Section 4. Premium Lists. After a sponsoring club has been granted provisional permission to conduct a field trial pending issuance of a License, a premium list shall be printed which will give the location of the trial, the dates on which it will be held, and set forth in detail the stakes to be run and their conditions; a complete list of the ribbon prizes and any other prizes which the sponsoring club wishes to offer; a list of the names and addresses of the judges and the stakes they are to judge if known; the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the officers of the club, including the Field Trial Secretary and Field Trial Chairman and the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the other designated members of the Field Trial Committee as may be appropriate; the date, hour and place of the closing of entries; and the date, hour and place of the drawing of entries. The place where entries are to be drawn need not be identical with the place where entries are received. Each premium list shall specify that the Field Trial Secretary is to receive entries and the address. Every premium list shall contain one or more copies of the official entry form.

Two copies of the premium list and entry form when printed must be sent to the UKC at time of distribution to prospective entrants.

Section 5. Levels of Field Trial Competition. The following levels of trials shall be conducted. Unless specifically designated by UKC as a Regional or National Level Field Trial, each trial shall be licensed as a designated Local trial. The Field Trial Committee shall designate to prospective participants whether the trial will include Open, Novice or both classes of entries in the Premium list advertisements and other appropriate notices utilized to attract entries.

Section 5.1. National Level Field Trials. UKC shall be responsible for organizing and conducting National level field trials. UKC will separately establish and publish the Rules, Regulations and Procedures for qualifying to participate in National Level Field Trials. In conjunction with and with authorization from UKC, UKC designated parent breed clubs may organize and conduct UKC licensed National Level Field Trials for a particular breed. Such breed club National Level Field Trials will not exceed one spring and one fall field trial.

Section 5.2. Local Level Field Trials. Sponsoring clubs may be licensed or sanctioned to conduct Local level field trials. The sponsoring club may conduct four (4) field trials maximum per year at the local level. A Local level trial must have a minimum of four (4) dogs entered in the Open Stake and four (4) dogs entered in the Novice Stake for each stake to be run and results officially recognized and recorded by UKC as may be appropriate.

Section 5.3. Regional Level Field Trials. Sponsoring clubs may be sanctioned to conduct two (2) Regional level field trials maximum per year. A field trial designated as a Regional level field trial must have a minimum of twelve (12) dogs entered in the Open Stake and must present sufficient evidence in the discretion of UKC that it is a Regional rather than Local field trial in order to receive designation as a Regional Level Field Trial. The Field Trial Committee for a Regional Field Trial shall endeavor to attract entrants from within and outside the designated Region where the trial is held.

UKC reserves the right to modify or revoke at any time the designation as a Regional Field Trial in the event that such sponsoring club fails to attract the requisite number of entrants or otherwise to operate as a Regional Field Trial as determined in the sole discretion of the UKC. In such event, the field trial shall be conducted and the results recorded and counted as those at a Local Field Trial.

Section 5.4. Regions. The following geographical areas are designated by UKC as Regions for the purpose of conducting Regional Level Field Trials. Field Trial Committees hosting Regional Level Field Trials shall endeavor to attract entrants from within as well as outside the designated Region.
Region One - Great Plains
South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas

Region Two - Deep South
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina

Region Three - Southwest
New Mexico, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas

Region Four - New England
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont

Region Five - Atlantic
Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, District of Columbia

Region Six - Southern
Arkansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia

Region Seven - Greater Midwest
Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana

Region Eight - Mid America
Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania

Region Nine - Far West
Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada

Region Ten - Great Lakes
Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan

Region Eleven - Rocky Mountain
Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Utah

Region Twelve - Pacific Northwest
Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington

Section 5.5. Licensed Field Trials. A Licensed Field Trial at the local, regional or national level is a field trial at which championship points in the form of wins, placements and passes may be awarded and accumulated towards titles or championship designations and is held by a local sponsoring club that has been approved by UKC to conduct the field trial.

Section 5.6. Placements, Pass/Fail. Judges will evaluate all dogs entered on a pass/fail basis. Additionally, the Judge will have the right to place the top two dogs in each class as First Place and Reserve. The Judge also maintains the right to withhold placements.

Section 6. Safety Rules. It is mandatory that the judges, gunners, handlers of the working dogs, guides and marshals wear a blaze orange outer garment (vest or jacket as a minimum) in any shot game field trial. Gun safety is of utmost importance. Individuals who do not safely handle the gun will be warned once, then disqualified, or disqualified immediately by the Judge, depending on the severity of the situation/offense.
Section 6.1. Prohibited Activities. Motorized off road vehicles (atv’s, golf carts, etc.) and horseback riding are prohibited at or around all field trials. Further, no motor vehicle shall drive across the grounds unless directed by the judge or an authorized member of the field trial committee.

