Kiwi Newfoundlands Draft Test Regulations Effective 27 June 2010

Created on 28th January 2006 Amended June 2010

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction Section 1 – Application for Draft Tests Section 2 – Qualifications of Judges Section 3 – Dogs Eligible to Compete Section 4 – Handling a Dog Section 5 – Test Disqualifications and Ineligibility Section 6 – Bitches in Season Section 7 – Entering at Own Risk Section 8 – Judges' Decisions Section 9 – Entries Section 10 – Entry in Team Division Section 11 – Change of site or event Section 12 – Stewards Section 13 – Emergency provisions Section 14 – Standardized Judging Section 15 – Failed Exercises and Rejudging Section 16 – Dog in Distress Section 17 – Judges' Records Section 18 – Use of Leash Section 19 – Required Equipment Section 20 – Commands, Signals and Encouragement Section 21 – Praise Section 22 – Handling Between Exercises Section 23 – Familiarization with the Test Courses Section 24 – Qualifying and Non-Qualifying Performance Section 25 – Exercises Section 26 – Overall Performance Guidelines Section 27 – Penalties Section 28 – Team Division exercises Section 29 – Advancement and Awards

Created on 28th January 2006 Amended June 2010

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INTRODUCTION The Newfoundland has traditionally been used as a working dog, pulling sleds and carts of freight in its native homeland. Kiwi Newfoundlands wants to keep this instinct alive through a series of draught tests. These tests are designed to foster and demonstrate team work between the dog and its handler to successfully negotiate a course while pulling a loaded cart. The dogs are eligible for awards both for individual performance and for team performance. Section 1 – Application for Draft Tests Any member may organise and run a draft test for Kiwi Newfoundlands provided they have gained approval from the Club’s organizing team, and it has been at least 6 weeks since the last carting event. The organiser shall provide to the Club the date, time, location and judge for the event, and any requests for assistance to set-up and/or run the event. The Club will pass this information to the webmaster for loading onto the Club’s website, and for distribution to the Club’s members via email and the Club’s magazine. The organiser is also responsible for ensuring the course is set up prior to the event, and for all paperwork and entry forms for the event. Section 2 – Qualifications of Judges The Draft Test Judges should understand thoroughly draft work and the physical conditioning necessary for draft work. The judge should be selected on their knowledge of draft work, or their knowledge of other suitable working disciplines for dogs. Section 3 – Dogs Eligible to Compete The Kiwi Newfoundlands Draft Tests will be open to dogs that are owned by current members of the Club (Newfoundland or other breed at the organiser’s and judge’s discretion). Dogs must be not less that 18 months old. Section 4 – Handling a Dog Each dog or team must be handled by the same person for all exercises. Section 5 – Test Disqualifications and Ineligibility Judges may immediately disqualify and remove from competition a handler and dog for any of the following reasons: 1. The dog attacks a person or dog on the test grounds. 2. The handler deliberately interferes with another handler or dog. 3. The handler behaves in an unsportsmanlike manner in or outside the testing area. (Unsportsmanlike behavior includes: directing angry, abusive language at a person or dog; mistreating a dog; showing discourtesies to judges, test officials, stewards or others.) 4. The dog is lame or wears corrective bandages or other attachments. Section 6 – Bitches in Season Bitches in season may participate in Draft Tests after the last dog has finished. Created on 28th January 2006 Amended June 2010

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Section 7 – Entering at Own Risk Entrants participate in a Draft Test at their own risk. Entrants agree to abide by the Kiwi Newfoundlands Draft Test Regulations and the Constitution and By-laws of Kiwi Newfoundlands. Section 8 – Judges' Decisions At the draft test, the decisions of the judges are final in all matters affecting the scoring and working ability of the dogs and their entrants. The judges are in sole charge of the Draft Test area until their assignment is complete. Section 9 – Entries Entries for a draft test will only be accepted on an official entry form. Section 10 – Entry in Team Division A team consists of two or more dogs working together in unison. Only dogs passing the Senior Division at a previous test will be eligible to compete in the Team Division. Section 11 – Change of site or event If a Draft Test is either cancelled or postponed the organiser shall make every effort to advise the Club membership ASAP. Section 12 – Stewards Stewards assist the judges and they may act only on the judges' instructions. Stewards must not give information or instructions to owners and entrants except as specifically instructed by a judge and then only in such a manner that it is clear that the instructions are those of a judge. Any harassment of stewards must be reported immediately to the judges. Section 13 – Emergency Provisions The Draft Test organiser should take all reasonable precautions to ensure the safety of everyone involved. It is recommended that the services of a veterinarian be available during a draft test. The veterinarian may be ‘on call’ if the office is within a fifteen (15) minute drive and a telephone is available at the draft test site. Otherwise, the veterinarian must be on site. First

aid

equipment

must

be

available

to

handle

injuries.

Section 14 – Standardized Judging Standardized judging is of great importance, and since Draft Tests occur on natural terrain, the judges may, if necessary, make minimal adaptations to the exercises to fit the available site. Judges must act in a professional, impartial, and pleasant manner. If, in the opinion of the judges, the test setup is not safe or will not adequately test a dog's and handler's abilities, the judges may disapprove of the Draft Test organiser's test setup and make suggestions for improvements. In no instance, however, should the judges add, delete or change any draft test requirement. Judges selected by a Draft Test Committee for a draft test should be chosen for their ability to judge Newfoundland dogs working in harness. Judges should possess thorough knowledge of the draft test rules, a sense of fairness, and consideration for the efforts of dogs and handlers. Section 15 – Failed Exercises and Rejudging Created on 28th January 2006 Amended June 2010

