DOG PULLER 2020 (ver1) 02.02.2020

- is the cynological sport, based on exercises with fitness tool Puller. It includes two disciplines: Running and Jumping.

Selection of competition venue and field marking:

The playing Field for handler and dog work with minimal size 50 x 15 meters is needed for Dog Puller championship.
The Field is marked according to the scheme below. There are three equal zones 10 x 10 m in center of the field.
Puller Running discipline is held on the field with following marking:

The Puller Catching Zone cannot be shorter than 7 m. It is not marked and fenced.
Puller Jumping discipline is held on any squares (10 x 10 m) of the marked field.

Field is marked with sand, sawdust, special spray paints, tape or non-toxic food dyes and could be additionally fenced with tape around perimeter (Puller Catching Zone along the field shouldn’t be fenced).
Square corners are flagged or marked with cones.
The coating of competition field must be flat, not slippery and not too hard. Also it should not have holes, potholes, bumps and other irregularities. Field is covered with concrete, asphalt, gravel, crushed stone, rubber coating for sports grounds, tile or stone tiles is unsuitable. Field must be cleared and contain no bushes, trees or any other obstacles.

Referees

Only certified Dog Puller referees are allowed to judge championship. Certified Dog Puller referee is a person, who has passed seminar, internship, certification and has a Certificate of Dog Puller referee at least at regional level.

Referees judge a competition. It consists of at least 3 certified Dog Puller referees. Each referee must have a sheet, where the results of each participant performance, on each discipline are recoded. The sheet should be signed by referee – Name, Surname, date, page number.
The Main Referee of competitions is one person from Referees, appointed because of his objectiveness, authority and experience of participation in this kind of sports.
Side referees are a two persons from Referees, who work in Catching Zone in Puller Running discipline and counts jumps together with Main Referee in Puller Jumping discipline.
In Puller Running discipline, two Side Referees are considering all nuances and taking part in controversies resolving.
Timekeeper is a person, who uses a timer or stopwatch to measure a time during performance of sport pair. Timing starts after vivid signal from handler – double clap of two Pullers.
Referees may include more persons; their responsibilities are appointed by Main Referee.
Main Referee takes position in Central zone – Start Zone.
Main Referee ensures that the handler does not step on/over the Start Line throwing the Puller, notes catching and retuning puller to Start Zone and keeps a list of competitions. Also he takes signs (raised up hand in case of right catching the Puller or crossed hands in case of incorrect catching or miscatching) from Side Referees.
During Puller Running discipline Side Referees are each near Running Zone (left and right from Central Zone – Starting Zone) and track if Puller touched the ground before it was caught by the dog, in which zone and in what way in was caught by the dog. In case of right catching in Catching Zone side referee shows a sign to the Main Referee – raised up hand. In case of wrong catching/miscatching – hands are crossed. Side Referees makes notes about catching or not catching in theirs sheets.
The Main Referee and referees-assistances count the jumps. One of the referees counts dog’s jumps with grabbing of the Puller with mouth and take off the ground two paws and another judge counts jumps with grabbing of the puller with mouth and take off the ground four paws. Third judge counts general amount of scored jumps during the performance. Each judge keeps his own sheet, where the results of each participant are recoded.
Referees consider sportsman’s style of work, but only visible jumps with clear grabbing are counted.
All sheets, filled by referees during competitions, are given to Main Referee when Championship is finished. The Main Referee reconciles all sheets with his sheet, discusses controversies with Side Referees and makes decision about awarding places.
The Championship results should be set out in a single spreadsheet and published at open public resource within a period of not more than seven days after championship
All results of Championship are given to the Head of the Dog Puller Federation in your country and entered into the country’s ranking table.

Puller Running:

Time of performance — 90 seconds. The number of throws is not limited. Two Puller rings are used.
A competing pair a dog and handler starts their performance in Central Zone – Start zone.
The timing starts after handler vividly strickes twice one Puller with another (makes double clap of Pullers).
Performance consists of alternately throwing Puller rings in different directions so the dog catches rolling ring in Catching Zone and brings it to the Start Zone. Handler throws Puller rings alternately, each time in opposite directions.
Rolling ring is Puller ring that rotates and moves relative to surface, so ring and field surface stay in contact.
Puller is considered rolling until the ring is fully laid on the field on the one of its sides (force major – if the Puller ring comes to standstill – it is considered as fell down Puller). Puller that stands still, lying on the one of its sides or coming to standstill, but was set in motion by dog or by any external force cannot be considered as caught in movement.
After throwing from the Start Zone the Puller has to be in touch with surface at least one time before being caught by the dog.
Puller that was throw from the Start Zone, has cross the line marked with flags or cones between Running Zone and Catching Zone.
After throwing the Puller handler is allowed to leave Start Zone without any penalties.
Resultative throw is a throw performed by handler only from the Start Zone.
Dog can leave Puller on the ground or give it directly to handler in the Start Zone.
The performance finishes in 90 seconds. If handler managed to throw Puller before time was over, the point will be scored in case of its correct catching and returning to the Start Zone.