Section 6.2. Expulsion for Safety Violations. All entrants and participants at field trial shall consider safety paramount, and any person committing an unsafe act as determined by the judges or any member of the Field Trial Committee may be requested to vacate the grounds.

Section 7. Cancellation/Postponement of Field Trial. In the event of inclement weather, lack of entries or other necessity in the sole discretion of the Field Trial Committee, the Field Trial Committee may cancel or postpone the field trial. In the event of cancellation, the Field Trial Committee may or may not reimburse all or part of any entry fees as may be appropriate, taking into consideration the necessity of the sponsoring club to cover its expenses in connection with the field trial. Reasonable efforts should be made to promptly notify all persons affected by a cancelled or postponed field trial.

Section 8. Designated Game for Sanctioned and Licensed Trials. The Field Trial Committee shall designate in its application one or more species of natural (W) or released/liberated (L) upland game birds as defined in these rules to be hunted at the field trial. It is the hosting club’s responsibility to know the state and federal laws that may apply to hunting wild game or pen raised birds. The club’s application for a field trial shall further designate whether the trail is to be conducted using wild or liberated upland game birds.

Section 8.1. Natural Game for Licensed Field Trials. Natural (wild) game may be hunted in all trials at the National, Regional or Local Level where state and federal laws permit.

Section 8.2. Liberated Game. Pen-raised or liberated released upland game birds may be used at any Licensed Field Trial. Pheasants, chukars, quail, or other acceptable upland game birds may be used. Pigeons may not be used in a Licensed Field Trial.

PART TWO: GENERAL RULES OF FIELD TRIAL COMPETITION

Section 9. Articles of Competition. The following articles apply to and provide for rules of gun dog competition in all field trials.

Article 1. Presence on Competition Fields. Open and Novice stakes are not opened to the public. Only the owners and the handlers of the competing dogs are admitted on the fields. Admittance is also allowed to the members of the sponsoring club, the special guests, the members of the sporting press and the reporters having an invitation card delivered by the sponsoring club and/or UKC. The owners of the working dogs under judgment may attend in front of the spectators but without joining the judges and without making any comments.

Article 2. Gallery Rules. The observers composing the gallery must follow the rules such as staying in-group, following in silence, not trampling the crops, and not crossing fields that have not been quartered by the dogs. Any individual who disturbs the competition or who will not comply with the judge or marshal’s orders may be expelled from the ongoing field trial and from future field trials.

Members of the field trial gallery must remember that they are spectators and should do nothing that would distract dogs in competition, handlers, or judges. The following Gallery Etiquette should help make everyone's experience a good one.

- The gallery must not fan out across the field or straggle too far behind.
- It is important to be courteous to the other members of the gallery.
- Stay quiet; distractions can cause a dog to lose its opportunity to perform well.
- The marshal is in control of the gallery at all times. The gallery may not move in front of or parallel to the marshals, judges, guides or handlers. If the dogs in a brace become separated, only the appointed guide may move forward with the handler and judge, and members of the gallery must remain behind the marshal.
- If a dog or handler is trying to come up through the gallery, members of the gallery should move aside and let them through.
- Regulations prohibit members of the gallery from talking to the judges.
- Members of the gallery should be sure to practice good sportsmanship because being in the gallery should be fun for all.

The judges or the Field Trial Committee may expel any person from the gallery for cause and request that they vacate the grounds.

Article 3. Dogs Prohibited. There shall be no free running dogs, no non-registered dogs and no bitches in season on the field trial grounds where dogs are under judgment. There shall be no training on the field trial grounds for the trial the week before the day of the competition, the days of competition and the day following. There shall be no running or training of a dog behind the gallery or anywhere else on the field trial grounds by anyone on the field.

