INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS FOR FIELD TRIALS FOR RETRIEVER BREEDS (English way)

FEDERATION CYNOLOGIQUE INTERNATIONALE (AISBL)
13, Place Albert 1er, B - 6530 Thuin (Belgique), tel : ++32.71.59.12.38, fax :++32.71.59.22.29, email : info@fci.be









INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS FOR

FIELD TRIALS

FOR


RETRIEVER BREEDS

(English way)
















AIM
Art. 1.
The retriever is the shooting man's indispensable help during a shooting day. The aim of these trials is to select the best dogs having the real gamefinding ability, good temperament, good marking, a good use of nose, showing initiative and being tender-mouthed.
Handling is only to be considered as the indispensable complement to these qualities, keeping the dog steady while walking at heel or at the stand, willing to obey the handler's instructions when sent for game, which the dog has not been able to mark.

ORGANIZATION
Art. 2.
In accordance with the decisions of the FCI at its 1976 Innsbruck meeting (“the FCI will only award the CACIT on trials which are held on live game“), the CACIT trials can only take place on game, released according to the rules in the country where the trial takes place. Birds must not be manipulated in any way on the day of the trial. The ethics should always be of highest priority. The game must be shot during a day’s formal shooting, in the presence of the dogs. The water test can be held as an artificial test (art. 16). International Field Trials must be arranged during the hunting season.

Art. 3.
The trials are organized by societies affiliated to the central organization recognized by the FCI
The organizers, by mutual agreement with the owners of the shoot, take the measures necessary for the successful outcome of these trials. They see to the application of the present regulations.
The guns are nominated by the organizing committee or by the host of the shoot.

Art. 4.
These trials can be held either during a driven shoot, where the dogs sit at the post, or during a walking-up shoot where the dogs have to walk at heel. It is desirable to be able to test the dogs just as much at a post, at heel in the line, as well as in the water (art. 16)
a) Walking-up, the judges, dogs and handlers nominated and the guns (at least one per judge) move forward in line. When the game is shot, the line stops and at the judge's order a dog is sent to find and retrieve the game.
b) At a driven shoot, the judge positions the dogs, in order to have the best opportunity to mark the game. When there is only dead game, the dogs should be sent at the end of the beat. When there is wounded game, the judge is recommended to send the dog immediately.
c) In the programme announcing the competition, it must be mentioned whether waterwork is included, or if the competitors must provide themselves with a certificate in accordance with Art. 16 of the present regulations.

ORDER MEASURES
Art. 5.
Regarding order measures, the regulations in each country remain valid, as far as such regulations are not in contradiction to those of the FCI


ENTRIES
Art. 6.
Only purebred dogs, announced in the programme, can take part in the competitions, so far as they are registered in a studbook recognized by the FCI or in an enclosed register from a country affiliated to the FCI

Art. 7.
The CACIT trials are trials open to dogs older than eighteen ( 18 ) months and one (1) day. Nevertheless, when the need arises, participation can be limited only on the basis of merit awards (titles previously obtained) and provided that:
a) Such limitation be previously announced in the competition programmes.
b) These competitions with limited participation may not be more than 1 in 3, in proportion to the total yearly number of trials with CACIT

Owing to the lack of availability of game in Europe, each country is free to limit the trials with CACIT according to the density of the game in its territory, as far as notice of this regulation of limitation is given beforehand in the programme of the competition.

Art. 8.
Registrations must be sent in to the Secretariat nominated by the organizing committee within the time limits set by the trial programme.
The organizing committees are advised to enclose a registration form with the programme, recapitulating the mentions required by them for drawing up a list of starters (the day's programme), such as: dog's official names and appellation - breed and sex - pedigree number - working book number - date of birth – name of the parents - name of breeder - names and addresses of owners and handlers.

REGISTRATIONS REFUSED - DOGS EXCLUDED
Art. 9.
a) Dogs belonging to a person excluded from the FCI or owing an organization affiliated to the FCI any sum of money on any score whatever are not allowed to compete or are excluded.
b) The presence of bitches in season is strictly forbidden.
c) Limit date for entries: no entry will be accepted after closing date.
d) No entry fee will be reimbursed, except if withdrawal is made known at least 5 days prior to the competition.
e) Entries will only be valid when accompanied by their entry fees. Participants outside the organizing country shall be allowed to pay the entry fees on the spot before the beginning of the trial, and they will have to do so for all the dogs entered, whether present or not, except in cases covered by the regulation in letter d).
f) No change of dog will be accepted after closing date of entries.
g) Dangerous dogs, dogs suffering from infectious diseases, monorchid or cryptorchid dogs, dogs belonging to persons who are members of societies or clubs not recognized by the FCI members are not admitted.

POSTPONEMENT OR CANCELLATION OF TRIALS
Art. 10.
When, for valid reasons, the organizing committee decides to change the dates of trials, it must inform the persons concerned.
Owners are entitled to claim the reimbursement of the sum paid as fees within the eight days following such notification. Entries for which fees have not been claimed back remain valid for the new stipulated date.
The organizing committee always reserves the right to cancel trials and reimburse entry fees.

JUDGES
Art. 11.
Judges are appointed by the organizing committee from amongst the judges officially appointed by the FCI member organizations, their names are to be at the disposal of the competitors prior to the closure of entries and are to appear in the trial programme.
The judges are left completely free to form their judgements. They are, however, requested to comply with the stipulations of the present regulations.
The organizing committee reserves the right to replace judges, who are unable to carry out their duties during the trial or during only a part of it, or take any other step it deems appropriate.

STEWARDS
Art. 12.
Stewards are nominated by the organizing committee. They are in charge of assisting the judges in calling dogs and keeping necessary order amongst competitors and spectators.

