The question of can a track and train collar be used for tracking only in a trial has come up
Posted by Joe Cammisa on 5/6/2021, 3:42 pm
The AFTCA States in the running rules THE sole purpose of using the retrieval/recovery device in a field trial is to assist the handler in finding a dog that may be lost or which is deemed no longer in judgment. The rules for the use of a dog recovery unit in all recognized stakes are as follows: 1. The collar and receiver are to be used as received from the manufacturer. No modifications are to be made to the collar other than a name identification plate affixed. The collar must have a flat surface against the dog’s neck. All components, including collar, are not to exceed nine (9) ounces. 2. Neither the handler nor the scout may carry a receiver while they are showing their dog in competition. All of their receivers are to be given to the judges or a person designated by the host club 3. ALL receivers in the gallery, including those in the possession of the host club’s designee, are to be 34 turned OFF. (No one in the gallery shall “track” dogs while under judgment). 4. No Outside communication — No one shall communicate in any manner with the handler, scout, judges or gallery members with any information obtained through use of a recovery device while dogs are under judgment. 5. A receiver may only be activated once judgment has concluded. If a dog is gone at time, that dog is still under judgment until such time as the judges indicate otherwise or the handler requests the receiver unit. 6. If a dog is lost from a previous brace, the handler or designee may use the receiving unit during the succeeding brace solely for the purpose of locating the lost dog. Once the dog is located the receiver is to be turned off. 7. The use of a recovery device is at the discretion of the host club. It is the handler’s responsibility, if they choose to use one, to furnish the device. The running of the stake shall not be held up due to the lack of a recovery device 8. While competing, a dog shall wear no more than two collars. If a handler elects to use a recovery unit, the collar shall remain on during the entire time the dog is under judgment. Removal of a recovery collar during competition will result in disqualification of that dog. 9. Companion collar shall be no more than 2 inches in width and not more than 5oz in weight, used as received from the manufacturer without alteration. The only addition is that of an identification name plate. 10. It is the responsibility of the handler to give the judge or club designee the receiver unit in the OFF position. A violation shall be the disqualification of the offending handler from the stake (handler’s remaining dogs in that stake may be run by a handler of their choosing should they elect to do so, but the violating handler cannot participate in any way in the remainder of that stake and the dog in that brace cannot be considered for a placement in that stake). 11. It is the responsibility of the host club to report in writing all violations of these rules to the American Field/Field Dog Stud Book. Failure to report violations can result in suspension of club’s ability to host Field Dog Stud Book recognized events. 12. Any person using a receiver to locate a dog currently under judgment and prior to its use by the host club’s designee shall disqualify that dog in the stake, and the offenders shall be disqualified from field trials.
The Grand National Grouse Club states: RETRIEVAL COLLARS
The locating receiver is to be used only when the dog is determined to be out of judgment.
No modifications are to be made to the collar other than a name tag may be added. The collar, one inch in width or less, must have a flat surface against a dog’s neck (no protrusions).
The collar’s transmitter, battery and antenna placed on the dog shall weigh no more than nine (9) ounces.
If a handler elects to use a transmitter on his or her dog, that collar shall remain on the dog during the entire heat. If the handler elects to remove the collar, the dog shall be considered out of judgment. In such case, only one other identification collar is permitted on the dog. i.e. Bell collar.
The hand-held locating receiver shall be turned off, and kept in the possession of the judges and/or their designee while the dog is in judgment.
If at any time during the series (brace) a handler asks to, or actually turns on any telemetric receiving device (Tracker, GPS, Cell Phone, Smart Watch, etc.) that dog shall be deemed out of judgment.
The Handler, Scout etc. of a lost dog may not proceed in front of his or her brace mate while the series is still under judgment without a judge’s approval. (See running rule #25 OUT OF JUDGMENT).
The running of the stake shall not be held up due to lack of available equipment.
Any person using a receiver to locate a dog currently in judgment prior to official authorization of its use by one of the judges shall disqualify that dog in the stake and the offenders shall be disqualified from field trials.
The Grand National Grouse Championship Inc. is not responsible for the loss, damage, or replacement of any retrieval collar, or receiver, or providing these items during their events
The question came up this past week, I spoke with the American Field and this should clear up the matter.
A collar cannot be modified so the Track and Train collar cannot be used, only a collar designed for tracking only may be used.
Simply taking the studs out does not allow the T&T collar to be used as it can still be toned or vibrated.
Re: The question of can a track and train collar be used for tracking only in a trial has come up
This technology is a really prickly issue. I guess it is appropriate to go very slowly and carefully.
There are wrist watches available now that can mate up to the receiver, so that all the wearer has to do is glance at their watch and they know where the dog is. As I understand it, the wrist watch must be in reasonably close proximity to the receiver... for now.
Who knows where this technology will be, in terms of remote capabilities, in the future, with cell phones and who knows what?
We can operate drones and conduct combat missions, missile attacks and such, right now...from half a world away. The drone pilot is in a secure facility in the USA and the drone is flying in Afghanistan. Who knows where this stuff will be ten years from now?
RayG
Re: The question of can a track and train collar be used for tracking only in a trial has come up
Right on Ray. A couple of years ago a few of us had fun on a bird dog forum speculating about a "techno trial". For this trial, the birds will be outfitted with GPS and their locations known. The dogs will run with trackers and at the conclusion of a brace, the dogs' finds, bird handling, ground race (mapped on Google Earth satellite view), will be evaluated by examination of the data. Maybe it would be possible to have an AI algorithm do the judging and come up with a composite score.
Anyway, it is now poosible to put an Apple Air Tag on the tracking receivers so the jusges should not feel anxious about losing them. Solon Rhode