Site selection and marking

Panel of referees

• Only certified Dog Puller referees are allowed to judge the championship. A certified referee is a person who has taken a seminar, internship, certification and has at least a certificate of a Dog Puller regional referee category. 
  
• Referee judges the race. This includes a minimum of 3 certified Dog Puller referees. Each referee has a sheet on which they record the results of each competitor in each event. The sheet should be signed by the referee - first name, last name, date, page number.
• Head Referee of the competition is one person from the panel of referees appointed for the objectivity, credibility and experience of participation and judging in this sport.
  
• Linesmen are two people from the panel of referees, performing the role of referees in catching zones in the Puller Running discipline and counting the jumps together with the head referee in the Puller Jumping discipline.
  

• During the Puller Running discipline, two linesmen take into account all the nuances and participate in the operational resolution of disputed issues.

• Timekeeper is a person who is responsible for timing during the performance of a sporting pair using a stopwatch or timer. The timekeeper begins the countdown of the performance only after a clear signal from the handler - double puller clap (hit one puller against another puller).
  

• Panel of referees may include a larger number of people, whose responsibilities are designated by the head referee.

• Head Referee takes a position near the central zone - the start zone.
  
• Head referee makes sure that the handler does not step on/over the starting line when throwing the Puller, records the catching and returning of the dog with the Puller to the Starting Zone and maintains the race list. They also record signs (raised hand in case of a correctly caught Puller or crossed arms in case of an incorrectly caught or uncaught Puller) from the linesman.
• During the Puller Running discipline, both linesmen are close to the Running Zone (to the right and left of the central - Starting Zone) and record whether the Puller touched the ground before the dog caught it, in which zone and how the dog caught it. In the event of a correct catch in the Catching Zone, the linesman signals to the Head Referee - raises the hand. In the case of an incorrect catch or non-catch, the arms are crossed. The linesmen make notes on the catch or non-catch in their sheets.
• Head referee and assistant referees count jumps. One of the referees counts the dog's jumps along with the catching of Puller with the mouth and the two paws off the ground. The other referee counts the dog's jumps together with the catching of Puller with the mouth and the four paws off the ground. The third referee counts the total number of correctly executed jumps during the performance. Each referee has their own sheet in which they record the results of each competitor.
  
• Referee judges the style of the handler's work, but only clearly visible jumps with a clear grip are counted.
• All sheets completed by the referees during the competition shall be handed to the head referee at the end of the championship. The head referee will compare the sheets with their own, discuss any discrepancies with the linesmen and decide the winners.
• Results of the championship should be published in a single table in a public place no later than 7 days after the championship.
• All results from the championship are forwarded to the head of the Dog Puller Federation for that country and recorded in the table of the country's competitors.

Dog Puller Running

• If the dog catches a rolling Puller outside the 10m Running Zone and returns it to the Starting Zone - 1 point.
• If the dog leaves the Starting Zone before double tapping the Puller against each other, even if the Puller is intercepted - 0 points.
• If the dog catches a Puller that has not touched the ground (surface) at least once - 0 points.
• If a dog picks up a Puller that is no longer in motion - 0 points.
• If Puller is caught by the dog still in the 10m Running Zone - 0 points.
• If the dog drops the Puller after it was caught outside the Starting Zone - 0 points.
• If the Puller does not cross the line separating the Running and Catching zones, which is marked with flags or cones - 0 points.
• If the handler steps on the line marking the Starting Zone or crosses it while throwing the Puller - 0 points.
• If the same Puller is thrown twice in a row. The second roll is for 0 points.
• If the Puller is thrown twice in a row in the same direction, the second throw is for 0 points.

Scoring of discipline Puller Running puppies:

• If the dog catches a rolling Puller outside the 10m Running Zone and returns it to the Starting Zone - 1 point.
• If the dog leaves the Starting Zone before double tapping the Puller against each other, even if the Puller is intercepted - 0 points.
• If the dog catches a Puller that has not touched the ground (surface) at least once - 0 points.
• If a dog picks up a Puller that is no longer in motion and brings it to the Start Zone- 1 point.
• If Puller is caught by the dog still in the 10m Running Zone - 0 points.
• If the dog drops Puller after catching it outside the Starting Zone, but successfully brings it into the Starting Zone - 1 point.
• If the Puller does not cross the line separating the Running and Catching zones, which is marked with flags or cones - 0 points.
• If the handler steps on the line marking the Starting Zone or crosses it while throwing the Puller - 0 points.
• If the same Puller is thrown twice in a row. The second roll is for 0 points.
• If the Puller is thrown twice in a row in the same direction, the second throw is for 0 points.