Article 4. Prohibition against professional handlers. United Kennel Club events are intended to be family-oriented recreation for owners of UKC-registered dogs. Accordingly, UKC encourages the promotion of the owner/breeder handler and prohibits the use of professional handlers. A professional handler may exhibit his or her dog only if the person is the sole owner of the dog (no co-owners).
1. Construction of this rule. The prohibition against professional handlers is one of the cornerstones of UKC philosophy. Therefore, this rule is to be construed as broadly as necessary to achieve that goal. Each UKC Official Entry Form includes the following statement that must be signed by the owner/handler of each dog entered at a UKC event: "I swear that this dog is not being handled by a professional handler in conformation." Dog owners and professional handlers who look for technical ways to circumvent this rule run a grave risk of losing their UKC privileges if caught.
2. Persons allowed to handle dogs in UKC events. The following categories of handlers are allowed:
a. Owner or co-owner. The owner or co-owner of a UKC-registered dog may enter and exhibit his/her own dog in UKC events. In addition, the following immediate family members of an owner or co-owner may enter and exhibit the dog: spouse, parent, step-parent, child, step-child, brother or sister.
b. Breeder. The breeder of a UKC-registered dog may enter and exhibit that dog in UKC events, even if the breeder is not an owner or co-owner of that dog, provided that the breeder-handler is not a professional handler as defined in paragraph 3 below. The following immediate family members of a breeder may also enter and exhibit that dog: spouse, parent, step-parent, child, step-child, brother or sister. c. Designated handler. Any individual who has been given permission to do so by a registered owner or co-owner of a UKC-registered dog may enter and exhibit that dog in UKC events, provided that the designated handler is not a professional handler as defined in paragraph 3 below.
3. Professional Handler. A professional handler is a person who exhibits dogs for compensation. This category includes any person who accepts any pay, gift, or remuneration of any sort in return for exhibiting a dog.
a. Remuneration. Remuneration includes, but is not limited to:
1. Payment for exhibiting a dog in a UKC licensed event;
2. Reimbursement for lodging, mileage, travel, meals, other travel expenses, or any other expenses incurred at or traveling to or from a UKC-licensed event.
3. Payment of entry fees by another exhibitor for dogs owned by the profession- al handler in return for handling services.
b. Factors that may be considered in determining whether a handler is a professional. An individual may be a professional handler regardless of whether or not handling dogs is his/her primary source of income. Among the factors that may be considered in determining whether a handler is a professional handler are:
1. Business cards indicating that the person in question is a professional handler;
2. Advertising professional handling services on a vehicle, in a publication, or in any other dog-related venue;
3. Offering professional handling services through a training facility;
4. Acting as a professional handler at events offered by other organizations;
5. Exhibiting multiple dogs, particularly those that the handler neither owns nor co-owns;
6. Exhibiting multiple breeds of dogs, particularly those that the handler neither owns nor co-owns.


Article 5. Entry Qualifications.

Article 5.1. Entries. No entry shall be accepted after the day of closing set by the organizing club, set at least 15 days before the competition (dated upon receipt).

All dogs entered must be registered with the UKC, have a UKC Temporary Listed (TL) number, or a UKC Limited Privilege (LP) number prior to submission of the entry form.

Each entry form must be completed in full and the information given on the form must be that which applies to the entered dog and must be complete and accurate. The owner or co-owners must sign each entry form.

No entry shall be accepted from any person who is not in good standing with UKC.

The hosting club/Field Trial Committee has the right to refuse entry to any individual so long as the refusal is not based on religion, sex, age, race or creed and is based on some applicable rule or requirement.

No entry shall be made under a business/kennel name, but shall be entered in the individual owner(s)’ name(s).

Unhealthy or unsanitary dogs which are not well groomed, dogs with a contagious disease and dogs owned by disqualified persons, or dogs not UKC registered, are not permitted to enter or participate in field trials.
In case of absolute necessity, the Field Trial Committee reserves the right to cancel the trial without reimbursing the entry fees, considering that the sponsoring club has to cover its own expenses.

Once tendered, entry fees are non-refundable for any reason.

Article 5.2. Breed-Specific Disqualifying Faults. Judges must disqualify any dog that exhibits a disqualifying fault as defined in the breed standard officially adopted by UKC. The judge must mark the judge's book accordingly and name the specific disqualifying fault(s). UKC must be notified when a dog has been disqualified under this Article.

Article 6. Requirements for Entries. Entries shall be authorized and approved only if accompanied by the regular entry form and with the following:
Entry fees
UKC registration number, Temporary Listed number (TL) or Limited Privilege number (LP)
Registered name of dog entered and call name
All requested information on the entry forms

Article 7. Entry Fees. Entry fees are set by the sponsoring club and are not refundable. Withdrawals shall not be reimbursed. Only wounded or sick dogs, after presentation of a health certificate from a veterinarian and bitches in season may be declared "forfeit" the morning of the stake (except for the UKC National level events). Bitches in season will neither run in braces nor compete solo.

