CARTING RULES FOR THE AMERICAN ROTTWEILER CLUB

These carting rules and regulations were proposed by the ARC's carting committee and approved by the Board of Directors (revised 6/2002).  For more information, contact ARC Carting Chairperson: Beverly Bulson, 208 W Glenville Rd., Scotia, NY, 12302, email: Vonblazin@aol.com

PURPOSE

The American Rottweilers Club (ARC) has designed this carting competition to showcase the natural abilities of the purebred Rottweiler when working in a cart-pulling environment with his/her handler.  The Rottweiler was valued historically for its cart-pulling abilities.  These carting exercises are designed to demonstrate the dog's inherent ability aided by trained skills that exhibit a team effort by both dog and handler.

GUIDELINES

To properly evaluate dogs and their handlers in a carting competition, certain aspects of this evaluation must be explained in detail.  These areas are as follows:

Administration:

Creation of the ARC Carting Committee: The ARC shall create a Carting Committee that will encourage and support Carting Tests approved by the ARC.  The Committee will review and update guidelines and make them available to others wishing to hold a Carting Test.  The Committee will review and update guidelines and make them available to others wishing to hold a Carting Test.   The Committee will ascertain how records are to be maintained and designate ARC carting titles.  They will establish fees to record and issue certificates.  The Committee will also establish time guidelines for the acceptance and notification to prospective sponsors.  The Carting Committee will establish a procedure for processing requests for ARC approved Carting Tests.  The Committee will also decide if other breeds will be allowed into these tests and what titles they would be able to earn.  The Carting Committee will be subject to final decisions made by the ARC Board of Directors.

Permission to Sponsor a Carting Test: Permission may be granted by the American Rottweiler Club Board of Directors to any ARC approved club or ARC approved individual(s) to hold a Carting Test and such approval will be in writing.  Carting Tests may be opened to all breeds or restricted to Rottweilers only, however, if open to other breeds, preference must be given to registered purebred Rottweilers.  Breeds other than Rottweilers may be admitted should the limit of entries not be met by Rottweilers.

Application: A letter of application to hold a carting test should be sent to the ARC Carting Chairman and should include:

1. Name of the Carting Test sponsoring club or names of sponsoring individuals.
2. The date of the proposed Carting Test.
3. The name and address of the selected site.
4. A sketch of the course layout (including identification of required elements and where they will be incorporated in the exercises.)
5. Entry limits for each class.
6. Name and address of the judge(s) and his/her qualifications for judging an ARC Carting Test.
7. Name, address, and phone number of the Carting Test Chairman, Secretary, and Course Director.
8. Names of additional personnel involved in the sponsor request.
9. Certification that all ARC Carting Test Regulations will be followed.
10. The guarantee that all equipment, personnel, and other require provisions will be available at the Carting Test.
11. Certification that liability insurance will be in effect for the event.
12. The signature of the sponsoring Chairman and Secretary.

All American Kennel Club Dog Show Rules and Regulations, The ARC Carting Test Regulations, and the Constitution and By-laws of the American Rottweiler Club shall apply to all persons and dogs except as these Carting Committee Regulations direct otherwise.  A copy of each of these shall be at the site of the Carting Test and available to the judges, handlers, and Carting Test personnel.   It is the responsibility of each handler to be familiar with these materials prior to the Carting Test.

Course Design:

Course Director: The Course Director will be chosen by the club wishing to sponsor a carting test.  The Course Director shall have the responsibility of creating the course to fit the area chosen for the Carting Test.  He/she will also prepare a sketch of the proposed course and relative terrain to be submitted tot he ARC Carting Committee along with the request for permission to sponsor an ARC approved Carting Test.  The sketch will show:

1. The sequence of the course exercises
2. A description of what each exercise is
3. The path the course will follow
4. Where course elements will be incorporated
5. Terrain and slopes
6. Length of course from start to finish

The Course Director will ensure that the required elements of the competition will be incorporated into the exercises.  The Course Director will also make sure the course is presented in a sequence that is logical and easy to follow and that all required equipment is available.

Course Size: The size of the course will be a minimum of 375 feet from start to finish (this is the actual distance dog and handler must cover to complete the course.)  The course must be large enough to incorporate all required elements and exercises.  The only specific measurements are the 9 feet between the pylons of the serpentine exercise, and the 3 foot backing exercise.   Reasonable distances between course exercises will be determined on an individual basis to allow the judge to see and evaluate the handler and dog(s) without excessive walking.  There should be enough distance between course exercises to allow a dog(s) and handler to move easily at a trot.

