Derby Regulations

(1) The Derby is a breed test along with a natural ability test. It is used to determine the puppy's natural inclinations in the most important field categories and to assess the breeding values of the puppy's parents. 

(2) This test serves its purpose best when on one hand the training and preparation of the puppy are sufficiently advanced to show his natural abilities, but on the other hand, the handler's influence does not overly cover or mask the puppy's natural ability.

(3) The Derby training will be most successful when the puppy's passion for rabbits and their tracks has been sufficiently restrained during winter and early spring so that its attention can be introduced to game birds when they start pairing in spring before nesting. Therefore, Derby does not require work on the rabbit's track. However, an occasionally-shown manner of hunting and occasional very good work on a rabbit track will be noted. 

(4) Requirements for a Derby are large fields, containing a sufficient number of game birds. 

(5) The parents' breeding values are easier to recognize by testing as many littermates as possible. 

(6) Clubs and judges must be equally concerned with setting high, but reasonable, standards for the puppy's work -- in order to ensure the continued significance of the Derby prizes, ensuring the Derby test will remain a valuable breeding instrument. 

Organization of Test

The spring breed test -DERBY- may only be held in the spring. Execution is the club's task. 

(1) Each dog is tested individually in all categories, and is allowed several opportunities to prove itself. All relevant details are recorded in the report. 

(2) Afterward, the dogs shall be tested in braces selected by the judges, in order to determine under the most equal circumstances possible which dog knows best how to use his nose and therefore finds more game faster.

 The main emphasis of the spring breed test -Derby- is the determination of nose quality: fluid, persistent, and systematic search; quick finding; staunch pointing; and cooperation. Also, the determination of solid, level behavior and maturity is very important.

 The following will be tested:

Nose

Search

Pointing

Cooperation 

(3) The following will be observed and rated:

Desire to work

Obedience 

In evaluating the natural abilities of the Derby dog, it is essential to consider the youth and lack of experience of the dog, as well as any obvious beneficial or detrimental influence of the handler on his/her dog. 

Nose:

(4) In general, the nose quality can only be indirectly determined by close observation of a multitude of signs. Therefore, the evaluation requires great knowledge and experience by the judges in order to properly consider the respective circumstances such as vegetation, wind conditions, etc. The working manner of a dog with a fine nose is marked by the use of his nose. These dogs lean with their noses into the wind, briefly mark game or bird scent, find quickly, and point game confidently.

Search:

(5) The search should be brisk, methodically steady, and persistent but never hectic, unconcentrated, erratic, and sight-dominated. The manner of search should be determined by the use of the nose and the will to find game. The search will also be more highly rated the more it is adapted to the terrain and wind conditions. The use of a good search pattern, correct turning into the wind, and purposeful use of cover are as important for the evaluation as a tempo adapted to the terrain and a fluid, the style of the search allows conclusions as to the character, the calmness, and the well balanced personality of the dog. 

Pointing:

(6) The dog should point the tightly holding wild game bird by standing or lying down. Short marking is not sufficient. Only pointing of actual game is rated as pointing. Very good pointing is, among others, demonstrated by the dog which points staunchly or relocates running, not visible game without significant influences (by the handler). Repeated, convincing points without actual game is a sign of unsure pointing and accordingly rated. Running after fleeing game birds is not rated as a fault during the Derby. Pointing furred game may be substituted for insufficient game birds. 

Cooperation:

(7) Cooperation is demonstrated by how well the dog can be directed in the field, by the collaboration with his handler, and in the dog's readiness to voluntarily be of service to him/her. 

Desire to work and obedience:

(8) The desire and the obedience of a dog must be determined through careful observation during the entire test and must be considered when using discretionary freedom {Ermessensfreiheit} in assigning the predicate. 

Obedience:

(9) In contrast to cooperation, obedience is a form of direct submission, brought about by training. Obedience is demanded from the dog by the handler in a one-way communication. In Derby, the required obedience entails that the dog responds willingly to the handler's command or whistle, returns to the handler when called, and can be easily leashed, as long as it is not currently distracted by presence of game or scent. 

Desire to work:

(10) The desire to work is demonstrated in the ambition and enthusiasm with which the dog performs the required tasks. 

Evaluation of faults and gun sensitivity:

(1) The following is considered as a fault:

1.Intentional avoidance of game (blinking).

2.Repeated, convincing point without game present

3.Flushing of feathered game without prior marking, or overrunning game, if both is caused by insufficient nose.

4. Repeated, long-lasting rabbit chasing, thereby eliminating the dog from testing in the main categories of field work on game birds.

5. Flushing of game, following the marking of scent from afar, due to incomplete training, can often be used to evaluate the nose quality.

(2) To determine possible gun-shyness or gun sensitivity at least 2 shots must be fired during each dog's search, within at least 20 seconds of each other, from a distance not exceeding the gunshot range. See §10, (5), (7), & (8) of General Regulations. 

6

Rabbit Track:

(1) If a dog intentionally or unintentionally shows very good work in tracking a rabbit unseen by him, this will be recorded with the usual Andreas Star(*). This performance, however, does not influence the general evaluation.
(2) A claim to rabbit track does not exist.
(3) The only criterion for judgment is the will to track and the tracking reliability demonstrated. Manner of hunting [loudness] will be recorded. 

 Prize Assignment

7

(1) A prize I, II, or III will be awarded.
(2) In order to qualify for a Prize I, the dog's performance in the categories of Nose, Search, and Pointing must be rated as "very good" and in the category of cooperation as "good". For a Prize II all performances must have been at least "good" and for Prize III at least "satisfactory". Hence, the following minimum scores are required in each prize category. 

PERFORMANCE FACTORS TEST CATEGORIES:    PRIZE I      PRIZE II     PRIZE III

NOSE                                                                                        4                  3                  2

SEARCH                                                                                   4                   3                 2

POINTING                                                                                 4                  3                  2

COOPERATION                                                                       3                  3                  2 

(3) Dogs will not be ranked within categories.
(4) Dogs which successfully pass a Derby in their first year (breeding year), receive the notation (J) for "youth" behind the assigned Prize category e.g., DI(J)