Article 8. Distribution of the Dogs. The Field Trial Committee will conduct the distribution of the dogs and set up the judges. Allocation of the entrants and the fields to different judges shall be randomly drawn the day before the competition in the presence of the Field Trial Chairman or the Field Trial Secretary and at least one member of the Field Trial Committee.

Article 9. Heats Allowed. No two dogs of the same handler/owner shall run in the same brace. The same day, a dog may only run a dog may only run once in a given heat, either in Open or Novice stakes, whether running solo or in braces.

Article 10. Classes of Competition. There are two (2) classes defined as follows: Novice and Open. The Field Trial Committee shall designate which classes are open to entries at a field trial.

Novice: The Novice Class shall be open to dogs six (6) months or older which have not earned a pass/placement or title in a higher class. The Novice Class is designed for beginning and intermediate level dogs and handlers. Novice Class dogs must run in solo competition only.

Open: The Open Class shall be open to dogs at least one (1) year of age. The Open Class is for dogs that are finished gun dogs. The Field Trial Committee may designate the Open Class as a competition in solo or in braces.

Article 11. Field Trial Office. A main office must be opened in the morning at the place where the field trial is held and remain opened during the entire competition for the following purposes:
a) In order to give the last modifications to the program and final distribution of the dogs, fields and judges;
b) To give the results of the field trial after annotation and signatures by the judges on the official records;
c) To send to UKC the official hunt reports with results of the field trial within 15 days following the competition.

Article 12. Registration of Participants. The registration of the participants must be completed prior to the designated starting time of the field trial to allow the prompt beginning of the stake.

Article 13. Forfeitures. Participants who do not answer present to the call of their name may be declared forfeit.

Article 14. Running Order. The drawing gives only an indication of the desired running order and a participant may not refuse to be at the judges’ disposal, putting forward the running order as a reason. Judges shall generally follow the running order as drawn, but may alter the running order as special circumstances may require or as they deem necessary to expedite the completion of the field trial.

Article 15. Appearance Before Judge. The handlers must come in front of the judge/jury before and after their course and they must comply with the judge/jury’s instructions. The dog(s) must be leashed during this time.

Article 16. Handlers Required to be Present. The handlers with the dogs must be on the field at the judges’ disposal. Those who do not present themselves on the field at the call of their name/dog by the judge or in a timely fashion may be considered forfeit.

Article 17. Prohibited Devices and Practices. During the heat, the dog shall not wear coercive devices and the handler shall not use any coercive methods. Any person who, during the running of a stake, strikes or otherwise abuses or mistreats a dog, or conducts himself in a manner prejudicial to the best interests of the sport, shall be expelled from that stake by the judges who shall also report the matter to the Field Trial Committee, who shall report same to UKC. Check cords may not be used while any dog is under judgment in any stake.

Article 18. Discretion in Handling Required. In all heats, the handler must use the voice and the whistle with discretion. The judges will take into account excessive use of the voice and whistle by handlers.

Article 19. Handling Following a Point. After the dog has been on a point, the handler must put his dog on leash and come back towards the judge until the judge orders the dog released again.

Article 20. Relaxation Period. At the beginning of each heat, one minute of relaxation will be given to the dog. During this period any points acquired shall be taken into account in scoring but no faults committed during the relaxation period shall be taken into account in scoring the heat.

Article 21. Changing Fields. In the event of changing a field, the time shall be stopped and started again. A dog that bumps birds on the left and on the right sides during the first heat upwind on a new field shall not be disqualified. On the other hand, a dog that flushes a bird on purpose shall be disqualified.

Article 22. Heats. The first heat for each dog must be run as much as possible with a fair wind and must last at least fifteen (15) minutes except if the dog commits a fault or if the dog is out of judgment or the judge extends the heat in his discretion. The judge shall announce the beginning and end of the heat. At the Judge’s discretion, the heat may extend beyond 15 minutes.

Article 23. Conclusion of Heats. When the judge announces the end of the heat, any point or fault committed thereafter shall not be taken into account. However, if the dog cannot be controlled by his handler and put on leash, this will be considered as a fault that shall be counted against the dog’s performance in the heat.

Article 24. Similar Conditions. The judges shall do their best to put all dogs in the same working conditions.

Article 25. Firing of Shot Required. In wild game trials, where legal to do so, a shotgun blank or starter pistol must be fired at the bird. In liberated game trials the bird must be shot. See Articles 15, 16, and 17 under Appendix B.

Article 26. Judgments/Callback Heats. The judges may call back for additional heats as many times as they judge it appropriate for dogs of great merit that did not have any opportunity of pointing in the previous heats. They must stop the dog after the first opportunity to point in the callback heat.

