JUDGING FRENCH TRIALS

OVERVIEW

On the subsections of the scoresheet, the points for that subsection are divided and allotted according to the judge's estimation of the relative difficult of the exercise: e.g., the exit may be given a value of 8 pts., the reentry a value of 7 pts, depending on the judge's view of the relative difficulty of the subsections on that particular courseLevel I trials are judged by a qualified judge or a trainee; Level II and III trials are judged by a qualified judge possibly assisted by a trainee; the National Championship trial is judged by three judges, one of which may be a trainee.

Score classification

Excellent: 75% and above of the total points available
Very Good: 60% and above, up to but not including 75%
Good: 50% and above, up to but not including 60%
Nonqualifying: Less than 50%

POINT DEDUCTIONS

I. Pen or sheepfold

anticipates departure	-2
to hurried or too slow in work	-2 to -5
allows reentry	-2 to -5
bad control, allows runaway of more than 30 meters	-2 to -5
doesn't work, doesn't control sheep	-2 to -8
doesn't keep the sheep back from handler when both are inside pen	-2 to -5
doesn't jump	-2 to -5
allows a runaway of more than 50 meters	-5 to -10

II. Difficult passages

sheep step out of limits	-0.5 to -5
poor approach	-2 to -5
dog poorly placed	-2 to -5
late in negotiating passage	-2 to -5
bad negotiation of passage	-2 to -5
intervention of handler (probably, handler pushes sheep through, etc.)	-2 to -5
loss of control exiting passage	-2 to -5
flock goes around or doesn't pass through	-2 to -5

III. Management and maneuver

"remote control" handling (at the graze)	-0.5
dog poorly placed	-1
goes through the course too rapidly or too slowly	-1 to -5
late in putting the flock in place	-1 to -5
difficulty in immobilizing the flock	-1 to -5
tentativeness in catching/holding the marked sheep	-2
choppy, winding, imprecise transit of the course	-1 to -8
scattering or jostling the sheep	-2 to -8
loss of control, little work	-2 to -10
movement of flock during "hold" and "stops"	-5
dog returns to handler during graze	-5
complete escape of flock	-10

IV. Stopping the flock

a sheep that pushes past	-1 to -5
sheep pull back too far (reverse)	-0.5
slight overflow by flock, but controlled	-2 to -5
stop done by the handler, not the dog	-2 to -8
dog keeps working, doesn't stop	-2 to -8

V. Intelligence of performance

a) commands
useless or not perfomed	-1 to -3
too numerous, lacking in firmness	-1 to -3
counter to sense	-2 to -5
recalling the dog on its abandoning work	-3
correcting the dog	-6
b) obedience
doesn't obey command	-1
late in obeying	-1 to -3
obeys counter to sense (?)	-2 to -5
c) activity -- initiative -- gentleness
wandering, chasing	-1 to -3
difficulty in asserting itself, fearfulness	-3
cutting into the flock, scattering the flock	-3
lack of interest in work, inattentive	-2 to -5
dog places itself poorly, allows escapes	-1 to -3
doesn't move when ordered	-1 to -3
unnecessary grip	-1 to -5
brutality, rough gripping	-2 to -5

DISQUALIFICATIONS:

	abandoning the flock
	flagrant disobedience
	unjustified or dangerous bites
	frequent scattering of the flock
	fearfulness or aggressiveness
	failure to control the flock