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Accepted by the Finnish Kennel Club Council,
November 21st, 1998.
Valid from April 1st, 1999.
Unofficial translation by Tiina Laukkanen.
1§ The goal and purpose of a mantrailing trial
Mantrailing trials are specifically held for Bloodhounds.
The purpose of these trials is to promote the interest of
owners for mantrailing and to increase information about
the purpose of the breed.
Bloodhound is a scent hound with a strong instinct to trail
and a good ability to concentrate on its work.
The remarkable feature of a Bloodhound is that it can be
used for scent discrimination work, ie. the dog has an ability
to identify the person who laid the trail.
The trial imitates a true case of searching for a lost person.
Mantrailing is an excellent method to compare and evaluate
dogs and also to further develop the breed's inherited natural
trait.
2§ Trial types
Mantrailing trials for Bloodhounds are either general trials
or intra-club trials or trials for breeds of the parent
breed club, for which the privilege to participate is determined
with separate trial rules.
3§ Right to participate and restrictions for it
Bloodhounds in good health that fulfill the registering
and vaccination requirements of the Finnish Kennel Club
are allowed to participate in these trials. At least three
(3) dogs must be entered for a trial for it to be held.
The trial committee has a right to restrict the number of
entries according to the valid regulations of the Finnish
Kennel Club at a given time, if organizing a trial requires
this. Dog owners will be informed immediately on accepted
entry when the entry period is over.
Dog is not allowed to compete when:
- a dog is sick
- a bitch is in season
- a bitch is pregnant (30 days prior delivery or 42 days
after)
4§ Granting an organizing permit
These rules shall be followed in trials granted by the FCI,
the Finnish Kennel Club Board and the regional kennel district.
Kennel districts grant permits for general and intra-club
mantrailing trials. The Board of the Finnish Kennel Club
grants permits for official trials of higher value, of which
rules have been accepted by the FKC board, on presentation
by the Finnish Bloodhound Association. The FCI grants permits
for international trials.
5§ Applying for a trial permit
1. The applicant and organizing responsibility
The permit for executing a trial shall be applied by the
organizing club, that must be a member of the Finnish Kennel
Club. Also a membership of the parent breed club is recommended.
Organizing a trial is executed by a trial committee set
by the organizing club.
2. Deadline for application
Trial permits must be applied for according to the valid
deadline announcements of the Finnish Kennel Club at a given
time.
3. Contents of the application
Application for a trial permit must include the name of
the organizing club, name and type of trial, entry restrictions,
date and place for trial, trial classes, entry fee, as well
as information on to whom and when the entry forms and fees
shall be sent, the name of the chief judge for the trial
(agreed and decided) and the vice-person for him/her, and
the name of the chairman of the trial committee. When applying
for a restricted entry, restriction directions given by
the FKC shall be followed.
4. Addressing the application
Application shall always be addressed to the board of the
kennel district governing the region where the trial shall
be held. A copy of the application will be sent to the kennel
district of the organizing club.
5. Announcing/advertising a trial
Kennel districts or breed clubs will notify trials they
have granted permits for, to be published in "Koiramme"-magazine,
in accordance with the deadline announcements.
6§ The general rules for postponement
and cancellation of trials by the Finnish Kennel Club
Permits for trials and competitions must be applied according
to the valid deadline announcements of the FKC. An accepted
trial / competition must be held at the appointed time and
only in rare exceptions it may be postponed or cancelled.
1. Postponing a trial
Postponement is always applied to the whole trial, in schutzhund
(etc.) trials to the trial type or a specific class of a
given trial type and all dog and handlers that were entered
for it.
A decision for postponement must be made before starting
the trial.
Postponement and the new trial date will be decided by the
chief judge of the trial and chairman of the trial committee
or the trial steward responsible for the trial with a mutual
decision. If the decision is made on the day of the trial,
it is made by either one alone, when the other one is not
present.
A trial can be postponed only once and the new date must
be set during the same trial season within at highest 14
days from the first date, and chosen so, that the general
trial schedule will not be interfered.
No new entries can be made for a postponed trial.