Article 27. Placement Pass/Fail Criteria. Judges shall not place, pass or fail a dog solely by the number of birds found, but shall take into consideration the overall quality of performance in the heat, as well as taking into consideration the dog’s style, the desire of hunting, the nose and the training.

Article 28. Placement Pass/Fail Callbacks. The Judge will pass or fail dogs after the first heat. The judges may place after the first series of heats, or in the case of a tie they may call back dogs. The judges shall break the tie after considering the style of the dogs in the callback heat.

Article 29. Disqualification/Barking. A dog that barks during its course shall be disqualified, except as provided during the relaxation period set forth in Article 20.

Article 30. TAN Equivalency. The TAN certificate or TAN equivalency certificate shall only be attributed to a dog less than three years of age doing a course of 15 minutes and going on point but showing a lack of training. The TAN must not be considered as an award but as encouragement to improve the training of a dog with exceptional natural abilities.

RESULTS

Article 33. Results. The results shall be proclaimed at the conclusion of the field trial and ribbons and prizes will be given at the Field Trial Headquarters/Office. A reporter for the Field Trial Committee should take photographs of winning dogs and their handlers/owners.

Article 34. Publishing of Results. The judge/jury shall give the results of the field trials and a short and brief rundown about the dogs placed with a rating of Excellent.

Article 35. Recording Results. At the end of the results, the judges’ workbook shall be signed by each judge certifying the results and returned to the Field Trial Committee. The placements earned shall be recorded in writing.

Article 36. Certification and Mailing of Results. The Field Trial Committee must certify and send a complete and carefully annotated catalog of results to the UKC within 15 days following the event for fear of not getting the authorization to organize subsequent events. The sponsoring club must ensure that the Field Trial Committee sends the results of the field trials to the UKC.

Article 37. Reporting of Trial and Results. The Field Trial Secretary or his/her designee as reporter shall write a report for potential publication about the running of the trial and issue a report to UKC along with pictures of placing dogs. His/her report must be sent to the UKC within fifteen (15) days of the end of the field trial.

Article 38. Protests. Decisions of the judge(s) are final. However, any official protest of certified results must be in writing and addressed to UKC, accompanied by a deposit of twice the entry fees, which shall be retained by UKC if the protest is not sustained. UKC retains the right in its sole discretion to void or modify the results of any trial based on any official protest, which is filed and sustained.




PART THREE: COMPOSITION OF THE JURIES OF THE
DIFFERENT COMPETITIONS

Section 10. Articles. The following articles supply rules applicable to judges and juries.

Article 1. Braces Competitions. Two (2) qualified judges or one (1) qualified judge and one (1) apprentice judge must score each brace of a competition heat.

Article 2. Solo Competitions. One (1) qualified judge must score each solo competition heat, although one (1) apprentice judge may accompany the qualified judge.

Article 3. Miscellaneous Matters Relating to Judges. The judges must work alone and are only accompanied by any person designated by members of the Field Trial Committee.

In the same day or trial, a judge shall not enter or handle dogs and judge.

The Field Trial Committee shall have the right to modify the jury/judge in the event of necessity.

To designate foreign or visiting judges residing outside the United States or Canada, the sponsoring club must send in advance a request to the UKC for approval so that UKC may give its approval of the visiting judge

PART FOUR: ATTRIBUTION OF PLACEMENTS

First Place shall be awarded at licensed stakes to the winners of the Open and the Novice Classes (solo or braces).

The judge may, or may not, pick a dog out of each heat that runs a course of excellent merit (solo and in braces) that will contend for First Place. All dogs that are picked shall then compete against each other for the final award of First Place. The First Place award must be attributed by the judge(s) only to a dog of outstanding merit.

A single Reserve may be awarded to the second place trial winner. A third and fourth place may be awarded if the judge so desires. The winning of Reserve shall not count towards satisfaction of First Place requirements for title or championship designations in the Open Class. In the Novice Class two Reserves will satisfy the requirements for the GUN title, replacing the one First Place needed.

No placements are mandatory and awarding a First Place or a Reserve is not mandatory but in the sole discretion of the judge. To award a First Place a head judge will be chosen by and among the judges if there is more than one judge for the trial. The head judge’s decisions will prevail in the lack of consensus.

In the cases of ties resulting in callback heats for awarding a First Place in the Open Class, dogs must run in braces, of at least three (3) minutes in length and no longer than five (5) minutes. The judge/jury shall proceed by elimination, comparing the gait, style and desire of the dogs, as well as the quartering method and the obedience.

