OBSTACLE/CRIMINAL APPREHENSION COMPETITION DESCRIPTION
The 2018 K-9 competition was a success.In order to have the same success or better, we have changed the penalty points system, the documentation of the time results, and the course layout. After some feedback from competitors, other K9 handlers, and judges of the competition, several meetings took place which resulted in changes to improve the competition for this year.
The course is a timed event. The K-9 Team with the fastest time, after any penalty time deductions, will win. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishes will be awarded prizes.
Prior to the designated start time, the K-9 Handler will be inspected by a Firearms Instructor at the designated firearms safety location. There is no live ammunition or firearms on the event field. The firearms instructor will check the handler prior to running the event for ammunition and firearms. Once the safety check is complete the firearms instructor will issue the simunition’s gun for the event at this time. Once issued the simunition’s gun, the K-9 team will report to the start area for final instructions.
*If you exit the field you must have another safety check done*
The course is a timed event. The K-9 Team with the fastest time, after any penalty time deductions, will win. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishes will be awarded prizes.
Prior to the designated start time, the K-9 Handler will be inspected by a Firearms Instructor at the designated firearms safety location. There is no live ammunition or firearms on the event field. The firearms instructor will check the handler prior to running the event for ammunition and firearms. Once the safety check is complete the firearms instructor will issue the simunition’s gun for the event at this time. Once issued the simunition’s gun, the K-9 team will report to the start area for final instructions.
Competition Obstacles
1. VEHICLE BAILOUT
Handler will be seated in the driver’s seat with k9 in the cage/kennel part of the vehicle.
Time starts when handler opens driver door to exit. Handler will exit and bailout his k9, on or off leash, and maintain controlof the K-9 while moving to the Fence Gate obstacle.
2. FENCE GATE
Upon arrival at the fence gate, the handler will “Down” his dog and locate the cutters on the ground at the bottom of the fence.
The handler then will locate the 4 tie wraps which hold the fence and the gate together and cut them.
The handler will open the gate, and WITH his K-9,He MUST go through the gate to the next obstacle the Jumping Jacks.
There is a 5 second penalty for not negotiating the obstacle as instructed.
3. JUMPING JACKS
Upon arrival at the designated area marked by 4 traffic cones, the handler will do 10 jumping jacks with the K-9 under obedience in the “box”. The K-9 can be in the down, sit, or stand position but must remain in the box until the handler completes the jumping jacks. Upon completion the handler will move with his K-9 under obedience, on or off leash, to the next obstacle the Car Window Jump.
There is a 5 second penalty for not completing the obstacle as instructed.
4. CAR WINDOW JUMP
Upon arrival there will be asimulated vehicle window opening supported on both sides. The K-9 will jump through the window opening and land on the other side of the obstacle. The Handler will go around the obstacle and under obedience, on or off leash, move to the next obstacle the A Frame.
There is a 5 second penalty for not completing the obstacle as instructed.
5. A-FRAME
Upon arrival, the handler and K-9 will both negotiate the A-Frame as follows. The team will climb on the front side of the A-Frame, go over the top of the obstacle on to the platform. Then they will finish by using the ramp to step down on to the ground at the back side of the A-Frame. The handler will move with his K-9, under obedience or on leash, to the K-9 Carry.
There is a 5 second penalty for the handler and K-9 not negotiating the obstacle as instructed.
6. K-9 CARRY
Upon arrival at the first set of traffic cones, the handler will carry his K-9 from those traffic cones to the second set of traffic cones, which signifies the distance the K-9 must be carried. “Carried” means the K-9’s legs are not touching the ground.
If the handler drops or places the K-9 on the ground, there will be no penalty if he picks up the K-9 prior to moving forward to the finish marker.
If the handler decides not to carry the K-9 at all, he must leave the dog at the start point in a sit or down. The handler can then run to the finish marker, and at that point, call the K-9 to him. The handler must wait for the K-9 to reach the exit set of cones before moving to the simunition’s course.
There will be a 10 second penalty for not negotiating the course as instructed.
The handler will then move on to the Simunition’s Course with his K9 under obedience on or off leash.
7. SIMUNITION COURSE
Upon arriving at the first barrel the decoy will begin to walk down range at a steady slow pace. The handler will maintain the K-9 under obedience,but not on leash, during this obstacle.If the K-9 breaks obedience and engages the decoy, the handler will “out” the K-9 verbally or by equipment assistance.
At the first barrel, the handler willfire 1 sim round at the target in front of him/her, and then move to the next target with the K-9 under obedience, and do the same. The handler will have 3 rounds to engage the 3 targets.
Upon completing the simunition’s obstacle the handler will move on to the Tunnel Crawl Obstacle with the K-9 under obedience. At this time the handler can move with his K-9 on or off leash.
There is a 1 second penalty for every missed shot. A hit consists of any hit on the paper target.
There is a 5 second penalty if the K-9 engages the decoy.
