Super Retriever Series Club Rules

All rules stated below will be in effect for the remainder of the 2010/2011 Super Retriever Series. All decisions made by the Series director and/or Series officials will be final in all matters. The Series director and/or Series officials may make a change to these rules when the safety of a team or the integrity of a specific test or the Super Retriever Series is in question.

New for 2011
• SRS Club events will receive 1 Crown Championship entry for each 20 dogs per division.
• Club events have the option to use real ducks or cock pheasants at their discretion. There will be no mixing of artificial training birds and real birds in an event.

Basic Rules
• Retriever will walk at heel, off of lead, to and from the line or as instructed by the judges.
• Handler will signal when ready before the test begins, unless the judges' instructions are different.
• Handler should refrain from touching his or her dog after they remove the lead.
• Hand, voice or whistle commands may be used by the handler at any time.
• Handler will be allowed to point out the guns in "trial like" scenarios only.
• Training aids will not be permitted on the grounds with the exception of leads, leashes and flat buckled collars.
• Upon completion of each run (if designated) the team will proceed to honor the following retriever. The honor dog and handler are still under judgment and may be scored accordingly.
• The use of hand, excessive voice or whistle commands will not be permitted while honoring.
• The handler is encouraged to communicate with the judges before the test begins regarding any unclear instructions.
• When gun handling, it's paramount to use the gun as if it were loaded. Be safe.
• Judges' decisions are final.
• Bitches in season are not allowed on the grounds.
• Should a competitor bring a female in season to the line they they will be disqualified, forfeit their entire entry fee, and will be suspended for the remainder of the SRS season.

SRS is judging a team's ability to do the following
1. Handle any test, trial and/or realistic hunting scenario
2. Marking and memory
3. Line/Blind Manners
4. Control

Running Rules
Every SRS event will include the following:
1. A "Trial Like Scenario". Handlers will be permitted to wear white coats at the line and bird boys will be relatively exposed to both retriever and handler before each mark is thrown. No less than 75% of the marks will be "marked" with an attention getting shot.
2. A "Hunt Test Like Scenario". Handlers will wear black or tan. Marks may or may not be accompanied with an attention getting "call" or "shot". Distances should be taken into consideration and marks exceeding 175 yards are encouraged to be accompanied by an attention getter. Judges may require a handler to use a shotgun with or without a primer. No poppers will be shot within 10 feet of a retriever in any series, although the use of primers at the line is encouraged in hunt test scenarios.
3. A "Hunting Savvy Scenario". Handlers will wear attire harmonious with the hunting environment. This may or may not include camouflage shirts/jackets. The judges will determine and announce what the handling attire will be upon delivery of the tests mechanics to the handlers. Decoys, blinds, boats, guns and extremely realistic scenarios are strongly encouraged.

***Each event will contain a minimum of 4 testing scenarios. The combined lowest score from all 4 series will be the winner. In the case of a tie, a single series run off will be used to determine a winner.
Basic points are accumulated on a 2, 5 and 10 point scale. If additional or non-traditional scoring is to be used by the judges, every handler should be clearly notified prior to the start of that series. (Often times judges may determine that an infraction is so severe that if committed, the handler should be dropped immediately or the infraction will result in extreme penalty points.)

10 Point Faults
• Avoidance - A handler does not attempt to challenge the test set forth by the judges.
• Controlled Break - A retriever leaves before showing steady.
• Handle to the Area - A retriever must be handled to the area of the fall.

5 Point Faults
• Excessive Creeping - Retriever moves across the line before being cast
• Excessive Verbal Commands - handler speaks in a intimidating manner towards the retriever
• Excessive Vocalization - A retriever is expected to remain reasonably quiet at the line
• Leaving the Area of Fall - Once the retriever has made the area of fall/AOF, the retriever is expected to hunt within the AOF until the bird has been picked-up .
• Popping - A retriever turns to the handler for help prior to a whistle being blown.
• Re-Cast - Retriever has a "no-go", and must be sent/cast again - upon second refusal team will be automatically dropped.
• Unnecessary Disturbance of Cover - This penalty may also be applied if a retriever is out of sight for an extended period of time
• Unsafe Gun Handling - Handler uses gun in a manner that threatens the safety of those around him/her
• Wandering - Retriever is allowed to wander/hunt outside the area of fall.
• Whistle Refusal - Retriever does not respond to handler's sit whistle. All casts other than a "come-in whistle" will be preceded by a "sit whistle"

