We have made some changes…
Below are the many changes to our rule book. Of course, the rulebook available here is up to date, but this just clarifies what we have changed.
Page 4
Besides the judge and timer, only non-competing officials or official trial photo/videographers may be present during any search, except in the case of an assistant to a disabled person or the parent of a minor. Handlers may request an exception for a non-competitor or a previous competitor to be in the search area.
Page 5
There are two competition streams: Working (W) and Amateur (A). Handlers or dogs working or previously employed in a professional capacity in detection as well as scent detection instructors/coaches/trainers must enter the Working stream and will be ranked and placed (if placements are offered) separately from Amateurs.
Page 5
There will be no change to search areas or hides for Working stream competitors, but a higher level of proficiency may be expected.
Page 5
A dog may not be entered in the same component more than once in the same trial day. (I.e. a dog may not be run in the second dog group even with a different handler)
Page 5
For an Elite title, all 3 Components must be passed at the same trial to title.
Page 6
Elite Level: The component scores for the Elite Level total 200 points. The Container Search is scored out of 60 points, the Interior Search is scored out of 80 points and the Exterior Search is scored out of 60 points. Dogs must achieve 50% of the total score of each component for a passing/qualifying score PLUS find all available hides in each search area and call any clear areas. The final score is tabulated by dividing the score out of 200 by two (2) to reach a percentage that will be reflected by the title classifications (see below).
Each Elite component must be passed at the same trial day in order to achieve a title.
Page 6
Timing
Each component search will be timed and all available hides must be found within the time limit for each component. If necessary for placement ribbons or trophies, ties in component/stream placements will be broken by time with the faster time getting the higher placing.
Page 6
Competitors may enter any components that they have previously passed in order to bank a higher score or to attempt to achieve a Special as long as the dog has not yet titled.
Page 7
For Championship and Master Championship titles, competitors may aggregate their highest scores from each passed component, but each passing score may only be used once towards a titling score. An initial Special title will be considered only as a single score.
Page 7
Leaving the search area – a dog or handler moves entirely out of the search area boundaries (at the judge’s discretion, leeway may be given to dogs that are working odour that may have drifted out of the search area).
Page 10 & 11
Each component must be passed at least once in order to achieve a title. A Formal Alert is scored and the judge must be informed what it will be (up to two allowed). The handler must call all finds.
Page 11 (Hide height removed)
Page 12
E-Exterior Search
Two hides are placed out of easy view in an outdoor area containing approximately 15 – 20 potential locations for hides. Locations may include furniture (picnic tables, patio chairs etc.), vegetation, fences, retaining walls or planters. The area search may contain one vehicle.
Page 12 ELITE LEVEL ADDED
Page 12
A Formal Alert is scored and the judge must be informed what it will be (up to two allowed). The handler must call all finds and the clears.
Page 13 & 14
Competition games
Speed sweepstakes
Sporting Detection Speed Sweepstakes aka SpeedStakes
This is not a titling class at this time
Class description: There will be 20 containers in any pattern in the search area. There will be 2 to 4 hides placed somewhere in the pattern as well as two to four distractors. The number of both will be unknown to the handler. Two timers are required with the recorded time the average of the two. This is a Pass/Fail contest with time determining the winner. The hides and distractors remain the same for all dogs. No second dogs to be run in the same class. Hosts may offer this class as often as they wish during a trial event. Entry fees for each class will be shared 50/50 between the host and placing teams. Number of placements will be determined by the host. If there are no completed runs (all hides found under time), winners will be chosen by random draw. Spectators are allowed where space permits.
Advanced Class: Open to all titled and untitled dogs. Any combination of Pine or Wintergreen can be used. Vented boxes only will be used. Time limit 90 seconds.
Excellent Class: Open to dogs titled in Advanced and up. Any combination of the three SDDA odours may be used. Containers can be any type of boxes or other items. Time limit 120 seconds.
Page 16
Making or approving any minor variations on trial day in search area layout or design or run order to assist with the efficient and fair running of the trial. This may include changing the order of components (as long as Containers are run first in Started, Advanced or Excellent) or running a team in consecutive components (eg. Interior following Containers immediately.)