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 longer and more difficult course.
Download the full 2010 NNC Draught Test Regulations in Adobe pdf format here Download Level 2 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 2 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 100 and 150metres
Changes of pace to slow and back to normal;
There will be a minimum of 9 turns made up from:
at least 3 left turns, (with at least 1 at slow pace);
at least 3 right turns (with at least 1 at slow pace);
at least 3 about turns, (with at least 1 at slow pace);
a 1 minute halt, any position of the handlers choice but the dog must remain in the same position (standing, sitting or down);
2 waits at a junction of 5 seconds each, (1 at slow pace);
a random, unexpected stop (during normal pace) that may be different for each entrant;
a recall from 10 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.
The second part of this section is a group down-stay of 2 minutes duration, in a group of manageable size (maximum of 5 dogs). The dogs will be within 4m of each other. The handlers will be in sight of the dogs, approximately 5m away.
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;
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 group down-stay; they must be reset back into the down position (5 points lost each time reset);
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 three times before a response;
distracting another dog or dogs whilst in the group down-stay;
Failure:
if the team lose more than 15 points in this section (at least 30 points required to pass);
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 team does not show a pronounced change of pace
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 rightangle
turns, narrow areas, a wait at a removal 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
and/or safety steward. 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 they be directed to wait 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 at least 2 miles, with
at least two changes of surface and a moderate incline (about 8%) to ascend and descend. The
overall length of the course must be extended in the absence of this incline. A load (which will be
inspected prior to the commencement of this section), comprising a total weight of 10 kilograms,
will be transported for 50% of the course (the load may, if the owner wishes, be removed after this).
During the course a number of obstacles (hopefully, natural) will be encountered; these should
include a gate, a right turn, a left turn, a series of fairly tight `S' bends, and one other obstacle
selected by a Judge. 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 the various obstacles. On reaching each obstacle or set of obstacles 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.
There will also be an out-of-sight down stay of 1 minute duration, handlers may leave their dogs
hitched or unhitched for the stay exercise.
Finally, each handler in turn will be instructed by the Judge to unhitch and un-harness their dog
before walking away from the test area in a controlled manner.
Scoring:
It is expected that;
the dog will wait calmly while they are harnessed and 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 are 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 and stops;
using a non-directional command (ie: stop, wait, come, sit) more than three times before a response;
incorrect and/or unsafe loading;
handler holding on to any part of the cart or equipment unnecessarily; to control the dog.
not assisting the dog over uneven surfaces, up hills etc, where deemed necessary
distracting another dog or dogs whilst in the group down-stay;
if the dog changes position during the down stay; 5 points will be lost;
Failure:
if the dog moves away from the spot during the down stay;
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;