2 Point Faults
• Cast Refusals - Retriever must improve their position to the target whether a mark or blind retrieve. All casts will be preceded by a "sit whistle."
• Handling Box Violation - Handlers are expected to handle the retriever from within the boundaries of the box, blind or boat when instructed by the judges.
• Poor Line - A retriever's line to a mark or blind is untrue. Judges are heavily encouraged to adapt a "wait and see" approach to scoring lines to marks.
• Unsteady - A retriever is expected to remain still--other than repositioning to view a mark. Retrievers are also expected to walk closely and calmly at heel to the line.
• Whistles - every whistle before a bird has been picked-up with the exception of a "come in" whistle. (which shall be judged as a cast)**(All casts will be preceded by a "sit whistle")

Each and every penalty may be applied in succession depending on the severity of the error.

Automatic Disqualification
• Uncontrolled break
• A retrieve of a poison bird out of order
• Sportsmanship unbecoming

Competitors' Meeting
All competitors are encouraged to attend the competitors' meeting prior to the beginning of the competition. At this meeting, the handlers will receive the running order and will be required to sign an indemnity and liability waiver. Handlers are encouraged to "question" any and all running rules at this time.

SRS Scenarios
An SRS Event is a hybrid event. We have nothing set in stone on distances. There are no parameters on where a bird will fall in hunting scenarios, so there are no parameters on where birds will fall within SRS.
• The longest mark ever in a SRS was a true 535 yard mark.
• Lots of short birds at 3 feet.
• We have thrown at least one "quint" - 5 birds without a delay. We have had just about everything imaginable at one point or another. Judges are encouraged to create a fun, yet challenging scenario. SRS judges should strive to showcase the very best of the best the retriever world offers in testing.

Amateur Qualifications
• Handler must not receive monetary compensation for retriever training.
• Handler cannot have been a professional retriever trainer within the last year from the start date of the event they are competing in.
• A professional retriever trainer may not be listed as owner or partial owner of a dog in the Amateur competition.

An Amateur handler may handle up to two other dogs other than his own retrievers, provided that the retriever(s) are owned by an amateur.

Special considerations may be made with the approval from the 5 member SRS Running Rules Committee. Rody Best, Scott Greer, N.P. Larson, Clint Johnson, Richard Mills and Justin Tackett. If you have a question regarding Amateur Status please contact the committee at

Dress Code
• All handlers should wear attire suitable for a national television audience.
• If a "white coat" is used by the judges in the field in a marking and/or blind scenario, then it is at the handler's discretion to also use a "white coat/shirt" while handling in that scenario.
• If handlers are required to operate from a "blind" (boat blind, ground blind, or stationary blind) then hunting camouflage should be worn by the handlers during that series. Patterns typically used in a "snow environment" will not be allowed, unless it falls within the proper scenario.
• Handlers will wear black and or tan in all other testing scenarios.
• All caps and hats must be harmonious with the sporting lifestyle.
• Because you and your retriever may be tested in standing water, waders are recommended.

Other Rule Changes
• Although both Professionals and Amateurs will run the exact same tests together, the Professionals will only compete against the Professionals and the Amateurs will only compete against the Amateurs
• Top 12 Pro Scores and Top 12 Am scores will advance to the 3rd series.
• Top 6 Pro Scores and Top 6 Am scores will advance to the 4th series.
• A random running order with influence will be generated automatically 5 days prior to the event. "Influence" simply describes the fact that we will take multiple dog handlers into consideration while creating the running order.
• Only the top 3 Professionals and top 3 Amateurs from each qualifier will advance to the Crown Championship in a "SRS Classic" format. SRS Club events will receive one SRS Crown Qualifier and an additional qualifier for every 30 teams up to a maximum of three qualifiers - Example: 1-30 teams = 1 qualifier, 31-60 teams = 2 qualifiers, 61 teams and up = 3 qualifiers. (The SRS Club format is an SRS event hosted by a Club or Group) For more information on SRS Clubs please see "SRS Club Event Rules")
• Crown Championship will have a $225.00 entry fee. 100% will go back towards the payout and combined with the SRS qualifying dollar pool. SRS Crown Championship pool will payout 1st through 4th Place. (Final Four) Sporting Dog Team of the year will take 10% of the SRS Crown Championship pool.

Judges Requirements
SRS judges must be looked upon as knowledgeable and trustworthy and be in good standing in the hunting and retriever communities.

Scratch Policy
Entry fees will be refunded only if you can provide a vet slip to the marshal or other official prior to the competition.