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The Official Rule Book of American Street Ring
Last revised March 23, 2006 - PDF version |
| II. General Rules of Performance |
| 1. Commands may be given verbally, by hand signal, or by the use of a whistle. The Evaluator should be made aware of any unusual or unconventional method of controlling the dog, so that the performance of the dog is not considered faulty. Regardless of the types of commands used, the dog must respond promptly to the first command. The structure or sequence of the commands must not be more elaborate than necessary such that the commands are deemed redundant or repetitive. The handler may use the dog's name before verbal commands only. |
| 2. The dog may wear one collar of a non-correction type (i.e. leather/cotton/nylon, etc.) or one harness during the trial. No chain-type collars are permitted on the dog during the execution of most exercises. The only exception will be the addition of a standard correction-type (choker or fur saver, not prong) collar during the Civil Agitation exercise to ensure the safety of the civil decoys. The Evaluator is the final authority on the approval of all equipment used. |
| 3. A six foot leash, a 30 foot long-line, an approved agitation collar, and an approved agitation muzzle are required items where appropriate, as defined in the Exercise Rules. |
| 4. The handler may carry a leash during the trial, and it must be carried in a way that it can neither intimidate nor entice the dog. Acceptable methods of carrying the leash are in a pocket, over the shoulders and around the body, or securely around the waist. At no time may the handler physically correct the dog on the trial field during the trial. If this occurs, the Evaluator may excuse the Team, or apply point deductions at his/her discretion. |
| 5. The handler must not carry any type of inducement during the trial (food, toys, etc.). |
| 6. In the manner prescribed by the Evaluator, decoys will use verbal opposition for the length of time specified, and do so in the same manner, at the same moment, within a given exercise, for all dogs at a specific Level. |
| 7. During all bite exercises, when the handler commands the dog to release its bite, the decoy shall become as motionless as possible. The single exception occurs in Level 3 competition. In Level 3, the Evaluator shall choose one exercise in which the decoy will continue to oppose the dog until the conclusion of the exercise. |
8. The dog should be placed on leash between exercises and before the commencement of each bite exercise. The dog may be restrained at the line of departure until the moment of release (except for the Seated Defense of Handler). The handler may leash the dog upon recall from the bite, or upon collecting the dog from an Out/Guard position.
NOTE: Paragraph eight, above, does NOT apply to Level 3 competition. Level 3 is conducted completely off leash, with the exception of the civil exercises, or as the Evaluator may deem necessary. |
| 9. The handler may encourage the dog prior to release, but may not encourage the dog once it has engaged the decoy. |
| 10. During the Seated Defense of Handler, one positional command (e.g., 'Heel' or 'Down/Stay') instructing the dog to remain within 1 yard of the handler is permitted. After such command, the handler must remove the leash (if applicable), and may not physically restrain the dog. |
| 11. The actions of the decoys are under the direction of the Evaluator, but are generally intended to strive to test the courage of the dog through intimidation, or to test the force of will of the dog through a combination of elusiveness and apparent power. The evaluation of the dogs will give special consideration to dogs with exceptional power, but the decoys shall not attempt to oppose the dog through sheer force alone by swinging or lifting the dog excessively, or attempting to wrench the suit material from its bite. The actions of the decoys will be evaluated and adjusted if necessary during the presentation of the Proof dog prior to the beginning of each Level. |
| 12. A Team that can satisfy the requirements of an exercise within a reasonable amount of time, but requiring the use of extra commands, shall suffer a minor point deduction for the exercise. A Team that can satisfy the requirements of the exercise within a reasonable amount of time despite the dog displaying a delay in engagement due to caution, shall suffer a substantial point deduction for the exercise. Dogs who delay engagement beyond the point of caution shall receive zero points for the exercise. In this case, the Evaluator shall call a halt to the exercise at the point where the dog delays biting for more than a reasonable amount of time. If, in the opinion of the Evaluator, the dog's delay in biting is due to insecurity or fear of the decoy, the Team shall be disqualified from the trial. |
13. During any bite at any Level, the dog is permitted to change its bite to a more strategically advantageous position. However, the change must be virtually instantaneous such that there is not a significant loss of biting time. The decoy is permitted to actively oppose the dog during such a change of bite by either attempting to elude the re-engagement, or by aggressively attacking/intimidating the dog.
Should the decoy determine that the dog prefers a specific bite location, the decoy may attempt to block that preferred location with an appropriate Object of Opposition (baton, foam insulation, etc.), or by offering a bite location that is less preferable (for example, if the dog attempts to change to a leg bite, and does not prefer to bite the arm/chest, the decoy may try to block the leg by covering it with the arm). In such a scenario, the dog should immediately bite the available location.
NOTES:
In Entry Level ONLY, should the dog release a bite for any reason, the decoy shall NOT attempt to elude or actively oppose the dog, NOR may the decoy offer a target in an attempt to help the dog re-engage. The decoy must continue to move in as natural a manner as possible.
In Level 1 ONLY, should the dog release a bite for any reason, the decoy shall attempt to elude and actively oppose the dog for a maximum of TWO misses (esquives). Following two misses from the dog, the decoy will allow the dog to engage.
In Level 2 and 3, should the dog release a bite for any reason, the decoy shall attempt to elude and actively oppose the dog UNTIL the Evaluator signals the decoy to stop, at which point the decoy shall allow the dog to engage. |
| 14. There will be absolutely NO training/practicing on or near the trial field the day of the trial. Any excessive handling of the dog during or between exercises may be construed as 'training on the field' and can result in point deductions or expulsion from the trial at the Evaluator's discretion. |
| 15. Only ONE dog will be permitted on the trial field at a time unless authorized by the Evaluator. |
| 16. The handler shall not allow the dog to 'foul' the trial field (Team is subject to point deductions.). |
| 17. For Entry Level and Level 1 competition: The handler shall declare prior to the commencement of the protection exercises whether the dog will 'out/guard' or 'out/recall' when commanded. This declaration shall remain consistent for all exercises (i.e., the handler may not 'out/guard' the dog on one exercise, and 'out/recall' the dog on another exercise. In Level 2 and Level 3 competition, this decision is made by the Evaluator. |
| 18. Release Commands: A maximum of 3 release commands may be given in any particular protection exercise. If the dog has not released the decoy by the 3rd command, this shall be considered a 'failure to release'. In Entry Level and Level 1 competition, 50% of the available points for the exercise shall be deducted. In Level 2 and Level 3 competition, a '0' for the exercise will result. |
| 19. Each dog is required to successfully complete Entry Level prior to competing in Level 1. No Exceptions. |
| 20. In the event of a tie at any level, the higher placement shall be awarded to the team with the higher percentage score in the protection phase of the particular program. If the protection percentage is identical, the outcome shall be considered a tie. |
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