Final draft of Guideline, as revised on Committee Rules Committee Conference call, February 25, 2004.
Guidelines to be resented to B/D on next Conference Call..

1.            INTRODUCTION

 The cattledog trials sanctioned by the USBCHA vary in style and format across the nation.  Unlike sheepdog trials, which were modeled directly after trials in Britain, no such model or “Rules for Trials” or “Notes for the Guidance of Judges” (as developed by the ISDS) exist in relation to cattledogs.

 Therefore, these initial Guidelines, which at this writing deal solely with the first two phases of the gather, have been generated via a collaborative effort of a number of cattledog handlers and judges.  They are meant to represent a basic foundation on which to build while serving as a ready reference for both judges and competitors alike.

 These Guidelines are subject, at all times, to the judges’ consideration and interpretation of relevant trial circumstances and should not be interpreted as “rules” that must be strictly applied.

 2.            GENERAL

 The object of a Trial Course is to test and challenge the ability of a dog to manage cattle properly under the differing circumstances that may be encountered in everyday ranch work across the nation.  The guiding philosophy behind judging a run should, at all times, be related as closely as possible to the practical aspects of real ranch work.

 3.         THE GATHER

 The Gather shall consist of three phases.  Phases One and Two will be worth a total of thirty (30) points as outlined in Items 3.A. and 3.B. and will be judged.  Phase Three will not be judged, and therefore not a subject of these Guidelines at this time.

 A.        Phase One - worth a total of twenty (20) points.

 1.  The set out crew shall keep the cattle settled as near to the established set-out area as reasonably possible until such a time the dog makes contact and/or causes movement of the cattle.
 2.  Difficulty in settling/holding cattle at the established set-out area should be considered a relevant trial condition and judged accordingly.
 3.  A dog that works Phase One in the most quiet, calm and efficient manner possible, in consideration of the of the draw (cattle), shall retain more points than a dog who does not.
 4.   Suggested Point Deductions: 

 B.  Phase Two – worth a total of ten (10) points.

 1.    A dog that works Phase Two in the most quiet, calm and efficient manner possible, in        consideration of the of the draw (cattle), shall retain more points than a dog who does not.

 2.    A dog that makes confident contact with the cattle absent weakness, keeping the cattle grouped and moving, shall retain more points than a dog who does not.

 3.       Suggested Point Deductions:

PROPOSED CATTLEDOG RULES & GUIDELINES
FEBRUARY 1, 2004

Proposal will be presented to B/D next conference call,  Feb. 11, 2004.

SECTION 22:  GENERAL COURSE FOR THE NATIONAL CATTLEDOG FINALS

 A. The course shall consist of a three (3) phase gather (with phases one (1) and two (2) being judged), a drive, and finish with a pen and/or other obstacle(s) as the Cattledog Committee, the Judge and the trial Management determines to be appropriate after considering the terrain, the disposition of the cattle, and the trial facilities.

 1. THE GATHER:

            a. Phase One shall start when the dog leaves the handler area from a stopped position behind the time line and will be
               completed when the dog purposely applies pressure on the cattle.  This phase is worth a maximum of fifteen (15) points.

 b. Phase Two shall start at the moment Phase One ends and will be completed when the dog has exerted enough pressure to move all of the cattle.  This phase is worth a maximum of ten (10) points.

 c. Phase Three shall begin when Phase Two ends, and will end when the cattle turn from the gather obstacle(s), which will be within a short distance of the handler who must stay behind the time line, which is at the exit of the gather obstacle(s).  It is for the dog only to put the cattle through the chute. This phase is worth a total of fifteen (15) points, i.e. five (5) points for each head that goes through the obstacle(s).

 2. THE DRIVE:

            a. The drive shall begin when the cattle turn from the Phase Three obstacle(s) onto the first leg of the drive.

 b. There shall be a drive away to the first drive obstacle(s), a cross drive to the second drive obstacle(s), and a fetch to the handler/pen area. There will be five (5) points awarded for each head of cattle that successfully negotiates each obstacle for a possible maximum of fifteen (15) points per obstacle. See SCORING 4.c., below.

 3. THE FINAL OBSTACLE (PEN OR OTHER)

             a. As stated above, trial management, the Judge, and the cattledog committee shall appraise the course, the cattle and the trial
                 facilities and make a determination as to what type of obstacle(s), if any, should be added to/or instead of, a pen.

 b. All cattle must be in or through obstacle(s) for the dog to earn the fifteen (15) points awarded at completion of obstacle(s).

 4. SCORING

 a. Phases One (1) and Two (2) of the gather shall be judged.  Phase One (1) will be worth a maximum of fifteen (15) points, and Phase Two (2) will be worth a maximum of ten (10) points.

 b. Five (5) points will be awarded for each head of cattle that successfully negotiates the gather obstacle(s).

 c. There are fifteen points to be awarded at each of the two drive obstacles, five (5) points for each head of cattle that goes through the obstacles successfully.  Points will not be awarded until the cattle have day lighted the outer ends of either the left or right drive obstacles. Once the cattle have gone through or around the drive obstacles, the handler must proceed on to the next obstacle(s).

 d. The handler is not restricted in number of attempts at the last obstacle(s), but all cattle must be in or through in order to get awarded the fifteen (15) points for the obstacle(s).