Backing is mandatory for dogs competing in braces in the Open Class to be eligible for attribution of the First Place.

If only one dog has obtained a judge’s pick in the heats in the Open Stake, the dog must run again in brace with a bye-dog in front of the judge/jury appointed for the attribution of the First Place.


PART FIVE: REQUIREMENTS FOR TITLE AND CHAMPIONSHIP DESIGNATIONS

No person shall advertise, publish or hold out a dog as holding a title or championship designation until written certification of it has been issued and received from UKC. UKC shall issue written certification of attainment of a title or championship designation only upon receipt of certified results from all applicable field trials.

The UKC has established the following titles and championship designations:

TAN: the Judge may award a dog under the age of three that displays natural ability in the field, either in a TAN event, or at higher levels of competition, TAN certification. A dog that has earned a higher title may not earn a TAN, or compete in the TAN event. The designation "TAN" will be placed before the dog’s name on the registration records.

GUN DOG: A dog that is entered in the Novice class that earns three (3) passes, including a First Place or two Reserves, will be given the designation of GUN. The designation "GUN" will be placed before the dog’s name on the registration records. Dogs that have earned the GUN title cannot enter or compete at the Novice level again and must advance to Open.

TRIALER: A dog that has earned and been awarded three passes, one (1) of which must be a First Place, in the Open Class will be awarded the designation of Trialer. The designation as a Trialer, which is "TR.", will be placed before the dog’s name on the registration records.

CHAMPION TRIALER: A dog that has earned and been awarded two (2) First Places in the Open Class and is free of disqualifying breed faults will be awarded the designation of Champion Trialer. The designation as a Champion Trialer, which is "CHTR", will be placed before the dog’s name on the registration records.

CHAMPION OF THE FIELD: A dog that has earned and been awarded three (3) First Places in the Open Class and is free of disqualifying breed faults will be awarded and designated as a Champion of the Field. "CHF" will be placed before the dog’s name on the registration records. One First Place must be earned in both Type W and Type L trials (see Appendix B).

First Placements must be given under different Judges for all titles. First Placements given by the same Judge will not count towards a UKC title.

PART SIX: RIGHT TO AMEND RULES

The UKC expressly reserves the right to amend or modify these Rules, Regulations and Procedures applicable to gun dog field trials, as well as the appendixes hereto, as UKC in its sole discretion deems necessary, appropriate and prudent.

APPENDIX A

UNITED KENNEL CLUB, INC.

GLOSSARY


Glossary of Terminology Applicable to Field Trials and Tests of Natural Ability (TANS)

Brace - A pair of dogs or two (2) dogs.

Breaking - Leaving before, or without, having been sent.

Bumping Birds - Scenting and then causing game to fly without establishing point.

Bye-Dog - A dog drawn as the last dog in a stake without a bracemate.

Call Back - An opportunity afforded a dog by the judges after completion of its initial run. This is done to give a dog an opportunity to compete further, or to allow a dog to demonstrate a stake requirement, such as pointing, retrieving or honoring.

Cast - The direction and range demonstrated by a dog while seeking game.
Couler - The act of a dog coming on point then slowly and stealthily inching closer to the bird. A handler may verbally (quietly) couler the dog as directed by the judge.

Cover - The vegetation on course.

Fetch - One of a number of commands that can be given to a dog to release it to demonstrate a retrieve.

Find - Game located when a dog is hunting.

Flash Point - Momentary pause, not acceptable for a trial placement.

Gallery - Observers and spectators of a field trial.

Game - Upland birds.

Guide - A person acting in the official capacity of assisting during the trial for the purpose of game location only.

Gun-Shy - Afraid of gunfire.

Handler - The person handling a dog in a trial.

Heat - A segment, division or group of dogs of the entire stake.

Heeling - The act of verbally causing a dog to walk at a handler's side.

Honoring - When a dog stops immediately or within a few steps, usually in a pointing stance, upon observing a bracemate on point.

Interference - When a dog willfully hinders or impedes the performance of a bracemate.

Liberated Birds - See the definition of pen-raised birds.

Line Running - Running in a straightaway manner without quartering or seeking objectives.

Mark - The act of a dog to watch, or mark, the flight and/or fall of a bird.

Natural Game - Wild upland game birds of various species that are known to naturally inhabit the area where a field trial is held.

Order Up a Dog - The judge’s command to a handler to remove his dog from the course upon completion of judging or for an infraction that disqualifies the dog.