A trial can be postponed only on the following grounds:
- weather conditions are unreasonably difficult or dangerous
for dogs
- cancellation or preventing of use of trial grounds independent
from the organizer
- trial cannot be organized according to the rules
- a sudden, insurmountable excuse for the judge, given that
no replacing judge can be nominated
with ease; eg. sickness, accident, death etc.
- some other reason specified in the rules/instructions
of a given trial type
A postponement must always be notified
immediately in writing to the kennel district or FKC
Board that granted the trial permit according to the valid
deadline announcements. The
postponement and its reason must always be reported in the
trial minutes.
Entry fee shall be returned if the dog
and handler will not participate the postponed trial.
2. Canceling a trial
Cancellation is always applied to the whole trial, in schutzhund
(etc.) trials the trial type
or a specific class of a given trial type and all dog and
handlers that were entered for it.
A decision for cancellation must be made before starting
the trial.
Cancellation will be decided by the chief judge of the trial
and chairman of the
trial committee or the trial steward responsible for the
trial with a mutual decision.
If the decision is made on the day of the trial, it is made
by either one alone, when the other one is not present.
A trial can be cancelled only on the following grounds:
- too few entries. Rules of each trial type must indicate
the smallest possible number of entries for
organizing a trial.
- a ground entitled to postponing the trial (see "Postponing
a trial").
Some other acceptable cause for canceling a trial specified
in the rules/instructions of a given trial type.
A cancellation of a trial and the reason for it must be
reported in the trial minutes as indicated
in the filling instructions according to the valid deadline
announcements of the FKC.
Entry fee shall be returned if the trial is cancelled, unless
advised otherwise in trial rules.
7§ Trial chief judge and a vice chief
judge
The chief judge for a trial must be either a chief judge
qualified to judge in mantrailing trials for bloodhounds
by the FKC or a chief judge qualified to judge in mantrailing
trials for bloodhounds by a kennel organization recognized
by some FCI member country and accepted for the task by
the FKC. The chief judge must be a member of the FKC and
the Finnish Bloodhound Association.
8§ Other judges
Qualification and membership requirements for acting judges
are the same as for the chief judge.
9§ The general legal incapacity rule
of the FKC regarding conformation shows, trials and competitions
1. A judge may not operate as the nominated (managing) chief
judge for a trial, if a dog, that is either owned or controlled
by agreement by him, is entered in it. Also, a dog owned
or controlled by agreement by a family member of the nominated
(managing) judge cannot be entered in a trial, that the
judge in question is judging at.
2. A dog owned by a judge is not allowed to compete in the
class he is judging.
3. A judge is disqualified to judge a dog if he is:
- the handler of the dog
- the owner of the dog
- the breeder of the dog
- the agreed occupant of the dog
- or a family member of any of the above
Parents, spouses, children and siblings are regarded as
family members, even if they had different home addresses.
Only people living in the same household with the breeder
are regarded as his/her family members. Persons in common
law-marriage and living together are regarded as spouses.
4. A dog owned or controlled by agreement by a ring steward
/ corresponding trial steward is not allowed to compete
in the ring / trial he/she is acting as a steward for.
§10 Entering for a trial and withdrawal
1. Entering
Entering a dog (including entry fee payment) must be done
a week before the trial at the latest.
2. Late entries
Trial committee has the right to accept entries also after
the set entry deadline, if there are vacant positions left.
On late entries the trial committee is allowed to ask for
a higher entry fee, however at maximum twice the normal
entry fee.
3. Withdrawal
Entry fee shall not be returned without a valid reason.
Valid reasons for withdrawal include the starting of season
(bitches) and sickness of the dog or handler, which must
be proved with veterinary / doctor certificate. Trial committee
must be informed immediately in case of withdrawal, however
at the latest before starting the trial.
§11 Trial results
1. Revising the results
Trial secretary revises all result calculations and is responsible
for entering them in the trial minutes form of the FKC as
well as in the individual judging forms for each dog and
delivers them immediately to the chief judge for inspection.
Chief judge is responsible for verifying the trial minutes
form with his signature.
2. Sending the results
Trial committee is responsible for sending the trial minutes
forms inspected and verified by the chief judge as well
as the individual judging forms of the dogs to the authority
that granted the trial permit within a week from the trial.
§12 Judging the dogs
All dogs shall be judged on the same grounds.