 5. BREAKING TIES

 a. Points and total time shall be used to break ties when the dogs involved have finished within the allotted time.

 b. Ties, when the dogs have not finished in the allotted time, will be broken first by the combined scores of the three phases of the gather, and if still tied, by the time to the time line, which is at the exit of the gather obstacle(s).

 SECTION 23: ENTRY FEE & NUMBER

 A. Entry fee for the National Cattledog Finals (both Open & Nursery) will be $150 per dog.

 B. There will be a two dogs per handler limit in both the Open and Nursery classes.

 C. If there are less than eleven (11) entries in the Nursery finals the scores of the two (2) go-rounds will be combined to determine the winner.

 SECTION 24: DISQUALIFICATION

 A. A handler who prods, or hits the cattle in order to move them may be disqualified in any section of the course or be penalized point wise in Phase One (1) and Two (2) of the Gather.

 B. A dog may be disqualified in any phase of work for excessive harassment of the cattle, i.e., excessive gripping, excessive running of the cattle, etc. If the judge disqualifies the dog he will instruct the Course Director to notify the competitor immediately.

 C. A competitor so disqualified will not be entitled to a prize of any kind, notwithstanding that before the disqualification he had earned points entitling him to a prize.

 D. A competitor whose dog damages the cattle will be liable to pay for the damage.

 E. The judge may stop a competitor at any point of the trial or withhold any prizes on the ground of insufficient merit.

 SECTION 25: QUALIFYING TRIALS

 A.  Qualifying trials may be timed trials, partially timed trials, point and timed trials, fully and partially judged trials, arena trials or field 
trials.

 SECTION 26: GUIDELINES

 A. Phase One:

             1. A dog that at the end of Phase One makes a good strong introduction to the cattle without showing weakness should receive
                 full points for this most important aspect of Phase One in preparation for Phase Two.

 2. A dog that does not cross over, does not run so wide as to lose contact with the cattle and does not disturb the cattle should be rewarded full points.

 3. A dog that crosses over for no apparent reason, but does not disturb the cattle should receive a minimum of six (6) points.

 4. A dog that crosses over for no apparent reason and disturbs his cattle, but does not adversely affect the next phase of work (Phase Two), should be awarded a minimum of one (1) point.

5. A dog that crosses over for no apparent reason and does disturbs the cattle, should be awarded a minimum of two (2) points.

 6. A dog that runs so wide as to be out of contact with the cattle, but does not adversely affect the start of Phase Two, should receive a minimum of seven (7) points.

 7. A dog that demonstrates lack of enthusiasm, slow/sticky, lack of intensity, stopping and sniffing should be awarded a minimum of two (2) points.

 8. A dog that crosses over and then corrects himself to the side he was originally sent from should be awarded a minimum of ten (10) points.

 9. A dog that crossed over near the handler's feet and the handler calls it back and resends it should be awarded a minimum of two (2) points.

 10. When the dog does not cross over, but is not responsive and requires excessive verbal and/or whistle commands it should be awarded a minimum of ten (10) points.

 11. If a dog has a fault in Phase One or Phase Two it cannot receive full points.

 12. The course should be set up for good dog work.

13. If one dog has a clean straight run, and another is circling and running, the dog performing the clean work should be awarded the most points.

 14. A dog that does the best work should receive the most points.

 B. PhaseTwo.

            1. When a dog hits the head and then drops back to start, or keep the cattle moving, it should not be considered a fault.

2. If a dog gives ground due to hesitancy or weakness allowing the cattle to move in a direction of their choosing rather than where the dog wants them to go, but does get them moving onto Phase Three should be awarded a minimum of two (2) points.

 3. Excessive delay in moving the cattle due to lack of interest, weakness, or other such faults when the cattle are grazing or just standing should be awarded a minimum of one (1) point.

 4. See 15 above.

 SECTION 27: NURSERY CATTLEDOG RULES

 A. Qualifying trials will be the same as for the open cattle.

 B. Age requirement:

             1. Dog must be thirty-six (36) months or younger on or before December 31 of the year previous to the Nursery Finals. To 
                 be eligible to compete in the National Nursery Cattle.  Dog Finals a dog must be born on, or after, Jan 1 2001 to compete 
                 in the 2004 Cattledog Finals.

 2. Imported dogs are eligible for the nursery, only if imported before they reach one (1) year of age.

 C. The handler of the dog must be a current paid member of the USBCHA before he competes, for the dog to receive qualifying points. A dog can qualify by competing against a nonmember's dog as long as all dogs competing comply with the USBCHA rules.