Pen-Raised Birds - Also commonly referred to as liberated birds. Pen-raised birds are upland game birds of any species that are released upon field trial grounds for an insufficient time so as to adopt the characteristics of and simulate the behavior and flight characteristics of natural game birds of the applicable species. Game are considered Pen-raised or liberated birds if they are released or liberated upon the grounds for less than a minimum of fifteen (15) days prior to a field trial.
Pick Up a Dog - When a dog is removed from further judgment.

Quartering - To laterally traverse (back and forth) an area of ground while advancing forward.

Range/Run - The distance at which a dog works from the handler.

Release a Dog - To send a dog on.

Relocate a Dog - To release a dog from a point or honor and move the dog on, usually to relocate moving game.


Retrieve - To find and bring back shot game.

Running Order - A listing of the bracing and running order of dogs entered in all stakes in a field trial.

Shotgun Range - The effective range of a shotgun, generally about 20-50 yards.

Stake - A competitive category in a field trial.

Steady-to-Shot - Maintaining a point during the flight of, and through the shots or shooting of a flushed bird.

Steady-to-Wing - Maintaining a point during the flight of a flushed bird.

Stealing Point - A dog that steals a point makes continued movement into the area where the game is present after observing another dog on point, rather than honoring.

Stop-to-Flush - When a dog stops after observing the flush of a bird.

Style - The gait and manner in which a dog traverses a course.

Whoa a Dog - A command used to cause a dog to stop and stand.

APPENDIX B

UNITED KENNEL CLUB, INC.

REGULATIONS SPECIFIC TO
TYPE W (WILD) AND TYPE L (LIBERATED) GUN DOG FIELD TRIALS

In addition to the previous rules, regulations and procedures Type W and Type L Gun Dog Field Trials must adhere to the following special regulations:

Article 1. Depicting of Accurate Hunting Situation. All competitions must be an accurate picture of a hunting situation and may involve any upland game bird species. The goal of these competitions is to reward the best hunting dogs that are representatives of the breed, in particular by the spirit, the efficiency and by the aptitude of the dogs to receive intensive training.
Article 2. Placements. The host club or association must designate whether the trial is a type W or type L trial and the primary bird species. A dog shall not be placed if it has not scored a good point on birds. A dog honoring point, without a point of it’s own, shall only pass but will not win a placement.

Article 3. Requirement of Grounds. These competitions may take place on any type of grounds but those selected must fulfill the conditions of adequate cover to hide the game. The surface area must be large enough so that the dogs cannot cover it more than twice during any day of the field trial.

Article 4. Same Working Conditions. These competitions shall not necessarily run upwind, but the judges shall do their best to put all dogs in the same working conditions.

Article 5. Running of Competitions. The competitions in either type may be run as brace or solo in Open Class, and solo only in Novice. A minimum of four (4) entries required per class. In brace competition, the handlers shall work shoulder to shoulder during the course and must remain under the control of the judge. Any dog that hinders continuously its bracemate in a heat or callback shall be disqualified.

Article 6. Handlers. A handler shall not be allowed to hinder a bracemate by excessive use of voice or the whistle. The dog and handler will be disqualified if the handler attempts to block the dog’s view to restrain it from breaking to wing or shot. If the cover is thick, handlers are permitted to run beepers or bells but only if authorized by the judge.

Article 7. Style of Ground Coverage. The quarter must be particularly active, intelligent and methodic. Silent whistles are forbidden. The ground coverage shall depend on the thickness of the cover and the breed of the dog being judged. Handlers and Judges will move at a walking pace without waiting for the dog. The dog must always stay in contact with its handler and must obey him/her at all times, even if their bracemate commits a fault. If the dog is encouraged by its bracemate to commit a fault when holding a point, the dog shall score if it stands still after the first call of it’s handler.

Article 8. Traits Required of Dogs. A dog must be obedient, indicate quickly and clearly the presence of game without encouragement, not have non-justified bursts, hold the point upon the arrival of it’s handler who will move without any rush, and couler if given the command to do so (decision of handler). A dog must couler with decision in front of handler and only at the command of the handler. Long coulers are allowed if they are energetic and efficient. An Open Class dog that coulers prior to command will be disqualified. Novice dogs will be penalized. An Open Class dog that is encouraged/discouraged, such as with a whoa, may only be awarded a rating of Good. Novice Class dogs shall not be failed if given only slight encouragement.

Article 9. Disqualification/Missed or Bumped Game. The ground must be thoroughly searched and any game missed or bumped shall be counted as a disqualifying fault in the Open Class and a fault in Novice.