8. TUNNEL CRAWL
Upon the arrival to the tunnel crawl, the K-9 team will both enter at one opening of the long tunnel, go through the inside of the tunnel, and exit at the opposite end. The K-9 can be on or off leash going through the tunnel and must remain under obedience when he exits the tunnel.
The handler will then move with his K-9 under obedience, on or off leash, to the fence jump.
There will be a 5 second penalty if the K-9 or Handler fails to crawl through the tunnel.
9. BRICK WALL JUMP
Upon arriving at the supported fence jump the k-9 will jump over the fence. The handler will go around either side of the fence and continue on to the simunition’s obstacle with his K-9 under control on or off leash.
There is a 5 second penalty for failure to complete obstacle as instructed.
10. RECALL/DOWN
Upon arriving at thestart line marked by 2 barrels, under obedience on or off leash, the handler will send his K-9 to engage a the visible decoy and either recall or down the dog anywhere past the traffic cones, but not before the cones. The K-9 can down or recall anywhere past the traffic cones up to the decoy as long as there is no engagement with the decoy.
Once the K-9 recalls or downs,the handler proceed with the K-9, on or off leash, to the Mystery Obstacle.
Be mindful that the K-9 can still be “worked up” as you move away from the recall obstacle. It is up to the handler to determine if he wishes to move to the mystery obstacle with the K-9 on or off leash.
If the K-9 fails to recall and engages the decoy the handler will “out” his K-9 by voice or equipment use, and proceed with K-9 under obedience or on leash to the A-Frame.
There will be a 5 second penalty for the K-9 engaging the decoy.
11. Mystery Obstacle
The K9 team will approach the obstacle with the K-9 on or off leash. The K-9 and the handler will both negotiate the obstacle. Upon negotiating the mystery obstacle the handler will move on to the apprehension obstacle with his K9 under obedience on or off leash.
There is a 5 second penalty for not negotiating the obstacle as instructed.
12. APPREHENSION OBSTACLE
Upon entering the start area marked by 4 cones the handler will send the K-9 for the apprehension. The decoy will assist with getting dogs attention.
Once the K-9 engages the decoy the handler can “out” his K-9 and continue towards the finish line with his K9 under obedience, on or off leash. Time will stop when both the handler and k-9 cross the finish line marked by traffic cones.
There is a 5 second penalty for not negotiating the obstacle as instructed.
Handler will be seated in the driver’s seat with k9 in the cage/kennel part of the vehicle.
Time starts when handler opens driver door to exit. Handler will exit and bailout his k9, on or off leash, and maintain controlof the K-9 while moving to the Fence Gate obstacle.
2. FENCE GATE
Upon arrival at the fence gate, the handler will “Down” his dog and locate the cutters on the ground at the bottom of the fence.
The handler then will locate the 4 tie wraps which hold the fence and the gate together and cut them.
The handler will open the gate, and WITH his K-9,He MUST go through the gate to the next obstacle the Jumping Jacks.
There is a 5 second penalty for not negotiating the obstacle as instructed.
3. JUMPING JACKS
Upon arrival at the designated area marked by 4 traffic cones, the handler will do 10 jumping jacks with the K-9 under obedience in the “box”. The K-9 can be in the down, sit, or stand position but must remain in the box until the handler completes the jumping jacks. Upon completion the handler will move with his K-9 under obedience, on or off leash, to the next obstacle the Car Window Jump.
There is a 5 second penalty for not completing the obstacle as instructed.
4. CAR WINDOW JUMP
Upon arrival there will be asimulated vehicle window opening supported on both sides. The K-9 will jump through the window opening and land on the other side of the obstacle. The Handler will go around the obstacle and under obedience, on or off leash, move to the next obstacle the A Frame.
There is a 5 second penalty for not completing the obstacle as instructed.
5. A-FRAME
Upon arrival, the handler and K-9 will both negotiate the A-Frame as follows. The team will climb on the front side of the A-Frame, go over the top of the obstacle on to the platform. Then they will finish by using the ramp to step down on to the ground at the back side of the A-Frame. The handler will move with his K-9, under obedience or on leash, to the K-9 Carry.
There is a 5 second penalty for the handler and K-9 not negotiating the obstacle as instructed.
6. K-9 CARRY
Upon arrival at the first set of traffic cones, the handler will carry his K-9 from those traffic cones to the second set of traffic cones, which signifies the distance the K-9 must be carried. “Carried” means the K-9’s legs are not touching the ground.
If the handler drops or places the K-9 on the ground, there will be no penalty if he picks up the K-9 prior to moving forward to the finish marker.
If the handler decides not to carry the K-9 at all, he must leave the dog at the start point in a sit or down. The handler can then run to the finish marker, and at that point, call the K-9 to him. The handler must wait for the K-9 to reach the exit set of cones before moving to the simunition’s course.
There will be a 10 second penalty for not negotiating the course as instructed.
The handler will then move on to the Simunition’s Course with his K9 under obedience on or off leash.