Course Terrain: Course terrain will be dependent on what is available.  Level terrain is preferred with some very moderate sloping allowed if the area is restricted.  Hard surface is preferred, grass is acceptable.  Weather is to be considered as hot pavement, and wet soggy grass are both unsuitable for this competition.  Heavy, soft footing and inclines are to be avoided.  A short, moderate incline can be incorporated as a course exercise.   The course will not be in a roped-off ring environment.

Course Elements (required):

        1. Left turn (90 degrees)
        2. Right turn (90 degrees)
        3. Stops
        4. Fast
        5. Slow
        6. Back (3 feet)
        7. Circle left (360 degrees)
        8. Circle right (360 degrees)
        9. Serpentine, minimum of five pylons, nine feet apart
        10. Harnessing, first exercise (hooking to cart only)
        11. Down/stay, last exercise (three minutes).   As of 6/2002 ARC requires a 25 foot distance with no additional commands once the owner leaves the dog.
        12. Load 40 pound weight as first exercise after harnessing; unload prior to last exercise (down/stay)
        13. One distraction (i.e., pedestrian walking a dog, bicyclist passing, ball thrown near dog)
        14. Gate (four foot wide opening)

Optional Course Exercises (choose any two)

      1. Bridge
      2. Figure eight
      3. Additional distractions

Course Equipment: The required equipment is sufficient cones or course markers to designate the direction of the course and to number the exercises.  The Course Director must also have a 40 pound weight item that can be lifted and affixed to the carts of on-lead and off-lead entrants.  Optional course exercises are not structured to size, only that reasonable judgment be given to accommodate a team of dogs, cart, and handler.  The gate can be made of any material, as long as it can be opened and closed and have a four foot opening for dog and cart to pass through.

Handler Responsibilities:

The handler/competitor is responsible for providing certain types of equipment.  The handler will make sure the harness and cart fits the dog properly.  The hook-up should not allow the cart to run up and bump the dog during the course exercises.  The weight should be placed, balanced, and tied in place by the handler.  Assistance may be given to those handlers who cannot load or unload the 40 pound weight.  The handler accepts full responsibility of ensuring any load placed on the cart can be easily managed by the dog(s) and that the dog does not appear to be under duress attempting to move the cart.  The handler will make sure the weight is properly balanced.  Any dog that appears to be negatively impacted with the cart weight can be excused by the judge at any point in the course.  As of 6/2002, the ARC Board has added that no crops or whips shall be allowed at any time, and the head halter is not allowed except at the CX level and then only if adapted for rein purposes.  Equipment provided by handlers is as follows:

        1. Two wheel (preferred) or four wheel cart
        2. Shafts must be part of the cart apparatus
        3. Harness (usually siwash or breast plate style)
        4. Choke chain, buckle collar, or head collar
        5. Minimum of four foot lead if at CS level
        6. Reins if at CX level
        7. Ties to secure 40 pound weight at CS or CI level

Entry Requirements:

a. Age: The Carting Test may be entered by dogs one year old or older on the day of the Carting Test.

b. Bitches in Season: Bitches in season will be allowed to compete after all other dogs have finished being evaluated.

c. Dogs That May Not Compete: No dog owned or co-owned by the appointed Carting Test Judge or any of his/her immediate family members can compete in that specific Carting Test at which such person officiates.

Definitions:

a. Dog: applies to dogs of both sexes.

b. Team: two dogs hitched to one cart.   Two dogs competing as a team need not be owned by the same person or by the handler.  A separate entry form must be completed for each dog on a team entry and then stapled together.

c. ARC: American Rottweiler Club

d. AKC: American Kennel Club

Judging:

Requirements: Judges must be approved prior to the test by the ARC Carting Committee.  All judges must be thoroughly familiar with the current AKC Obedience Regulations and the ARC Carting Test Regulations.   A list of all ARC Carting Judges will be maintained by the ARC Carting Committee and will be available to any club or member upon request.

Applying to Judge: Interested individuals must apply to the ARC Carting Committee for approval to judge.  The application must include the applicant's experience with canine draft work/driving, if any, and experience with the AKC Obedience Regulations and ARC Carting Test Regulations.  Upon positive review of the application, the applicant will be approved to judge and will receive notification from the ARC Carting Committee by mail.

Stewards: Two additional personnel will be chosen by the sponsoring club to assist the judge and will be noted on the application for approval to hold an ARC approved Carting Test.  One of these stewards will perform the duties of  scribe to assist the judge with the marking of the score sheets and the timing of each entrant.  The second steward will be utilized according to the judge's discretion.