§13 Trial classes
Novice Class (ALO)
For dogs older than 9 months without an accepted result
from the Novice Class.
Open Class (AVO)
For dogs that have an accepted result from the Novice Class.
Winners Class (VOI)
For dogs that have three (3) accepted results from the Open
Class.
Prize winning placements are specified
in the separate instructions attached to these rules.
§14 Drawing lots for trails
Each dog must have an own trail to work on. Trails are assigned
by drawing lots. This shall take place after the opening
speech by the chief judge. Each dog must work on the trail
assigned by the lot.
§15 Trial performance
Trial can have one or more judges depending on the number
of dogs entered. One of them must be named for the chief
judge already in the trial application.
1. Mantrailing
The dog works on lead about 10 m long during the whole trail.
Dog and handler work as a team. If the dog has gone off
the trail the handler is allowed to bring him back on the
same place on trail where he was still working on the scent
or the handler can let the dog work it out on his own.
2. Interrupting a trial
If the dog exceeds the allowed time limit, the judge can
use his own consideration to interrupt the trial performance.
A trial performance is interrupted when the judge states
the dog no longer is qualified to win a prize.
The handler is entitled to interrupt the trial performance
as well. The judge must be informed immediately on the reason
for interruption.
3. Excluding a dog from trial
A dog can be excluded from trial if he is aggressive towards
people, or if the handler violates the rules or regulations
on purpose.
§16 Judging criteria for the trial
Judging is completed with detailed written critiques, in
which the dog receives the mark 'passed'/'failed'.
A dog that is excluded from trial due to aggressiveness,
is entitled to a note about this on the result list.
Good work on the trail as well as positive identification
of the runner are required for a 'passed' mark. These are
specified in more detail in the separate instructions.
§17 Injured dog
If a dog is hurt in a way that will affect his performance,
his performance must be interrupted.
§18 Trial stewards and organizing
a trial
Organizing a trial
For each trial, a trial steward is appointed, who is responsible
for planning and realizing the trial. The trial steward
sees to it that there is an appointed person for trial grounds.
Trail guides: A person who has participated in marking the
trail is used as a guide on the trail.
Runners and other persons to be at the end of the trail
are appointed by the trial steward.
The duties of the trial stewards are specified further in
the separate instructions.
§19 Responsibility of the dog owner
Handler is obliged to follow the rules and instructions
as well as directions by the judge and stewards. Dog owner
is responsible if his dog gets hurt.
Handler is entitled to ask instructions for trailing from
the judge before beginning the trail.
During the trial, it is not allowed to discuss judging or
any decisions made by the judge with him, nor to criticize
judging.
Working a trail can be interrupted by a decision of the
handler or the judge, if eg. time runs out without the dog
progressing or if the dog or the handler is injured.
Judge can prohibit participating from a handler who does
not follow rules or given directions, or who presents himself
contrary to good manners.
§20 Special regulations on the trial
General about the trail
Trails are laid on snowless terrain and if possible, so,
that the judge is able to observe the dog's work without
disturbing him. Trails are marked with hidden marks, visible
marks are only allowed on difficult terrains. If a trail
is found to have been marked against the rules, the performance
shall be disqualified and the entry fee shall be returned.
§21 Trial classes
21.1. Novice Class
A dog has 30 minutes time to work. The runner leaves the
scent article in the beginning of the trail. Trail is about
400 m long and at least 30 minutes old. Same rules of disqualification
apply to the runner, as to judge. Handler is not allowed
to see the trail being walked. The trail has to include
one angle of about 90 degrees around halfway of it. The
trail does not have to be totally straight, instead it should
follow the terrain naturally. No other angles are allowed
on the trail except the one mentioned above, nor intentional
cross-tracks are allowed. In Novice Class a judge is allowed
to judge in maximum twelve (12) dogs a day.
21.2. Open Class
A dog has 60 minutes time to work. Trail is about 1-1.5
km long and at least 6 hours old and it should follow the
terrain naturally. Handler takes the scent article from
the agreed place. Trail begins from a search line that is
about 20 m long. At the end of the trail, the dog has to
identify the runner from a group of three persons. The organizers
have to choose the people for identification so, that it
is not evident to the handler, who the correct person is.