Scoring in Puller Running discipline:

If the dog catches rolling Puller behind 10-meters Running Zone mark and returns it to the Start Zone – 1 point.
If dog leaves Start Zone before double clap of Pullers and time start with further Puller catching – 0 points.
If dog catches Puller, that haven’t at least one contact with field surface. – 0 points.
If dog picks up a non-moving Puller — 0 points.
If Puller was caught in 10-meters Running Zone — 0 points.
If Puller was dropped by the dog after catching behind the Start Zone — 0 points.
If Puller touches the ground after correct catching, being out of dog’s mouth – 0 points.
If Puller didn’t cross the Separating Line between Running Zone and Catching Zone marked with flags and cones – 0 point.
If handler steps on/over the Start Zone line while throwing the Puller — 0 points.
If the same Puller is throw twice in a row. The second throw is – 0 points.
If Puller ring is throw twice in a row at the same direction, the second throw is – 0 points.

Scoring in the Puller Running Puppies discipline:

If the dog catches rolling Puller behind 10-meters Running Zone mark and returns it to the Start Zone – 1 point.
If dog leaves Start Zone before double clap of Pullers and time start with further Puller catching – 0 points.
If dog catches Puller, that haven’t at least one contact with field surface – 0 points.
If dog picks up a non-moving Puller and brings it to the Start Zone — 1 point.
If Puller was caught in 10-meters Running Zone — 0 points.
If Puller was dropped by the dog after catching behind the Start Zone, but was successfully brought to the Start Zone — 1 point.
If Puller touches the ground after correct catching, being out of dog’s mouth, but was successfully brought to the Start Zone – 1 point.
If Puller didn’t cross the Separating Line between Running Zone and Catching Zone marked with flags and cones – 0 point.
If handler steps on/over the Start Zone line while throwing the Puller — 0 points.
If the same Puller is throw twice in a row, the second throw is – 0 points.
If Puller ring is throw twice in a row at the same direction, the second throw is – 0 points.

Puller Jumping

Working area for this discipline – field 10 x 10 meters.
Time of performance — 90 seconds.
Two Puller rings are used for performance.
The Sport Pair dog and handler starts from 10 x 10 meters’ zone.
Timing starts after handler made clearly clap with two Pullers (double clap of Pullers).
Performance consist of alternate catching of one of the Pullers by dog with taking two or four paws off the ground. During catching Puller must stay in handler’s hand. It can be letting out from hands only after successful catching.
Dog must show clear changing of left/right position of the body when Puller rings are changed.
During the performance dog have to make predominantly horizontal jumps with clearly visible movement toward the Puller.
Handler and dog are not restricted in movement at 10 x 10 meters Zone.
Handler may stand on his knees during performance, but no part of the body can be used as barrier for the dog.
In case of using any part of body as a barrier for dog, referees can provide penalties for such pair: from dividing the total score on 2 to disqualification in this discipline. The information about judgement measures is announcing before start of discipline.

Scoring in Puller Jumping discipline

Dog must perform as many jumps with catching Puller with mouth as it possible.
Jump with grabbing and taking off the ground two paws — 1 point.
Jump with grabbing and taking off the ground four paws — 2 points.
Jump without Puller grabbing — 0 points.
Jump without vivid Puller grabbing — 0 points.
Vertical jump without clear change of left/right body position– 0 points.
Vertical jump without clearly visible movement toward the Puller -– 0 points.
Grabbing without jump (taking off the ground at least two paws) — 0 points.
Handler steps on/over performance 10 x 10 zone marking — 0 points.
If dog grabs twice the same Puller ring during performance, the second grab is – 0 points.
If dog did not catch Puller and it was offered to it again one or multiple times until the moment of successful grabbing – the result is scored according to the rules.
Not obvious grabbing of Puller, weak grabbing of Puller by a dog with not a full mouth — 0 points.

Each dog, depends of it breed, age and individual characteristics may have individual tightness, force and style of Puller grabbing.

