USA DOG PULLER FEDERATION

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Dogs are categorized according to age and height.

• Puppy category – dogs aged 3 to 12 months.
• Mini category – dogs up to 14 inches at the withers.
• Midi category – dogs from 14.1 in. to 18 in. at the withers (from 35.01 cm).
• Maxi category – dogs from 18.1 inch at the withers (18.1 in. and above).
• Drive category – high-speed dogs of such breeds as border collie, kelpies and specially developed sports mixes.
• Heavyweight category – molossers breeds and other dogs, which due to their pedigree and physical characteristics cannot develop high speed and show legerity competitive with other categories.
• Veteran category – dogs from the age of 8 years + 1 day of all sizes.
• Dogs of some breeds can be determined by the judge as into the Maxi category, and into the Heavyweight category depending on the dog’s build.

JUMPING:

The performance area for this discipline is a playing field 10 x 10 m.
Performance time – 90 sec.
During the performance two Puller rings are used.
A competing pair of a dog and a handler begins its performance in a 10 x 10 m zone.
The countdown and the beginning of the performance start only after the handler clearly hits a Puller against another twice (double clap with Pullers).
The performance comprises of alternately grabbing one of the Pullers by dog with the two or four paws off the ground. While grabbing the Puller, the Puller must be in the handler’s hand. After grabbing the ring with the dog’s mouth, the Puller can be released from the handler’s hand.
During the performance, the dog should demonstrate a clear change of position with the left/right sides of the body when changing the Puller rings.
During the performance, the dog should make a predominantly horizontal jump with a marked movement towards the Puller ring.
Within the 10 x 10 m performance zone, the handler and dog are not restricted in movements.
Handler can stand on his knees, but so that no part of his body is used by the dog as a barrier/obstacle.
If an athlete uses any part of the body as a barrier for a dog, the judges have the right to impose restrictions on a team acting in a similar way:

 from dividing the overall result by 2 to disqualification in this discipline. Information on judging measures is announced to all participants before the start of the discipline.

RUNNING:

Performance time – 90 sec. The number of throws is not limited. Two Puller rings are used.
A competing pair of a dog and a handler begins its performance in the central zone – the start zone.
The countdown and the beginning of the performance begin only after a clear signal from a handler – double Puller clap (hit one Puller against another).
The performance comprises of alternately throwing the Puller rings in different directions, so that a dog catches a rolling ring in the catching zone and brings it to the start zone. The Puller rings are thrown by a handler one at a time, each time in the opposite directions.
A rolling ring – a Puller ring that rotates and moves relative to the surface, i.e. are in contact with each other.
A Puller is considered to be “rolling” until the ring completely lies on one of its sides on the field (force majeure option – the Puller ring is stuck somewhere without movement – is regarded as a fallen Puller). If a non-moving Puller lying on one of its sides, or stuck somewhere without movement, was set in motion by a dog or any other extraneous impact, then such a Puller is not considered as caught in movement.
A Puller after a throw from the start zone must touch the surface of the field at least once before being caught by the dog.
A Puller thrown from the start zone must cross the line separating the run-up zone and the catching zone between the flags/cones indicating the corners of the square of the run-up zone.
After throwing a Puller, the handler can exit the start zone and does not entail a loss of the score.
A throw is considered to be successful if made by a handler strictly from the start zone.
Within the start zone, a dog can leave a Puller on the ground or give it directly to the handler.
The performance ends after 90 seconds. If the handler managed to throw a Puller before the end of time was announced, then even after the final whistle or announcement of the performance time ending, the point will be counted if the dog successfully catches the ring and returns to the start area.

RUNNING FIELD

RUNNING:
1 pt - When a dog catches a moving Puller, behind the mark of the 10-meter run-up zone and returns the Puller to the start zone. A Puller must touch the surface of the field at least once before dog catches it .

NO POINTS:
● dog leaves the start zone before Puller double clap.
● dog catches a Puller that does not touch the field surface at least once.
● Puller was dropped by a dog after catching outside the start zone (Puppy gets 1 pt.) .
● dog lifts a non-moving Puller (Puppy gets 1 pt.).
● Puller is caught within a 10-meter run-up zone.
● Puller is dropped by a dog after catching outside the start area, but was brought to the start zone (Puppy gets 1 pt.).
● Puller did not cross the dividing line and flags / cones.
● If the same Puller ring was thrown twice in a row .
● the Puller ring was thrown two times in a row in the same direction.

JUMPING:

2 POINTS - Jump with grabbing and four paws off the ground
1 POINT - Jump with grabbing and two paws off the ground. 

PUPPY SCORING:
2 POINTS - Jump with grab and two paws off the ground.
1 POINT - Puller ring change with a grip.

NO POINTS:
● Jump without grabbing.
● Jump without a clear grip.
● Vertical jump without marked change left/right sides of the body.
● Vertical jump without marked movement of a dog towards the Puller.
● Grab without a jump (separation of at least two paws from the ground).
● Handler’s move to / for marking up lines of the performance area 10 x 10 m.
● If during the performance the dog grabbed the same Puller ring twice in a row.
● If a dog did not grab the Puller ring and it was offered to it again once or repeatedly until it was grabbed with the mouth, then the result of the Puller ring grab is counted according to the rules.
● Non-visible, weak pulling of a Puller by a dog with an incomplete mouth.

JUMPING:

When jumping, direct the dog to jump behind the puller horizontally, not vertically, as “candles”. Landing after vertical jumps can negatively affect the joints of your dog. The judges have the right to stop the performance of the athlete, if the manner of jumping will be considered dangerous for the dog.

After capture a puller by a dog, it is not recommended to turn the dog in the air too abruptly, putting a jerky load on the cervical region. Such a technique can be considered by the judge as unsafe for the dog and measures can be taken at the discretion of the judge.

The puller shape protects the hand from accidental bites, but at the same time the puller must be held correctly, wrist is pointing down, and the elbow is pointing up. This position of the hand, when performing jumping exercises, is right and safe for a dog handler. Handler’s wrist always looks at the dog direction.

RUNNING: 

Throw a puller from the top, from behind the ear. It is desirable to hold with three fingers.

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Puller Ring Sizes 

JUMPING FIELD