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During the draft test, judges may permit a handler to assist his dog in completing a failed exercise. Only gentle guidance by the dog's collar is permitted as discipline. If a dog fails a particular exercise, it will not ordinarily be rejudged. However, if in the judge’s opinion, a particular and unusual circumstance affected the dog's performance, the judges may rejudge the dog on the complete exercise at their discretion. If the judges rejudge a dog on an exercise, they should explain the reason on the Judges' Record. Section 16 – Dog in Distress If at any time during a draft test it becomes apparent to either the handler or a judge that the dog is in distress, the exercise will be immediately terminated and the dog will receive appropriate attention. The dog shall not be allowed to continue the test unless deemed fit to do so by its owner, the test organiser, and the judge. Section 17 – Judges' Records The judges will record the pass or fail performances for each dog on the Judges' Record sheets following the conclusion of the test. Any significant comments on judges' score sheets should be noted on the Judges' Records. Entrants may view their score sheets. Section 18 – Use of Leash Leashes must be used for junior level dogs. Leashes may be used at a handlers discretion for all other levels of competition. Section 19 – Required Equipment Handlers The handler shall provide an appropriate harness and leash for their dog. Draft Test Organiser The Draft test organiser shall provide all equipment to set up the course, and also provide carts. They shall also ensure clipboards are available for the judges. Section 20 – Commands, Signals and Encouragement During the testing, a handler may give commands, signals and encouragement to the dog by voice, arm signal or with a whistle. 3 commands and signals are permitted for junior level per exercise, 2 for intermediate level, and 1 for senior level. 2 commands are permitted for a team of dogs. When one command only is specified for an exercise, it may be a voice, hand, or simultaneous voice and hand command. A simultaneous voice and hand command is considered a single command. While an entrant may encourage the dog in a pleasant, upbeat manner, undue and frequent yelling, shouting or reprimands should be considered undesirable and unnecessary for a dog under control. Such behavior constitutes a failure of the exercise. Section 21 – Praise Physical praise and petting are encouraged between and after exercises. A handler shall not carry or offer food during the exercises or in the testing area. Section 22 – Handling between Exercises A dog may be guided gently by the collar between exercises. No other physical guidance is permitted and will result in a failure. Created on 28th January 2006 Amended June 2010

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Section 23 – Familiarization with the Test Courses All competitors can walk the course before the event starts, or follow another dog round the course provided the judge gives their permission to do this, and they do not interfere with the dog or handler on the course. Section 24 – Qualifying and Non-Qualifying Performance A dog’s ability to perform assigned tasks with its handler is the primary quality emphasized in a Draft Test. In addition, judges must consider a dog's willingness and smoothness of performance. A dog that willingly completes each task within a reasonable time period and without physical assistance should be marked as passed. Judges will penalize entrants during any portion of the test for the following Failures Common to All Exercises: 1. A dog is not under the handler's control. 2. A handler yells at his dog frequently to maintain control of his dog. 3. A handler abuses the dog or fails to show consideration for the dog's welfare. 4. The dog upsets the draft apparatus. 5. The handler or dog violates specific test site regulations. 6. Continual use of a tight lead. Section 25 – Exercises The course shall be approximately 1.5 kilometers in total length. It shall include the following individual exercises: -

Harness and Hitch and equipment check 2 x left hand 90º turns 2 x right hand 90º turns 1 x 360 degree turn 1 x compulsory uphill with a stop 1 x narrows 1 x removable obstacle 1 x 1metre back up 1 x loading of freight 3 x optional exercises (e.g. any of the above, gate, bridge, uphill, downhill, weave, road crossing, etc)

Each exercise is marked out of 10 possible marks. Section 26 – Overall performance guidelines A draft test demonstrates cooperation between the handler and dog. Since a handler's draft work knowledge and abilities are essential to draft work, the judges evaluate a handler’s knowledge and ability to select the correct equipment for the dog, site, and conditions and to use the equipment properly. There are no time constraints for traversing the course as long as the dog continues to work. The handler may work in front of, beside, or behind the dog, or any combination of these positions. The handler may not impede the dog's forward movement at any time. This includes stepping in front of a dog to enforce a halt command or stepping in front of a dog that tries to change direction against the handler's command. The dog and handler Created on 28th January 2006 Amended June 2010

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shall be awarded points for their teamwork, ability to enter and negotiate the exercise correctly and safely, and for demonstrating capability and good technique. Section 27 - Penalties If a dog's apparatus bumps an object (e.g. tree or narrow area) and the dog obeys the handler's commands in dislodging it, the judges will pass the dog. However, if this happens more than two (2) times, the judges will penalise the dog. The dog will also be penalized in the exercise if the dog damages the objects or apparatus. Other penalties shall be incurred for such things as (as well as in S24): - Unsafe load - Poor choice of route - Dog stops working - Dog does not obey commands given by handler. - Dog or apparatus bumps objects more than two (2) times. - Dog upsets draft apparatus.

Section 28 - Team Division Exercises The exercises and judging shall be the same for teams of dogs as for individual dogs. Section 29 – Advancement and Awards Dogs will start their competition in draft events at Junior level. Once they have passed 2 events with a 50% or greater overall score per event and a minimum of 20% in each exercise, they advance to Intermediate level. Once an Intermediate dog has passed 2 events with a 65% or greater overall score per event and a minimum of 30% in each exercise, they advance to Senior level. Once a Senior dog has passed 2 events with a 75% or greater overall score per event and a minimum of 40% in each exercise,  they can use the title ‘Working Dog Draft’ or WDD. A dog may compete in a team of dogs once it has passed one senior level competition. Once a team dog has passed 2 team events with a 65% or greater overall score per event, they can use the title ‘Working Dog Draft Team’ or WDDT.

Created on 28th January 2006 Amended June 2010

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