Point System: 

Maximum points: 100
To receive a qualifying score you must:

        1. Have received a score of 70 or better
        2. Not fail any given exercise (judge's decision)
        3. Not have been removed from any exercise by the judge
        4. Negotiate all course exercises

Each entrant will be timed but this is not a condition to qualify.  The time will be used in the event of a tie score to determine placement.

Scoring:

Point Deductions: The following areas are suggested but not limited to categories of point deductions for dog(s) and handlers at all levels.  A deduction of one to five points is permissible:

        1. Fights shafts/uncomfortable with cart
        2. Resists direction
        3. Does not pull or move forward readily
        4. Tight lead/excessive, hard rein pulls
        5. Off course
        6. Resists hitching to cart
        7. Handler physically maneuvers dog
        8. Stops poorly
        9. Breaks stay command
        10. Shies from course exercises
        11. Does not complete course exercise as stipulated
        12. Slowness to respond to commands or direction
        13. Looks back at cart
        14. Dog lacks smoothness during turns, stops, etc.
        15. Commands are harsh and threatening

Reasons for Failure or Removal: The following areas are reasons for failing the competition and/or removal:

        1. Dog is out of control and a danger to himself and others
        2. Dog panics and fights cart restraints
        3. Dog threatens other dogs/people with aggressive behavior
        4. Dog defecates or urinates during the carting exercises
        5. Dog is struggling to pull cart
        6. Harness, cart, and/or equipment breaks or does not function properly
        7. A refusal by the dog to complete an exercise
        8. Dog consistently does not pull willingly

Judge's Right of Decision During Carting Test:  The judge has the right to remove any competitor during any part of the test.   The Judge also has the right to deny participation in a Carting Test due to ill fitting equipment, physical unsoundness, or unruliness of dog or handler.

Titles:

A dog receiving a qualifying score at any level shall be deemed to have earned the title for that level.  A CS must go to CI or CX after obtaining a CS title.  A CI dog can stay competing at the CI level or go to the CX level.  The CX dog can continue to compete after obtaining a CX title at the CX level.  Titles are as follows:

        CS Carting Started (on lead)
        CI Carting Intermediate (off lead)
        CX Carting Excellent (driving)

For all levels, the course remains the same with the exception that CS and CI competitors will load the 40 pound weight after harnessing and unload same prior to the down/stay.  The CX dog will have handler sit and ride in the cart after harnessing and will exit the cart prior to the down/stay.   The three levels will be divided into divisions as follows:

        CS (level one) on-lead
        Division 1 CS single
        Division 2 CS team

        CI (level two) off-lead
        Division 3 CI single
        Division 4 CI team

        CX (level three) driving
        Division 5 CX single
        Division 6 CX team

Ribbons will be awarded for first through fourth place in all six divisions.  A "High In Test" ribbon will be awarded to the highest score obtained for the day (considering all qualifying scores from the six divisions.)  Single dogs will not compete for placements against team entries with the exception of the "High In Test" award.

Description of a Carting Test

The competition will be open to on-lead, off-lead, and driving (handler seated) carting dogs.  the entry can be single dog or team (two dogs).  Single dogs will not be entered in the same division as a team entry.  The course will be the same, but the entries will compete within their own division (single on-lead, team on-lead, single off-lead, team off-lead, etc.)  Any type of wagon or cart is acceptable, as long as the dog(s) can handle the size and weight of the vehicle comfortably and easily over the course and negotiate all exercises.   The handler assumes responsibility to ensure that his/her individual cart can negotiate the course.  The course will not be modified to accommodate larger carts.   A two wheel vehicle is preferred due to its maneuverability.  Verbal and physical praise is allowed during the exercises.  Petting and stroking with the hands is allowed but no other part of the handler's body should touch the dog.  Talking to the dog during the course is allowed unless the tome is harsh.  All on-lead and off-lead entries will have their carts weighted with an additional 40 pounds.  The 40 pound weight will be provided by the Course Director.  Emphasis is on precision, not speed.  Failure to negotiate any one exercise in the competition will result in a non-qualifying score despite an over-all score of 70 or above.  The desired attitude of a carting dog is as follows:

*        willingness to quickly respond to light commands
*        "ready and willing" demeanor when performing exercises
*        free and easy movement while completing exercises
*        confidence and ability while maneuvering in shafts
*        complete exercises with energy and enthusiasm
*        no hesitation when leaning into a pull

A carting dog should move the cart and its weight with pride and eagerness, yet listen to direction  from the handler.   This is the purpose of this competition, to give handlers and their carting dogs a chance to exhibit these wonderful skills and abilities.