Article 10. Disqualification/Flushing. A dog that deliberately flushes game and is out of control of the handler during its course will be disqualified.

Article 11. Disqualification/Chasing. An Open dog that chases feathered game shall be disqualified, and a Novice Class dog will be penalized. A dog that chases any other game shall not be disqualified if it comes back after the first call of its handler and if it pursues its course normally.

Article 12. Disqualification/False Points. An Open dog will be disqualified that false points, in different locations, without any reason. Novice dogs will be penalized.

Article 13. Disqualification/Out of Judgment. A dog that is out of judgment or out of control of its handler shall be disqualified.

Article 14. Steadiness to Wing/Shot. Steadiness to wing-and-shot is mandatory and required in order to win the First Place or Reserve in the Open Class. Steadiness to wing and shot in Novice Class dogs is favorable, but not required. Only steadiness to wing is required to pass/place in the Novice Class.

Special Rules For Type W Gundog Field Trials

Article 15. Testing Gun-shyness and Steadiness. No game may be taken in Type W trials. Where permitted, a shotgun blank must be fired when the bird is flushed. All dogs proving to be gun-shy shall be disqualified. Novice dogs may break at the shot but must be brought immediately under control by the handler.

Special Rules For Type L Gundog Field Trails

Article 16. Testing Gun-shyness, Steadiness and Retrieving Ability. Every attempt must be made to shoot and cleanly kill the bird for testing gun-shyness, steadiness and retrieving ability. All type L trials are shot game field trials. All dogs proving to be gun-shy shall be disqualified.


Article 17. Designated Gunners; Shooting. The organizers shall appoint an official gun to shoot. The judges may shoot but it is mandatory that one judge must not shoot in order to watch the dog’s behavior to the flush and shot. There shall be two official guns when running braces, one for each handler. The official guns shall wear the game bags. Game flushed by a free running dog or birds that flush wild shall not be shot except on instruction from a judge. If a bird does not fly after an attempt to flush by a handler, it shall not be shot on the ground unless instructed to do so by the judge.

Article 18. Ideal Performance in the Field. After holding a point, the dogs that perform perfectly:
Open Class
a) Are steady to wing and to shot;
b) Perfectly retrieve after getting the judge’s authorization;
c) Do a 15 minutes course of great merit.

Novice Class
a) Are steady to wing
b) Retrieve to within a reasonable distance of the handler
c) Do a 15 minute course of great merit

Article 19. Retrieving. In all competitions with shot game, retrieving is mandatory. In Open Class, it must occur after getting the judge’s authorization. An Open Class dog that retrieves before getting the judge’s authorization shall not be placed. Novice Class dogs that retrieve before the Judge’s authorization will not be penalized.

Judges should make every effort to allow the dog to demonstrate its steadiness to wing and shot, dogs should be sent to retrieve only after demonstrating steadiness.

The dog must mark the downed bird and, when commanded to retrieve, must proceed directly to the area of the fall, establish a hunt to find the bird, pick it up, and return directly to the handler.

In Open Class dogs must retrieve to hand. In the Novice Class, a retrieve to within an acceptable distance of the handler is permitted.

The judge must inspect each delivered bird for evidence of hard mouth, such as broken bones, partially or wholly eaten birds. Hard mouthed dogs will be disqualified immediately in all classes of competition.

A dog that refuses to retrieve may only receive fourth place and only if the remainder of the 15 minutes course is excellent.

If a dog does not have any opportunity to retrieve during the course, a cold retrieve shall be set-up at the discretion of the judge, preferably at the end of the course, with a fresh and healthy bird thrown or planted and shot.

If a shot bird is damaged to the point that a dog refuses to retrieve, the judge may authorize a second retrieve with a fresh bird.

Article 20. Scoring: Retrieving. It shall be taken into account how the dog finds the crippled or the dead bird (how difficult this task is) and how it retrieves it.

Article 21. Non-Designated Game. On the entry form, the Field Trial Committee must indicate the type of game officially designated for the field trial. On the morning of the competitions, they must tell what game cannot be shot. Nevertheless, pointing these upland game birds shall count for the placement of the dogs.



UKC CUP
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UKC may organize every year, either in the spring, fall or both, a National Level Field Trial designated "UKC NATIONAL GUN DOG CHAMPIONSHIP" which a dog may seek to be awarded the championship title designated National Champion of the Field, NATCHF. UKC defines the rules applicable to National Level Field Trial competitions.