Examples of Puller grabbing that are considered successful:

Scoring in Puller Jumping Puppies discipline

Dog must perform as many jumps or changes with grabbing Puller with mouth as it possible.
Jump with grabbing Puller and taking off the ground two paws — 2 points.
Changing Puller rings with grabbing – 1 point.
Jump without catching — 0 points.
Changing Puller ring without grabbing — 0 points.
Grabbing without jump (taking off the ground at least two paws) / without changing Puller rings— 0 points.
If handler steps on/over performance 10 x 10 zone marking — 0 points.
If dog grabs the same Puller ring twice during performance, the second grab is – 0 points.
If the dog did not grab Puller and it was offered to it again one or multiply times until the moment of successful grabbing – the result is scored according to the rules.

Division according to category:

Dogs are divided in categories according to theirs age and height.

Puppy category — dogs at the age from 3 to 12 months.
Mini category – dogs up to 35 cm at the withers.
Midi category – dogs from 35 cm up to 45 cm at the withers (35,01 cm).

Maxi category – dogs from 45 cm at the withers (45,01 cm and above).
Drive category – high-speed dogs of such breeds as Border Collie, Kelpie and mixes that was bred specifically for sport.
Heavyweight category – Moloss and other dogs that due to theirs breed and physical characteristics are not able to develop high speeds and competitive (in comparison with other categories) agility.
Veteran category – dogs at the age from 8 + 1 day years old of all sizes.
Dogs of some breeds can be classified by judge as in Maxi category as well in Heavyweight category, depending from its body constitution.
For dog's category definition 3 referees have to measure dogs, each referee makes one measurement of the dog. Result is an average value of three measurements.
Measuring of dogs is made on the maximum flat surface. Dog stands free on 4 legs. Measuring of dog starts from the highest point of its scapula and to the surface where dog stands. Example of measuring you can see on the picture:

Categories Heavyweight and Veteran open when at least 7 dogs are there. In case of smaller number of participants, categories combine as follows:

Maxi category + Heavyweight category
Veteran category according to the height.

Competitions conducting:

In each category, sportsman is entitled to perform with no more than two dogs.
In each category, one dog can perform with only one handler.
In all disciplines, only one sportsman and one dog are on the field during their performance.
Only Puller by COLLAR Company is allowed to use.
Dogs category Mini and Midi are not allowed to perform with Micro Puller rings.
Dogs category Maxi and Drive are not allowed to perform with Mini and Micro Puller rings.
Dogs category Heavyweight are not allowed to perform with Mini, Midi and Micro Puller rings.
Dogs at Puppy category are allowed to perform with Puller rings of any sizes.
Dogs category Veteran are allowed to use Puller according to their height category.
Dogs under than 5 kg are allowed to perform on a standard field with Micro Puller rings.
One set of Puller rings (2 rings) must be used during the perfomance.
Number of points for each throw, jump and total score of performance are established objectively by Main Referee and cannot be discussed by sportsman or disputed.
Viewers and members of the press are barred from entering the competition field during performances of sport pairs.

Determination of the winner with the same points among participants

There is a restart (reRunning or reJumping) for the pairs with the same points, depending from the discipline in which there are participants with the same points.
Restart, if it is needed, is held apart for each category and discipline.
Restart is held only for determination of Prizes (1^st, 2^d, 3^d places).
Puller Running restart: to perform three throws with catching and returning in a shortest time. Timing starts with double clap of Pullers. After this moment pair must perform three throws of Puller according to the Puller Running rules in a shortest time. Time stops when the dog crosses the line of the Start Zone with at least one paw, returning Puller after third throw.
The pair with bigger result wins in Puller Running restart. In case of the same results – the pair with shortest time.
Puller Jumping restart: to perform 10 jumps with grabbing Puller with a mouth. Timing starts with double clap of Pullers. After this moment dog must perform 10 jumps with grabbing Puller with a mouth. Time stops when dog lands after 10^th jump.
The pair with bigger result wins in Puller Jumping restart. In case of the same results – the pair with shortest time.

Championship categories

Regional Championship – at least 25 participants (competitive pairs human + dog)
National Championship – at least 35 participants, 10 of which are from other cities, regions etc.
International Championship – at least 50 participants, 10 of which are from other country/countries.