In Open Class a judge is allowed to judge in maximum six
(6) dogs a day.
21.3. Winners Class
A dog has 120 minutes time to work. Trail is about 3 km
long and at least 24 hours old and it should follow the
terrain naturally. Scent article, search line and identification
like in Open Class.
In Winners Class a judge is allowed to judge in maximum
three (3) dogs a day.
§22 Separate instructions
Duties and responsibilities of the chief judge, judge, handler,
trial committee and trial stewards are described in greater
detail with the instructions approved by the Finnish Kennel
Club Board.
§23 Complaints and disagreements (The general complaint
practice of the Finnish Kennel Club)
One cannot make a complaint about judgment performed according
to the rules.
Disagreements
Disagreements arisen in trials and competitions must be
reported to the chief judge before ending the trial, who
after having become familiar with the case has to make every
effort in order to have the controversy settled.
Disagreements arisen in conformation shows must be reported
to the organizing committee, which after having become familiar
with the case has to make every effort in order to have
the controversy settled.
Not reporting a disagreement during a show, trial or competition
results in losing the right to make a complaint. Regarding
trials, the chief judge and regarding conformation shows,
the committee has to introduce the common complaint practice
to a person who wants to make a complaint, if he so wishes.
Complaint period and complaint fee
A person dissatisfied with the verdict made by the chief
judge / committee has to make a written complaint to the
organizer within seven (7) days from the incident that lead
into a complaint.
A complaint fee associated with making a complaint is twice
the amount of entry fee for a trial or when the complaint
concerns conformation shows, twice the amount of the lowest
entry fee. Complaint fee has to be paid to the organizer
before the valid complaint period expires.
Complaint fee will be returned, when the complaint has been
finally settled and found to be justifiable. The organizer
has to settle a complaint within thirty (30) days from receiving
the complaint. The verdict has to be delivered to the complaining
party in a registered letter or in some other verifiable
way.
Further complaints
A person dissatisfied with the verdict made by the organizer
can make a further complaint to the kennel district that
granted the permit for the show, trial or competition -
in the case of schutzhund trials to the Finnish Schutzhund
Club, in the case of sighthound trials to the Finnish Sighthound
Club, within seven (7) days from receiving the verdict.
Kennel district, Schutzhund Club or Sighthound Club has
to settle the issue within sixty (60) days and the verdict
has to be delivered to the complaining party in a registered
letter or in some other verifiable way.
A person dissatisfied with the verdict can make a further
complaint to the Finnish Kennel Club Board within seven
(7) days from receiving the verdict.
A. Instructions to organize a mantrailing
trial for bloodhounds
1. General
When planning trails, one has to try to maintain a similar
and reasonable difficulty level considering the trial class.
When laying a trail, one has to try to make it as natural
as possible.
2. Organizing a trial
When applying for and organizing a trial, rules and regulations
given on them must be followed.
When reserving judges, one has to consider the planned number
of entered dogs for a trial. The number of dogs to be judged
has to be agreed with the judge. Chief judge is nominated
in trial application.
A trainee judge who wants to practice, must contact the
chief judge by himself and agree on training, and also agree
with the trial committee of that trial.
3. Laying trails on the grounds
No exact regulations or requirements are given to trial
grounds, but a terrain should be reasonable to walk on foot
and the judge should be able to follow the dog's work.
As much as possible, the trail should be natural so that
the terrain is as variable as possible, eg. differences
in altitude, ditches, swamps etc. are used for this.
3.1. Equipment and marking of trails
Equipment
- map showing the marked trail
- a compass
- marking equipment:
* trail marks, that can be easily removed and will not harm
trees
* the sign for the beginning of a trail
3.2. Marking
On the starting sign that is placed in the beginning of
the trail the following should be written:
- class
- number of trail
- time of laying the trail
- name o f runner
The direction of trail is marked about 10 m from the starting
sign for the judge and the handler.