 D. The dog receives qualification, not the owner or handler.

 E. In the National Nursery Cattle Finals the scores of the top five (5) dogs from each  USBCHA district will be combined to determine the District Team Championship.

 F. No Nursery dog may compete in nursery trials after the Jan 1^st deadline if that dog is not eligible to compete in next years Nursery program.

 G. There will be a two dogs per handler limit in the Nursery Cattle Finals.

 H. The USBCHA Secretary shall mail every paid member a listing of all sanctioned Nursery trials for the upcoming quarter by the first of each quarter.

 I. If there are less than eleven (11) entries in Nursery Finals the scores for both go-rounds will be combined to determine the winner.

  J. For sanctioning Nursery trials, see Section 2, B

 K. The USBHCA Secretary must receive a trial result form upon completion of a sanctioned trial. The result form must be accompanied by a sanctioning fee of one (1) dollar for every dog in the class.

 L. The Nursery Finals will be held in conjunction with the Open Cattledog Finals.

 M. A nursery dog may qualify for the Finals in any of the following:

     1. The top placing twenty percent (20%) (rounded to the nearest whole number) of dogs competing in a sanctioned nursery class  
       of  five (5) dogs or more will qualify for the nationals.

     2. In a class within a class (open and nursery) where at least five nursery aged dogs are competing. A sanctioning fee of one (1)    
         dollar per dog in each class must accompany the results form.
     3. If a nursery dog is competing in an Open class where there are at least ten dogs competing and places in the top 20% of the
        class,  The is qualified. In such cases only one sanctioning fee per dog will be charged.

                                                 Cattledog Committee Conference Call
                                                        January 22, 2004

    Discussion of Open Course

Motion made by Dan Gill to place markers approximately 16’ on each side of drive obstacle(s) allowing 2 points per head between marker and drive obstacle(s) once cattle have day lighted the marker or the end of obstacle(s).  Seconded by Robin Nuffer.  Vote - all in favor, unanimous.

 Motion made by Chester Williams to place markers on each side of Phase 3 obstacle(s) allowing 2 points per head between marker and Phase 3 obstacle(s).  Seconded by Merle Newton.  Vote - all in favor, unanimous.

 Motion made by Dan Gill to use a Chute as the final obstacle in first go – all three head must complete chute.  Seconded by Chester Williams.  Vote – all in favor, unanimous.

Motion made by Dan Gill to use a Pen as the final obstacle in second go.  Seconded by Robin Nuffer.  Vote – all in favor, unanimous.

 Motion made by Julia Williams to include a Double Lift in the final go.  Seconded by Dan Gill.  Vote – all in favor, unanimous.

 Discussion of Nursery Course

Motion made by Robin Nuffer to run the first two goes the same as Open and to leave the Final go up to the discretion of the Cattledog Committee.  Seconded by Chester Williams.  Vote – all in favor, unanimous.

¨      Discussion of Revised Rules and Proposed Guidelines

Motion made by Dan Gill to strike 26.A.4. reading “If a dog crosses over to save his cattle he should be awarded full points.”  Seconded by Robin Nuffer.

 Correction to Section 25.A.  Qualifying trials may be timed trials, partially timed trials, point and timed trials, fully and partially judged trials, arena trials or field trials. and partially judged and partially timed trials.

 Correction to 26.A.6.  If the dog crosses over for no apparent reason but does not disturb his cattle he should be awarded a minimum of two (2) points.

Meeting adjourned approximately 8:00 PM.

Minutes taken by Julie Williams

 2004 CATTLEDOG COMMITTEE CONFERENCE CALL
January 13, 7:30 pm Central Time

   General course description and guidelines read by Robin Nuffer and discussed informally by Committee.

  Update by Local Host Committee Chairperson, Bob Roe.
- Currently working on local sponsorships being sold.
- Panels ordered for holding areas and alley to move cattle.
- Bob will make arrangements for Sonia Craig to head setout crew for all four days.
- Bob has already made arrangement for a consistent holding pen crew
- Bob is arranging for 550-600 lb. English heifers, will be herded up by the 2/15/04.
- Set out pen located northeast; handlers facing north; exhaust located southwest.
- Bob left call at approximately 6:30 pm

   Discussion of preparation for the Nationals – timeframe, cattle, publicity, etc.

Motion made by Robin Nuffer to accept the latest draft of the guidelines proposed by the Guideline Committee.  Seconded by Chester Williams.  Discussion of guidelines followed.

¨      Motion made by Julia Williams to post revised rules and proposed guidelines for Membership and Board review.  Pete Carmichael seconded.  All agreed.  Posting will read:  The Cattledog Committee agreed to recommend the following to the Board of Directors with relation to the 2004 National Cattledog Finals:

a) Judging of Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the gather, per guidelines submitted for review and approval, with the remaining course work earning points per head per obstacle.

b) Adoption of the Cattledog Judging Guidelines as submitted by the Judging Guidelines Committee and approved by the Cattledog Committee. 

  Next meeting Thursday, January 22, 2004 7:30 central time.