Dog Puller Jumping

• Dog must make as many jumps, including catching Puller with their mouth, as they can.
• Jump and catch with two paws above the ground - 1 point.
• Jump and catch with four paws above the ground - 2 points.
• Jump without catching the Puller - 0 points.
• Jump without clearly catching the Puller - 0 points.
• Vertical jump without clear change of right/left body position - 0 points.
• Vertical jump without clear movement towards the Puller - 0 points.
• Catching the Puller without jumping (at least two paws are not off the ground) - 0 points.
• If the handler steps on or over the line marking the 10 x 10 m working area - 0 points.
• If the dog catches the same Puller twice in a row, the second catch is worth 0 points.
• If the dog does not catch the Puller and is offered it again one or more times until they successfully catch it - the result counts according to the rules.
• Ambiguous or not clear catching of the Puller, weak catching of the Puller by the dog with only partial grip - 0 points.
• Depending on breed type, age and other individual characteristics, each dog may have an individual grip, strength and catching style of the Puller.
• Examples of Puller catches that are considered successful:

Scoring of discipline Puller Jumping puppies:

• Dog must make as many jumps, including catching Puller with their mouth, as they can.
• Jump and catch with two paws above the ground - 2 points.
• Changing Pullers by catching them with the mouth - 1 point.
• Jump without catching the Puller - 0 points.
• Changing Pullers with no catches - 0 points.
• Catching a Puller without jumping (at least two paws are not off the ground) / without changing Pullers - 0 points.
• If the handler steps on or over the line marking the 10 x 10 m working area - 0 points.
• If the dog catches the same Puller twice in a row, the second catch is worth 0 points.
• If the dog does not catch the Puller and is offered it again one or more times until they successfully catch it - the result counts according to the rules.

Categories

Categories

Dogs are divided into categories according to their age and height.

Dogs of some breeds may be placed by the referee in the Maxi or Heavy weight category, depending on body constitution.

To define the size category, 3 referees must measure the dog. Each of them will take the measurements. The result is the average of all measurements.

Dog is measured on a maximally flat surface. The dog stands freely on all 4 paws. The measurement starts at the highest point of the shoulder blade and ends on the surface on which the dog is standing.

Heavy weight and Veteran categories are open if at least 7 dogs participate. In case of lower participation, the categories are combined as follows:

• Maxi + Heavy weight
• Veteran- by height 

Championship categories

• Regional championship - minimum 25 participants ( pair-handler + dog).
• National Championship - minimum 35 participants, at least 10 of whom must be from another city, region, etc.
• International championship - minimum 50 participants, of which at least 10 must be from another country.

Holding of competitions, determination of winners

Holding of competitions

• In each category, one competitor may participate with a maximum of two dogs.
• One dog can participate in each category with only one handler.
• In all disciplines there is only one handler with one dog on the field at any one time (during the performance).
• Only the Puller from the company COLLAR can be used.
• Dogs in Mini and Midi categories are not allowed to compete with Micro Pullers.
• Dogs in the Maxi and Drive categories are not allowed to compete with Mini and Micro Pullers.
• Dogs in the Heavy weight category are not allowed to compete with Mini, Midi and Micro Pullers.
• Dogs in the Puppy category can compete with any type (size) of Puller.
• Dogs in the Veteran category can use the Puller size based on their category by withers measurement.
• Dogs of less than 5 kg can race on a standard field with the Puller Micro.
• One set of Pullers is used during the performance.
• The number of points for each throw, jump and total score within a performance is objectively determined by the head referee and cannot be discussed or disputed by the competitor.
• Spectators and members of the press may not enter the field during the performance.