7. SIMUNITION COURSE
Upon arriving at the first barrel the decoy will begin to walk down range at a steady slow pace. The handler will maintain the K-9 under obedience,but not on leash, during this obstacle.If the K-9 breaks obedience and engages the decoy, the handler will “out” the K-9 verbally or by equipment assistance.
At the first barrel, the handler willfire 1 sim round at the target in front of him/her, and then move to the next target with the K-9 under obedience, and do the same. The handler will have 3 rounds to engage the 3 targets.
Upon completing the simunition’s obstacle the handler will move on to the Tunnel Crawl Obstacle with the K-9 under obedience. At this time the handler can move with his K-9 on or off leash.
There is a 1 second penalty for every missed shot. A hit consists of any hit on the paper target.
There is a 5 second penalty if the K-9 engages the decoy.
8. TUNNEL CRAWL
Upon the arrival to the tunnel crawl, the K-9 team will both enter at one opening of the long tunnel, go through the inside of the tunnel, and exit at the opposite end. The K-9 can be on or off leash going through the tunnel and must remain under obedience when he exits the tunnel.
The handler will then move with his K-9 under obedience, on or off leash, to the fence jump.
There will be a 5 second penalty if the K-9 or Handler fails to crawl through the tunnel.
9. BRICK WALL JUMP
Upon arriving at the supported fence jump the k-9 will jump over the fence. The handler will go around either side of the fence and continue on to the simunition’s obstacle with his K-9 under control on or off leash.
There is a 5 second penalty for failure to complete obstacle as instructed.
10. RECALL/DOWN
Upon arriving at thestart line marked by 2 barrels, under obedience on or off leash, the handler will send his K-9 to engage a the visible decoy and either recall or down the dog anywhere past the traffic cones, but not before the cones. The K-9 can down or recall anywhere past the traffic cones up to the decoy as long as there is no engagement with the decoy.
Once the K-9 recalls or downs,the handler proceed with the K-9, on or off leash, to the Mystery Obstacle.
Be mindful that the K-9 can still be “worked up” as you move away from the recall obstacle. It is up to the handler to determine if he wishes to move to the mystery obstacle with the K-9 on or off leash.
If the K-9 fails to recall and engages the decoy the handler will “out” his K-9 by voice or equipment use, and proceed with K-9 under obedience or on leash to the A-Frame.
There will be a 5 second penalty for the K-9 engaging the decoy.
11. Mystery Obstacle
The K9 team will approach the obstacle with the K-9 on or off leash. The K-9 and the handler will both negotiate the obstacle. Upon negotiating the mystery obstacle the handler will move on to the apprehension obstacle with his K9 under obedience on or off leash.
There is a 5 second penalty for not negotiating the obstacle as instructed.
12. APPREHENSION OBSTACLE
Upon entering the start area marked by 4 cones the handler will send the K-9 for the apprehension. The decoy will assist with getting dogs attention.
Once the K-9 engages the decoy the handler can “out” his K-9 and continue towards the finish line with his K9 under obedience, on or off leash. Time will stop when both the handler and k-9 cross the finish line marked by traffic cones.
There is a 5 second penalty for not negotiating the obstacle as instructed.
HARDEST HITTING/FASTEST DOG COMPETITION
During the Fastest dog competition the handler can use a decoy of his choice.
Fastest Dog
This is a 2 part event which will be completed as one event.
The K9 Team will report to the start line on lead.
A decoy in a body suit will be located down field.
On the command of “go”, the handler will send the K-9 downfield for the apprehension.
2 judges will time the K-9 from the word “go” to a predetermined point downfield.
The faster of the 2 times will be recorded as the official time.
For the Hardest Hitting Dog competition, 3 judges will be used which are dictated by the Lead Judge. No other decoys will be allowed in order to simplify the evaluation of the dogs hit.
Hardest Hitting Dog
The participating teams will be split up into 2 lists of teams. There will be 2 judges, one for each list. The judges will determine, after catching each dog, which 2 are the hardest hitting on their list. At this point a short break will be taken while the judges prepare for the top 4 dogs to go again. The hardest dog will be determined by the lead judge who will decoy and “catch” them.
Fastest Dog
This is a 2 part event which will be completed as one event.
The K9 Team will report to the start line on lead.
A decoy in a body suit will be located down field.
On the command of “go”, the handler will send the K-9 downfield for the apprehension.
2 judges will time the K-9 from the word “go” to a predetermined point downfield.
The faster of the 2 times will be recorded as the official time.
For the Hardest Hitting Dog competition, 3 judges will be used which are dictated by the Lead Judge. No other decoys will be allowed in order to simplify the evaluation of the dogs hit.
Hardest Hitting Dog
The participating teams will be split up into 2 lists of teams. There will be 2 judges, one for each list. The judges will determine, after catching each dog, which 2 are the hardest hitting on their list. At this point a short break will be taken while the judges prepare for the top 4 dogs to go again. The hardest dog will be determined by the lead judge who will decoy and “catch” them.