Competition Year and Rank

The competition Year for each Federation in each country starts not earlier than on the next day, but not later than 30 days, after World Championship and ends in one day before it.
Points of each participant from all championships are entered into the rank table. Rank is overall: Puller Running + Puller Jumping. If sportive pair (handler and dog) performs only in one discipline, they should start trainings and perfume in both disciplines to be presented in the Rank.
Rank calculation consist of two parts:

Basic points

Points are given only for awarding places provided that sportive pair performed in both disciplines:

1 place - 31 points
2 place - 22 points
3 place - 13 points

Also to the result add next extra points depending on the championship category and quantity of participants on it:
regional championship from 25 participants +2 points

regional championship from 35 participants +3 points

regional championship from 45 participants +4 points
national championship +5 points
international +10 points
retreat championship (other city, other region, other country) +5 points to the general result.

Final points

Awarded points are calculated by formula:

Basic points x (times/multiply) points awarded in discipline ÷ (divide) National record of these discipline. The calculated value rounded to the whole number.

If National record didn`t fix earlier in that way on the first championship of the year, the result should be the maximum points (points of the winner).

If on the championship National record was broken, then new result calculates from next championship.

Each country organized qualifying – trial championship (one or more it depends on the country). The sportive pair who gets the best result goes into the National team. The best result is equal 2 points and calculated by summarizing awarded places from each discipline.

Mistakes, violations, disqualification

Sportsman has a right to replace damaged Puller. If during performance the dog has damaged it, sportsman has a right to replace it at any time during performance. To do this, he must pass the damaged puller to the Main referee before continuing the performance. Time does not stop in this case and decision about replacing is made by sportsman. Replacing the Puller outside a Start Zone is possible with permission from Main Referee.
If the dog has damaged the playground inside or outside its borders, but within the competition field, timing stops immediately. Sportsman must immediately eliminate the consequences of incident, then, when sportsman and the dog are ready to continue, the timing goes on from the moment it stops.
If the dog goes take a leak (due to small or great need) during performance, timing stops, performance ends and the number of points received by the couple before incident is counted. If sportsman does not eliminate the consequences of incident the couple will be disqualified from this discipline.
Dogs during the oestrus are allowed to complete. In this case, the couple performs after all participants when all disciplines has passed. The fact of oestrus considered from 1^st to 30^th day inclusion. Dogs during the oestrus takes part in Restart for definition 1^st,2^d, or 3^d Prizes last.
If a sportsman hides a fact of oestrus of his dog from the referees, pair will be disqualified.
Sick dogs and pregnant (after 5^th weeks of pregnancy) dogs are not allowed to participate in Dog Puller Championship.
Participation of dogs with developmental and structural defects (included acquired ones) that does not cause problems for dog and sportsman during performance (doesn’t lead to higher risk of injury) and having no health problems is allowed. Admission is decided at the place by Main Referee.
Bad-treatment with dog during the event, foul language, open hostility toward other participants, as well as being drunk on a competitive field, are punished with disqualification.
Dogs with any kind of electronic collars, strict collars, strangles, harnesses and any interfering items of equipment (clothing) are not allowed to complete.
It is forbidden to encourage dog by feeding during the performance.
Only Puller can be found in sportsman hands during performance as well as in a Start Zone.
Only one performing pair: human and dog and members of a Referees are allowed to stay on the field during the performance. Nobody can intentionally touches the dog or a Puller during the performance, besides handler. Violation is fixed by a Main Referee of the competition, and making further decisions is also determined by him.
Dog aggression is unacceptable on the competitions. If dog shows aggression to human or another dog in sight of Main Referee (both before, during or after competition, but before Award Ceremony is finished) dog and sportsman are disqualified, their result is equal to 0.
Controversies with Referees, challenging the results and appeals are prohibited at any time.

Safety rules

Throw puller from the top, from behind the ear. It is preferable to hold it with three fingers.

When jumping, you should direct the dog to jump horizontally, not vertical, or strictly vertical with landing on the hind legs with straight or unnatural curved back. Landing after vertical jumps have negative impact on dog joints. Referees have a right to stop a performance if jumping style is considered as dangerous for dog.
After grabbing Puller by the dog it is not recommended to turn the dog at the air too sharply, making a dashy load on a cervical region. Such style of work can be considered as dangerous for dog and may lead to penalties depending from judge decision.
The Puller shape protects hand from occasional bites, but Puller must be held correctly: wrist is pointed down, and the elbow is pointed up. This position of the hand when performing jump exercises is correct and safe for handler. Handler’s wrist is always directed to the dog.
The right position of handler’s hands and body during Jumping exercise is pictured below:

PULLER DLA PSA - DOG FITNESS TOOL

DOG PULLER 2020 (ver1) 02.02.2020