Proposed: 10/23/2018

Committee Approved: 10/28/2018

Board Approved: 6/4/2019

Effective: 7/1/2019

Issue:

Competitors looking for a path to get beginner dogs competing in to Games; Experienced dog/handler teams looking for an environment more familiar to their experiences that would still allow them to compete.

Rule Change:

Implement Courses to compliment Games.  The below is incorporated into the current rulebook effective July 1, 2019.

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Courses

General Course Rules

Classes

All courses use the same size ring of  575 to 750 square feet (approximately 24′ x 24′ to 25′ x 30′). Rings can be any shape as long as they comply with the square footage requirement.

Beginner 

Course Time 1:00

Live Tubes: 1

Bedding Tubes: 2

Tunnel Structure: Simple Straight (approximately 5′ overhead)

Bale Height: 2

Start Box: Directly in front of tunnel within 1 foot of the vertical tunnel bales.

Three tubes will be placed in a fixture at the end of a simple straight tunnel structure. The start box is placed directly in front of the tunnel with a fixture constructed to hold three tubes securely at least two feet away, but not more than four feet, on the opposite end of the tunnel. A qualifying score is the when the handler correctly identifies the live rat tube before time runs out. A tunnel not required for this class.

Beginning Courses uses Novice Course design of the primary course judge.

Novice 

Course Time 2:00

Live Tubes: 1

Bedding Tubes: 2

Tunnel Structure: Simple Straight (approximately 5′ overhead) 

Bale Height: 2

Bales on Course: 20-30

Start Box: Directly in front of tunnel within 5 feet of the tunnel opening.

Three tubes are hidden anywhere on course.  Time starts when the dog or handler exits the start box. Time stops when the both elements are completed (dog has tunneled and handler has declared  rat).

Novice Course Requirements: 

6 bale configuration for tunnel (two straight sides of two bales with two bales on top), 

At least two locations, two bales high consisting of at least 9 contiguous sq. ft. per location.

Room for fixture 24” from end of tunnel (fixture removed for Novice class)

Intermediate

Course Time 2:30

Live Tubes: 2

Bedding Tubes: 3

Tunnel Structure: 1 turn

Bale Height: 2. At least three locations, two bales high consisting of at least 9 contiguous sq ft. per location.

Bales on Course: 25-45

Start Box: Anywhere on course 

At least one rat must be elevated.

Advanced

Course Time 3:45

Live Tubes: 4

Bedding Tubes: 4

Tunnel Structure: 2-3 turns

Bale Height: 3. At least one location, three bales high consisting of at least 9 contiguous sq ft.

Bales on Course: 35-60

Start Box: Anywhere on course 

Expert

Course Time 4:30

Live Tubes: 1-5

Bedding Tubes: 3-7

Tunnel Structure: 3 to 6 turns

Bale Height: 3. At least two locations, three bales high consisting of at least 9 contiguous sq ft.

Bales On Course: 35-60

Start Box: Anywhere on course

There are 8 tubes on course for each run, with 1 to 5 rats or live tubes randomly drawn by the Judge.

Time stops when all elements are completed (dog has tunneled, found all rats on course, and the handler has identified the course as “finished” or “clear”, in any order).

Champion

Uses the same rules as Expert except hides are “no hides barred” and the number of rats will be 1 to 6.  The number of bedding tubes will be 2 to 7.

Veteran

The Veteran division is for older dogs that can no longer climb structures or tunnel. Handlers shall self-identify their dog as a veteran to move to the veteran division.

All hides are on ground level or one level up and no more than 1 bale in from the perimeter of the structure (with the intent of the dog not having to climb). The tunnel is not required. A Veteran division shall be offered for each Class, in each Trial, except the Beginner Class.  Veteran Class may be offered as a Veteran only blind as part of the regular class in their own blind.  Veteran results are reported separately and not combined with the regular class for placements.

Move-ups

Once the required qualifying legs are received for a title in a division, move-ups to the next division must be available “day-to-day”. A competitor may stay in the division if they feel their dog is not ready to advance. 

Clubs must allow move-ups from previous events if the dog titled at that previous event. 

1. If offering courses, the club must offer all courses from Beginner through Champion, including Veteran.
2. Single course class trials shall only be held on the day proceeding or the day after a minimum two day trial in which all courses from Beginner through Champion are offered on both days.
3. Class order is up to the club. Move ups from a previous event or another club must be permitted. Move ups within a trial are not required but recommended.

Course Titles

Rat Games Beginner  (RG-B) requires a single qualifying run.  No previous title is required.

Rat Games Novice (RG-N) requires three qualifying runs.  No previous title is required.

Rat Games Intermediate (RG-I) requires three qualifying runs.  Successful completion of Rat Games Novice is also required.

Rat Games Advanced (RG-A) requires three qualifying runs.  Successful completion of Rat Games Intermediate is also required.

Rat Games Expert (RG-E) requires five qualifying runs under two different judges and two different clubs.  Successful completion of Rat Games Advanced is also required.  You may not begin your Rat Games Expert title until you have attained your Rat Games Advanced title.

Rat Games Champion (RGCh) requires 10 additional expert qualifying runs under two different judges and two different clubs. RGChX is an additional 10 qualifying runs under two different judges and two different clubs.  Each additional 10 qualifying runs under two different judges and two different clubs increments an additional digit to the end of the RGCh (i.e. RGChX2, RGChX3…)