Marking the trail on the woods
- at least one week before the trial
- both visible and hidden marks are used so, that three
successive marks can be seen at the same time
- angle of the trail is marked with two ribbons tied around
a tree
- distance between two trails at least 100 meters
- a trail is not allowed to begin from or end to a road
that is used by cars
- at least two people are needed to mark a trail
Trails should be indicated with frequent marks to allow
the guide to be constantly sure where the trail goes. Trail
is marked with hidden marks. Visible marks are only allowed
where terrain is remarkably difficult. The purpose of this
is that the handler will not see where the trail goes or
what the direction of trail is from the direction of coming.
4. Performing a trial
A dog must work wearing a harness and a leash no longer
than 10 m or shorter than 7 m.
5. Scent article
Scent article is a small piece of clothing worn by the runner
next to his skin at least for 30 minutes. It is not allowed
to treat the scent article with any other chemicals or materials
as what comes off from human body. The runner places the
scent article in an unused plastic bag and leaves it on
an agreed spot.
6. Starting order
Trial steward is responsible for drawing lots for determining
the starting order as far as possible.
7. Conditions
Trial steward is responsible for reserving the trial grounds
required by the regulations to execute the trial in time.
There must be enough trial grounds for long trails and one
has to see to it that there will be enough distance between
adjacent trails.
B. Operating instructions for dog handler
1. A physically fit enough person can act as a dog handler
in a bloodhound mantrailing trial.
2. Entering a dog in a trial must be done
in writing to the organizing party by the date given in
the trial ad including payment of the entry fee, if not
directed otherwise in the trial ad.
3. The trial organizers will inform the
dog owner whether his entry has been accepted for the trial
and if so, they shall inform him on the time and place for
get-together as well as on accommodation and meals.
4. Dog handler has to arrive for the trial
in time.
5. Dog handler has to show the dog's register
certificate, vaccination certificates and other possible
identification documents to the trial committee.
6. Dog handler has to attend the opening
address of the chief judge, because he will give instructions
for the trial.
7. Dog handler has to see that the dog
is ready at the beginning of the trail when it is his turn.
8. Dog handler has to follow strictly
the instructions given by the chief judge in his opening
address and during the trial performance, the instructions
given by the judge.
9. One cannot complain about the final
critiques given by the rules and approved by the chief judge.
Any other disagreement ensued from other reasons must be
reported to the chief judge immediately. Chief judge will
give instructions for further complaint procedure, if the
person concerned is not satisfied with the resolution made
together by the chief judge and trial committee.
10. Dog handler has to attend the final
occasion. Results will be announced then.
11. Dog handler is responsible for taking
care of the dog during the trial, on trial grounds as well
as on the accommodation area, because a trial day is long.
12. Dog handler is responsible for any
damage caused by the dog.
13. Behave according to good manners towards
the judge, trail guide, other dog owners and all other people
attending the trial, as you wish they would behave towards
you.
C. Instructions to trial judges judging
in bloodhound mantrailing trials
1. General
In a mantrailing trial, a dog has a chance to achieve the
title of a mantrailing champion
(FIN JVA-H).
Judges shall follow the rules and regulations.
Trial organizer or chief judge are not responsible for any
damage caused to the dog during a trial.
2. Judgment
Judging must be totally impartial. The course of the trial
must be reported as the judge saw it himself. Dogs must
be done justice to. If the judge notices that a dog is about
to be assisted against the rules, this must be immediately
informed to the dog handler.
Judging a dog's performance must always be constructive.
Judging can be based on the following criteria:
- start
- mode of working (air scent / ground scent)
- willingness to trail
- proceeding of working
- clearing the angles of the trail
- identifying the runner
- general impression as a trailing dog
- any findings of game animals or other disturbances on
trail
- other issues considered by the judge
3. Working time
If the dog works slowly and the judge indicates the impossibility
to finish the trail within given time with such slow and
uncertain working, the judge can interrupt the performance
based on his own judgment.
D. Duties and responsibilities of the
chief judge
Chief judge is responsible for the accurate course of the
trial and sees that judgment is correct and equal to all
dogs. The chief judge of a trial always has to become familiar
with the trail arrangements in advance and make sure that
the trial committee is equal to its task.
Before a trial
Has to agree on the time schedule and the number of dogs
per class with the trial committee.
Opening address
Chief judge gives an opening address, in which it is recommended
to explain the following:
- the handler is responsible to keep his dog leashed. If
the dog wanders off of the trail, the handler has to follow
it.