Determination of the winner in the event of a tie between participants

• If multiple competitors have the same number of points in a discipline, it is the turn of the restart (re-running or re-jumping) of specific competitors.
• Restart, if necessary, takes place outside all categories and disciplines.
• The restart is held only to determine the order of winners (1st, 2nd and 3rd place).
• Puller Running restart:the goal is to make three throws and successfully catch and return in the shortest time. The timer starts running after a clear signal from the handler - double tapping two Pullers against each other. After this point, the competitors must perform three Puller throws according to the rules of the Puller Running discipline in the shortest possible time. The timer stops when the dog crosses the Starting Zone line with at least one paw when returning with the Puller after the third throw.
• Handler with the dog with the fastest time wins.
• Puller Jumping restart:the goal is to perform 10 jumps with the dog's mouth catching the Puller. The timer starts running after a clear signal from the handler - double tapping of two Pullers against each other. After this moment, the dog has to make ten jumps catching the Puller with the mouth. The timer stops when the dog reaches the ground after the 10th jump.
• Handler with the dog with the fastest time wins.

Qualification rules

Race year and ranking

• Race year for each country starts the day after the day of the World Championship and ends one day before the World Championship.
• Each participant's points from all championships are recorded in the ranking table. The overall ranking (leaderboard) is compiled as follows. If a handler and their dog participate in only one discipline, they should start training for the other to be published in the rankings.
• Ranking calculations consist of two parts:

1. Basic points

Points are granted only for the first three places if the handler and the dog participated in both disciplines:

Extra points are also granted depending on the championship category and the number of participants (competitors):

2. Final points

Granted points are calculated according to the following formula:

• Basic points x (multiplied by) points granted in a discipline ÷ (divided by) national record in the given discipline. The resulting value is rounded to a whole number.

If the national record was not set at the first championship of the year, the result should be the highest score (points earned by the winner).

If the national record was broken at a championship, the new result is calculated from the next championship.

Each country hosts a qualification championship (one or more, depending on the country). The handler and the dog with the best result become part of the national team. The best result is equal to 2 points and is calculated by the sum of the points for placing in each discipline.

Errors, rule violations and disqualification

Errors, rule violations and disqualifications

• Handler has the right to replace a destroyed Puller. If the dog destroys the Puller during the performance, the handler has the right to replace it at any time. The destroyed Puller must be handed to the head referee before proceeding. The timer does not stop in this case and it is up to the handler to decide to replace. Replacement of the Puller outside the starting zone is possible with the permission of the head referee.
• If the dog destroys the racing area inside or outside the boundaries of the individual zones, if it is part of the whole racecourse, the timing will stop immediately. The handler must immediately repair the consequences of the incident, and once the handler and dog are ready to continue, the timer will restart from the stop time.
• If the dog relieves themselves (nr. 1 or 2) during the performance, the timer stops and the performance is over. The number of points the handler and dog have achieved before the incident is counted. If the handler does not rectify the consequences of the incident (i.e. clean up), they and their dog will be disqualified from that particular discipline.
• Females in heat are allowed to race. In this case, they are allowed to take their turn at the end when the competitors have completed their performances in all disciplines. The heat is considered to be the period from day 1 to day 30. The females in heat shall participate in the Restart to determine 1st, 2nd and 3rd place at the end.
• If the handler conceals their dog being in heat from the referees, they will be disqualified.
• Sick and pregnant dogs (after the 5th week of pregnancy) are not allowed to participate in the Dog Puller Championship.
• Participation of dogs with developmental and structural defects (including acquired ones) that do not cause problems for the dog and handler in performance (do not lead to increased risk of injury) and health problems is allowed. Admission is decided on the spot by the head judge.
• Mistreatment of the dog throughout the competition, inappropriate language, open hostility towards other competitors or drunkenness are punishable by disqualification.
• Electric, electronic, prong or choke collars or any other collars, harnesses (including Norwegian) or other items of equipment (clothing) of a corrective nature are not permitted.
• It is not allowed to encourage the dog by feeding (treats) during the performance.
• Only the Puller may be in the handler's hands in the Start Zone during the performance.
• Only the handler, the dog and the referee team may stand on the competition field during the performance. No one except the handler may touch the dog or Puller during the performance. Violations of this rule shall be dealt with by the head referee and a decision made to correct the violation.
• Dog aggression is unacceptable at the competition. If a dog shows signs of aggression towards another human or dog in the presence of the head referee (before, during or after the competition, but before the end of the announcement ceremony), the handler and the dog are disqualified and their score is 0.
• Disputes with referees, disputing results and appeals are not allowed.

Safety rules