HANDLING OF THE DOGS
Art. 13.
Under penalty of exclusion, handlers and dogs must be present at the meeting-place ready for call, and then be kept constantly available to the judges.
Except for events beyond control, the dog must be handled by the same person throughout the duration of the trial.
DOGS CANNOT BE KEPT ON LEAD during their circuit, the owner or handler shall not be allowed to have in hand any means of coercion.
Dogs cannot wear any kind of coercive collar during the trial nor any kind of collar when they are under the judge's authority.
No corporal punishment is allowed during the trial, under penalty of exclusion.

Art. 14.
The dogs must bring back feathered game and/or furred game.

CALLING AND ELIMINATION OF DOGS
Art. 15.
Drawing by lot is established by the organizing committee and will determine the order of calling the competitors for the first circuit, the dogs will be tested there in groups in numerical order in accordance with the numbers attributed to them. As far as possible, dogs belonging to the same owner or handled by the same person do not compete together.

No dog is to be eliminated before having been judged by two judges, except dogs that have made an eliminating fault.

The judges are entitled to have game shot for a dog brought back by another one.

The jury can decide that the trial will be ended by a run-off. For this run-off all dogs that (still) can get an Excellent are called up; these dogs are positioned together at one post, even if their number is more than three. During this run-off the dogs are in principle judged by the complete jury. The run-off has the same influence on the final results as all the other rounds.

A barrage for the CACIT, will be held between dogs qualified with C.A.C., and will be judged at one post by two judges, appointed by the organization. The barrage will be held as one round and the dogs can be given as many retrieves as thought necessary by the judges.
Eventual faults during the barrage have no influence on the qualification nor on the C.A.C. that has been awarded.
The judges can withhold the (R)CACIT if in their opinion the quality of the work is not good enough.




WORKING IN WATER
Art. 16.
No dog can be classified if it has not succeeded in a retrieving test in deep water within the scope of the competition or, in default of water, during a previous national or international official trial mentioned in the working book or certified by a certificate issued on that occasion, drawn up in accordance with the model shown hereafter.
If the dogs eligible to be classified have not retrieved from deep water during the competition, an artificial retrieving test in deep water shall be proceeded with, retrieving cold game.
According to circumstances, the game shall be placed either in the water or at the opposite side of the water.

MODEL OF CERTIFICATE OF WORKING IN WATER:
Signed at least by two official judges mentioning the qualificative rating: Excellent or Very Good, or an equivalent national qualificative rating.
Validity: two years.

_____________________________________________________________________

NAME OF THE ORGANIZING SOCIETY RECOGNIZED BY THE FCI


The undersigned (two official judges), ........certify that the dog ........, breed....., sex...., Studbook number....., has obtained the qualificative rating....., for the work carried out in deep water, with seeking for and quick retrieving of game, at trial on (date)....., in the hunting season, organized by the club........
Signatures ....
_____________________________________________________________________


ASSESSMENT OF THE WORK
Art. 17.
a. The ideal retriever is attentive, steady and quiet at the post without asking any attention of his handler.
He should mark his game well, and should remember the fall for a longer period of time. Sent for a retrieve, he should show hunting ability, initiative, good use of nose and gamefinding ability. He must not refuse any sort of cover and enter water without encouragement. He should work with will to please and in good contact with the handler, but should not depend too much on his handler.
When finding the game the dog should work quickly, retrieve correctly and with tender mouth. The game should be brought correctly to hand.

b. MAJOR FAULTS (order according to French text)

- being overdependent on the handler
- noisy handling
- first dog down
- being restless and asking the handler's attention at the post
- bad control and/or disturbing the ground unnecessarily
- bad marking and/or bad memory of the fall
- bad heeling
- sloppy retrieving
- working slowly and/or without much initiative
- one eye-wipe

WITH ONE MAJOR FAULT A DOG CANNOT GET AN EXCELLENT ANYMORE.

Definition of an eye-wipe: a not used chance to find and retrieve game, while that piece of game, under exactly the same conditions, is picked by another dog or picked by hand by the judges or at the judges’ order.

Definition of first-dog-down: a not used chance to find and retrieve a wounded supposedly wounded piece of game (supposed recoverable).
The game must be marked by the dog, which is immediately sent for it.
The game is not found neither by the first sent dog, nor by another one or picked up by hand by the judge(s) or at the judge’s order.

c. ELIMINATING FAULTS (order according to French text)

- switching game
- physical contact with the dog
- aggressive behaviour
- hard mouth
- two times a major fault
- whining or barking
- gunshyness
- running in
- out of control, chasing unshot game or hunting with game in the mouth
- refusing to enter water
- refusing to retrieve found game

Definition of running in: If the dog leaves the post without permission with the intention to retrieve and has to be stopped.

PRIZES AND TITLES
Art. 18.
Official recognition of awards will only be granted by the FCI, if the trial includes at least six dogs present.
The judges shall have full discretion to withhold the prizes when, in their view, the work has been insufficient.
The prizes are to be accompanied by a qualificative rating:
Excellent - Very Good - Good or by an equivalent national qualificative rating.
To be classified in the prize ratings, no eliminating fault can be allowed.
To obtain the CACIT, the dog must have accomplished a perfect performance of exceptional merit.

Art. 19.
At the end of the competition, the judges shall proclaim and comment on the results and hand in the classification to the organizers before their departure.

Approved by the FCI General Committee on March 12 and 13, 1997 in Paris, on April 6 and 7, 2000 in Athens and in Amsterdam, March 7, 2007.
The amendments (bold) are effective from September 1st, 2007.



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