stated here-in will be allowed.

C. All handlers will be tested in their standard department duty uniform, with the exception of foot apparel or any equipment that will conflict with rule 5B. Baseball hats may be worn as long as they are professional in appearance.

D. The collars used on the K-9 during obedience will be used for all other phases.

E. All phases of the test will be conducted off leash and all contestants will do all exercises with both hands at normal side position.

F. Contestants will advise the stewards - at the time of occurrence or immediately after the test or phase - that a protest will be entered or lodged, so the steward may note the same.

G. All formal protests must be lodged in writing to the association before they will be considered.

H. No dog will be, at any time, left unattended in such a manner as to create a danger or hazard to any other dog or person.

I. Every handler will be responsible for any damage done by their K-9.

J. There will be no aggressive training or practice in areas of competition or location where it may disturb the normal tranquillity of fellow contestants or persons not involved with or participating in the seminar and certification.

K. Any extreme or abusive correction or treatment of a dog - loss of temper, or display of poor sportsmanship by the handler - will result in immediate disqualification from the certifications.

L. Handlers are allowed to enter only one dog into the trials and must test with only that one.

6. Handler's Preparation;

A. There will be no lengthy explanation of the exercise while on the field. It is the handler's responsibility to know what he or she has to do on each exercise.

B. A handler, who is familiar with these rules, should be able to enter the test area under any judge - without having to inquire as to how the particular judge wishes to have the exercise performed and without being confronted with some 'unexpected' requirement.

C. A contestant, upon entering the obedience phase will have both themselves and their K-9's equipment checked and listed. The equipment will then be checked before each subsequent phase and must be the same for each event.

D. All contestants will start and end each test from the finish position.

7. Miscellaneous;

A. Any K-9 relieving itself in the working areas during testing will be only penalized once for 10 points from the total points for that event.

B. There will be no consuming of alcoholic beverages on - or in the area of - the test fields during testing hours by judges, contestants or participating officials.

C. All score sheets will be mailed to the appropriate contestant after the tests.

D.In the event of a tie for any position, duplicate awards shall be awarded.

E. The protest committee will be comprised of judges, either scoring or non-scoring, as selected by the Chief Judge.

8. Definitions;

A. Command - One word or signal to achieve or halt a maneuver. The dog's name when used in conjunction with a command will also be considered a command. (i.e., "Fritz come" will be scored as two commands.)

B. Signal - A single gesture of any part of any limb which will be returned to the normal position immediately. One signal to achieve or halt a maneuver. (Extra body movements will be penalized.)

C. Voice Command - One word to achieve or halt a maneuver.

a. NOTE: Definition A. - Combinations of voice command and signal are a double command and will be penalized.

D. Heel Position - Heeling right or left side shall be handler's choice, however, they must heel their dogs throughout the entire tests on the same side in which they started their obedience phase. For explanation purposes the left side heel will be described.

Whether the dog is heeling, sitting, standing or moving, at heel means - the dog shall be straight in line with the direction in which the handier is facing at the handier's left side and as close to the left leg as is practical without crowding and permitting freedom of movement at all times. The area from the dog's head to shoulders shall be in line with the handler's left hip. When the handier and K-9 come to a halt position, or when the dog is called to a heel while the handler is stationary, the dog should come to a sit position as described - without further command.

E. Finish Position - The dog shall assume the sit position with the dog's head to shoulders in line with the handler's left hip. The dog will be facing parallel with the handler. The dog will come to this position upon a single command to recall or whenever the handier comes to a halt while the dog is heeling.

F. Whenever executing a command from the finish position - a command may be given. (i.e., "stay" or "heel"

G. Normal Pace - a brisk even gait.

H. Fast Pace - Handier and dog moving forward together at a noticeably accelerated speed.

I. Slow Pace - Handler and dog moving forward together at a noticeably decreased gait from that of normal.

J. In those events that call for the dog to be placed within ten or fifteen feet, the tail shall not be included.