[Lacey Vessell]

The FMMB, mainly the decoy selection/performance left me questioning: Would you pull your dog from a trial/competition where you believed the safety of your dog (ie., lack of skill/ability of the helper) were in question? At club level trials, not home field advantage, sometimes you don't get the opportunity to have the trial decoy, work your dog before the actual trial. Even if you do get the opportunity....and you don't like what your seeing...is it to late to pull your dog? Would you be suspended from trialing in USA,FCI etc if you pulled your dog? I really am curious about the official rulings pertaining to this. If numerous handlers pulled their dogs because of safety reasons - would it weigh more in the eyes of the officials? Where should we as competitors draw the line - saving face and the ability to continue to compete (not saying at all that this was the case at the FMBB) or saving our dogs from potential serious injury because of poor helper/decoy work?

 

[Mike Schoonbrood]

I cannot imagine that they would penalize you for pulling your dog out of a club level trial, maybe you'd need a little more justification at higher levels? If I saw a decoy screw up several times before I was up, I would pull my dog in a heartbeat.

 

[Jeff Oehlsen]

There is nothing that I can find that gives a penalty for pulling a dog prior to entering the field. I am still looking for a penalty for pulling mid competition.

 

[Darryl Richey]

I thought that in Sch it would be considered "unsportsmanlike" if you pulled your dog from competition. To the point that if claimed that it was an injury they want verification from a vet. Not sure as Sch isn't my primary fun.

Darryl

 

[Amber Scott Dyer]

I don't care what anyone thinks - if I don't think a decoy is safe, they aren't working my dog. If the trial organization holds that against me, I guess I'd just have to find a new sport.

 

[Jeff Oehlsen]

I saw nothing in the MR rules section even dealing with this. Kinda weird.