All Dogs are Struck and One Line on the Track; Other Beagle News

Full Circle

June 11, 2018

Source: Roy Swafford

Q: All dogs are struck, and we have scored one line on the track. During the process of scoring a second line, the dogs became split. A split was declared. Dogs A and B go into a check and before they recover the track, they pull. We see them go to the other two dogs running. I know they both receive -50 for leaving their track. My question is, does the check stay on the scorecard or does it get deleted?

A: The correct answer is to delete the -20. The -50 is for a complete loss for whatever reason. In this case, the dogs pulled and went to the other dogs running. This is a loss of track without an end. The reason being we would be double penalizing the dogs in this situation. Some may argue that because they pulled after the check, it should be a separate infraction. It is not. The dogs failed to complete that circle without a line, refuge, or time out having to be called. Draw a line through the check and minus each dog 50 due to their strike points were already secured when the first line was scored.

Q: I was recently on a cast, and when we released the dogs, one of the dogs barked immediately three times, and the handler struck the dog. The dog clearly didnt have a track and showed no sign of running a rabbit. A dog on the other side of the path opened and struck, and the dog went to him. I dont feel this strike should have been accepted due to it was obvious to me this dog was babbling off the lead. For future reference, how do I handle this?

A: By your description, this defines babbling to a t, and judges should not accept the call. Warn the dog for babbling. Babbling is defined as, Rule 6 (k) {when a dog opens three times where no track is evident.} Judges should do exactly what I have just mentioned. The handler may request a cast vote if he feels his dog isnt babbling. Absolutely take a vote as you would in any hunting judge scoring situation. But remember if the dog has a track, he should be opening or showing some type of sign of trying to work a track while this process is happening. Numerous times I hear of dogs being saved, so to speak, when this strike should have never been accepted in the first place. To sum this up, it is well within the rules to not accept a strike when the dog is babbling. If it happens again scratch the dog, per Rule 6 (k).

Q: I was a non-hunting judge on a three-dog cast where the handlers called a line. As I got to the handlers where they called the line, it turns out their description of the line was very vague without a specific location. More of a general area. As the dogs went through, one handler had two dogs missing and his being the only one on HIS line. The other two handlers began to say that the line was where their dogs were, and he was trying to MOVE the line. Whose line do I score?

A: NOBODYS! A handler should NEVER have any input on the judging of line, period. In this case, do not score anyone. Let the handlers know since they failed to have a good line description before the dogs went through, that no dog will be scored. Any handler needs to be able to give a good description using some type of landmark. After that, he allows the JUDGE to score the line. Judges are responsible for ALL scoring and should never ask how the handlers would have scored the line, or for that matter any scoring situation. When you are a handler and not the judge, you are just that, a handler. Handlers can question the scoring call, but they cannot judge the scenario. Judging is the judges responsibility. When hunting judges are used, a handler has a voting right. When running under a non-hunting judge, there is no vote on any scoring situation, but a handler can still question how it was scored, but voting is not an option. The voting right does not make the handler the JUDGE! Judges are to score all scoring situations in a cast. This whole moving of a line should never happen. When a line is called, you have a responsibility to give an accurate description of where the rabbit was seen. If your hearing the old, right right THERE, just as ol spot is going through, please disregard that line and make it clear to get it RIGHT a little sooner next time.

Q: I single registered my dog at an event and placed that day. My UKC number is pending. Ive heard that I need to call UKC and notify them of this placement after I receive my dogs Registration Certificate. Is this true?

A: Yes, that is in fact true. Owners should always make sure they retain their win slip for any dog whose registration was pending on the day the dog placed at an event. Then after they receive the Registration Certificate; it is the owners responsibility to call or email the UKC Field Operations Department and give them the date and the club ID # that is printed on their win slip and request the points be processed. Otherwise, the win may never be recorded for the dog. This must be done within 60 days of the event date without an associated fee, in order for the dog to credit for the placement.