- duty to slow down a too fast dog
- assisting the dog within guidelines and team work
- complaint procedure
- punishing the dog
Judge's report
The report shall include the names of the judges in the
trial, as well as the names and classes of the dogs they
judged. When formulating the report, one should consider
if there was something exceptionally good or bad in the
trial. At least the following issues should be considered
shortly:
- the principal trial steward / trial committee
- possible trainee judges
- whether dogs passed or not
- trial grounds
- weather
- length of trails etc.
- marking of the trails
- quality of guidance on the trails
- possible findings on game animals
After a trial
Be prepared to give a constructive summary on the performances
and the general course of the trial at the closing occasion
of the trial.
Excluding a dog from the trial
A dog that behaves aggressively during a trial can be excluded
with the decision of the judge.
If aggression is the reason for exclusion, it has to be
mentioned in the results list.
Placements
If more than one judges are judging the performances, they
shall together decide on the class winners. However, if
none of the dogs was clearly better than others, it is not
necessary to place them in order of superiority.
E. Trial stewards
Trail guides
Duties of a trail guide involve a lot of responsibility.
- one of the persons who marked the trail accompany the
judge during the performance
- the guide has to stay on trail and walk behind the dog
and judge, even if they would wander off of the trail
- gives the judge a general description of the trail
- sees to that the judge always knows the course and direction
of the trail
- has to inform the judge in case the dog loses the trail
- collect all marks from the trail after the performance
- avoid unnecessary talk on trail, is not allowed to smoke
on trail
Runner
- starts laying the trail at the time given by the trial
steward
- leaves the scent article on agreed spot in the beginning
of trail
- leaves the first three marks of the trail untouched
- collects the rest of the visible marks (eg. in pocket
or plastic bag), but leaves the angle marks
- when a trail goes through thickets or very difficult grounds,
some of the visible marks can be left on place
- goes to the end of trail at agreed time with other persons,
randomly ordered (people at the end of trail can act naturally
and eg. sit or lay down (the purpose of the trail is to
imitate searching of a lost person).
Trial committee
- trial committee consists of the principal trial steward
and other necessary trial stewards
- applies for a permit to organize a trial from the kennel
district
- plans and marks the trails on the trial grounds
- acquires the necessary equipment for marking the trails
and informs the runners of the color of
ribbons with which the trail is marked
- acquires maps on the trial grounds to be used at the trial
as well as the official trial rules
- acquires trophies
- sees to it that there is at least one compass available
- draws up the trial schedule
- organizes the general service and supplies for the trial
- acquires the trial ground forms, trial minutes forms and
individual judging forms for each dog
- organizes the transport (dogs, handlers, guides to the
beginning of trail in time)
- organizes the transport for the judges
- takes care of copying the minutes for each dog and copying
the trial minutes, as well as
forwarding them to the parties involved
F. Instructions for training judges
A judge judging at a mantrailing trial is qualified to act
as a chief judge.
When training judges, the Finnish Kennel Club instruction
"Training, qualifying and operation of judges and chief
judges" will be followed.
In addition to this, persons participating in judge training,
shall fulfill the following criteria:
A person has passed the trial steward course parts 1 and
2.
He has participated in organizing mentioned trials at least
five times. He has handled a dog in a mantrailing trial
at least five times, of which at least once in Open or Winners
class.
A qualified mantrailing trial judge has to be a member of
the Finnish Kennel Club and a member of the Finnish Bloodhound
Association.
Training period:
Starts with the judge training organized by the Finnish
Bloodhound Association. Trainers are qualified mantrailing
trial chief judges. A trainee judge judges together with
a qualified judge.
The qualified judge gives an estimation on the judging abilities
of a trainee judge. A trainee shall judge at least 10 dogs
under two different judges at two different trials.
A trainee shall write training judgments.
The Finnish Bloodhound Association decides, whether acceptance
for a qualified judge of a person will be recommended to
the Finnish Kennel Club.
The Finnish Kennel Club grants the privileges for a qualified
judge.
Maintaining the judge's privileges:
A judge has to participate in a mantrailing trial at least
once within two years either as a handler, steward or a
judge and he has to take part in the follow-up training
organized by the Finnish Bloodhound Association
at least every other time.
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