All entrants must attend the Judges Briefing at the appointed time. Entrants who miss the Briefing will only be admitted under special circumstances and at the discretion of the Test Manager.
Purpose - To demonstrate a dog's ability to respond to the owner's commands and to safely pull draught apparatus over a short level course.
Download the full 2010 NNC Draught Test Regulations in Adobe pdf format here Download Level 1 excercises in Adobe pdf format here
Please be aware of the Northern NC Statement in respect of the new 2010 Regulations. You can view the Statement in Adobe pdf format here
A Level 1 Test in progress
CONTROL SECTION
Desired performance:
A control course will be set in the test area by the two judges with the following elements:
Over a distance of between 75 and 100 metres
there will be between 7 and 9 turns, made up from:
between 2 and 3 left turns;
between 2 and 3 right turns;
between 2 and 3 about turns;
a 1 minute halt, any position of the handlers choice but the dog must remain in the same position (standing, sitting or down);
a wait at a junction of 5 seconds;
a random, unexpected stop that may be different for each entrant;
a down-stay of 1 minute with the handler 5m away, in sight of the dog;
a recall from 5 metres, the dog must be off lead
Before entering the test area, the handler will hand the harness to the steward. The dog will be walked into the test area and left in a "stay", standing, sitting or down position as the handler
wishes. The handler will take the harness from the steward who will be positioned 5 metres away and then return to harness the dog. When they are ready, the handler will inform the Judges the dog is ready
for inspection. One of the Judges (Judge A) will then carry out the formal inspection. If this is passed satisfactorily, then the handler, with their dog alongside them, will walk the designated course,
responding to the instructions that will be given by the steward.
Scoring:
It is expected that;
the dog will wait calmly while they are harnessed;
the dog will walk at the side of the handler and respond to their commands, thus demonstrating that they are under control;
getting up while in the down-stay, the dog may be calmly and quietly reset back into the down stay position for the remaining time still running on the clock, but will lose 5 points each time they are reset;
45 points will be allocated for this section.
Points will be lost for:
general lack of control;
incorrect harnessing;
each time the lead is tightened to obtain conformity to the handler's wishes;
the dog not staying alongside the handler;
if the dog gets up while in the down-stay, (the dog may be reset and left but it will lose 5 points each time); they must be reset back into the down position;
lack of control on turns, waits, stops, the recall and the halts;
the handler adapting his pace to that of the dog
using a non-directional command (ie: stop, wait, come, sit) more than five times before a response
Failure:
if the team lose more than 15 points in this section (at least 30 points required to pass);
if the team have more than 3 attempts at the recall;
if the team does not reach a sufficiently high standard, then it will NOT be allowed to enter the next section of this test;
if the dog leaves the ring
Permitted actions:
Handlers can kneel or extend their arms or even walk backwards during the action part of the recall; the element is complete when the dog is back with the handler.
Desired performance:
A manoeuvring course will be set by the two judges. It will cover approximately 150
metres, and will incorporate circular patterns, broad curves, at least 2 right-angle turns, narrow areas, a wait at
a removable obstacle and will include as many of these as natural features as possible. To commence the
manoeuvring course, the handler will take the dog to the apparatus, and when instructed will hitch it up.
When they are ready, the handler will inform the Judges the dog is ready for inspection.
The other Judge (Judge B) will then carry out the formal inspection.
If this is passed satisfactorily, then the handler, with their dog alongside them, will get the dog to pull the
apparatus through the designated course, responding to instructions given by the judges. This is to satisfy the
judges that the dog can safely and capably pull the apparatus on the following haul.
Only when this part has been completed satisfactorily will the dog and handler be directed to a waiting area
ready for the next part; failure to perform satisfactorily will mean they will not go onto the next part.
Desired performance:
This will be in a rural environment (or simulated) and will be over a distance of 1 mile, with at least one change
of surface and minimal inclines. There will be no additional load transported during the haul at this level.
During the course a number of obstacles (hopefully, natural) will be encountered. People and/or dogs may be
used to line the route at various places and provide a natural distraction. This part will be carried out in one or
more convoys of manageable size, with handlers accompanied by safety stewards and the Judges. The Judges
will position themselves ahead of the convoy at any encountered obstacles. On reaching any obstacle the
convoy will be halted by the judges and/or safety steward and necessary instructions given. The dogs and
handlers will then negotiate them while being observed by the judges.
When the convoy has completed the course, each handler in turn will be instructed by the Judge to unhitch and
un-harness the dog before walking away from the test area in a controlled manner.
Scoring:
It is expected that;
the dog will wait calmly while it is hitched;
the dog will walk at the side of the handler and respond to their commands, thus demonstrating that they are under control;
at the end of the course, the dog will again wait calmly while it is unhitched and unharnessed;
55 points will be allocated for this section.
Points will be lost for:
general lack of control;
incorrect hitching, unhitching, harnessing and unharnessing;
each time the lead is tightened to obtain conformity to the handler's wishes;
the dog not staying alongside the handler, (unless the handler has positioned themselves to the back or the front of the cart and has instructed the dog accordingly);
the handler adapting his pace to that of the dog;
lack of control on turns, waits, stop;
using a non-directional command (ie: stop, wait, come, sit) more than five times before a response;
incorrect and/or unsafe loading;
Failure:
if the team lose more than 15 points in this section (at least 40 points required to pass);
if through lack of handler safety awareness, the cart tips over;
