Since the beginning of this year theItalian National Dog-loving Body has updated the rules of tests valid for dogs belonging to pointing breeds. The Governing Council has interpreted and explained some provisions in a definitive way, therefore it is necessary to summarize the most important news concerning these races. First of all, the tests recognized by the ENCI there are eight: these are the large-scale hunting tests on partridges for English breeds, the hunting tests on natural game for dogs of all breeds (partridges and all natural game with or without the killed wild), the specialized tests of hunting for dogs of all breeds (snipe, woodcock and mountain game), the derby on partridge for dogs of all breeds, the classic tests on quail for dogs of all breeds, the aptitude competitions on quails and the special tests.
The main clarifications have to do with the age of the animals that are admitted to the competition in relation to the month in which they are held. In fact, in the hypothesis of derby on partridges that take place in the month of March, the participation of dogs of all breeds that are born on or after 1 September two years earlier. For the derbies that take place in April, however, animals are allowed to participate born on October 1st two years earlier. Furthermore, the derby will be held by April 15th of each year, a date that has been evaluated and confirmed by ENCI. Another clarification of some importance is that relating to the assignment of points when there is one only one stops on hare.
In detail, given that the expert judges have different behaviors when assigning the valid stop on this wild, the possibility of qualifying a subject must be definitively removed only with a stop on hare. As regards, then, the test of the shot, if for any reason it was not possible to carry out the same during the qualifying subject's turn, then the expert judge will invite the handler to repeat the operation with the dog at his side, in order to verify what his reaction is. A further clarification concerns the management of collars and beepers.
The only collars allowed are those characterized by a drawstring or a chain, while using the beep it becomes definitive after the excellent response has been ascertained: they can be applied in addition to the bell and must be used in "off mode", with the activation left to the jury alone in the necessary cases.