A.) Requirements for the employment as helper in phase “C”

1. The guidelines and regulations of the trial regulations regarding helper work must be followed.
2. The helper in phase “C” is the assistant of the judge on the day of the trial.
3. For his personal safety as well as liability reasons, the helper must wear protective clothing
(protective pants, protective jacket, sleeve, cup and if necessary gloves) when doing helper work
during training, trials and competitions.
4. The shoes of the helper must be suitable for different weather/ground conditions. The shoes must
provide the helper secure stance and good traction.
5. Before phase “C” starts, the helper receives instructions from the judge. The helper must perform
the helper work in accordance to the judge’s instructions.
6. The helper must follow the handler’s instructions during the disarming/search of the helper phase
in accordance to the trial regulations. The helper must give the handler the opportunity to put the
dog in a basic position before the side/back transport begins.
7. In club trials, it is allowed to work with one helper. If there are more than five dogs entered at an
examination level, it is mandatory to employ two helpers. At trials at a national level, such as
championships, qualification trials, etc. a minimum of two helpers must be used. In all these
events, it is permitted to use a helper who lives in the same household as one of the handlers.

B.) Regulations concerning the conduct of trial helpers:

1. In general:
During a trial, the judge is supposed to evaluate the training level and if possible the quality of a
dog (for example instinctive behavior, ability to cope with stress, self-confidence and obedience).
The judge can objectively evaluate what he/she visually and acoustically observes during the
course of the trial.
This factor and the aspect of maintaining fair trial conditions throughout the trial (which means
offering the same conditions for all participants, if possible) make it essential that the helper work
gives the judge a clear picture of a dog’s performance.
Therefore, it cannot be left up to the helper how phase “C” is structured. Furthermore, the helper
has to follow certain rules.
During the trial, the judge has to check the most important evaluation criteria concerning the
individual elements of the exercises during phase “C” of the trial. These elements are for example
the ability to cope with stress, self-confidence, instinctive behavior, obedience. Furthermore, he
must evaluate the quality of the grip of the dogs that are shown. Therefore, in order for the judge
to evaluate the quality of the grip, the helper must give the dog a chance to get a good grip on the
sleeve. Or, in order to evaluate the ability to cope with stress, it is necessary that the helper
inflicts pressure on the dog through corresponding action. Therefore, it is desirable that the
helpers perform the helper work in the most uniform manner possible, so that these elements can
be evaluated.

2. “Hold and bark” (examination level 1-3)
The helper stands –not visible for handler and dog- with slightly angled sleeve, motionless and
without threatening body posture in the assigned blind. The sleeve serves as body protection.
The helper is to watch the dog during the hold and bark. Additional motivation (agitation) as well
as help of any kind is not permitted. The helper is to hold the soft stick on his/her side, pointing
down. If a dog bothers or grips the helper, the helper may not react with any defensive
movements.

3. “Prevention of an attempted escape of the helper” (examination level 1-3)
After the hold and bark exercise, the helper is called out of the blind by the handler. The helper
steps out of the blind at a normal pace and takes position in a spot designated by the judge
(marked escape position). The position assumed by the helper must allow the handler to
put his/her dog in a down position to the side of the helper, in a spot designated by the judge, at a
distance of about 5 paces from the helper, so that the dog can assume the down position on the
side of the helper that is protected by the sleeve. It must be apparent to the handler in which
direction the helper is going to move for the escape bite. Upon a signal from the judge, the helper
makes a sudden attempt to escape at a fast pace and in a straight line, without displaying
exaggerated or out of control movements. The protective sleeve is not to be moved around in
addition to any normal movement to offer the dog an optimal bite. The helper may under no
circumstances turn towards the dog during the escape. The helper may have the dog in his/her
field of vision. The helper must refrain from pulling the sleeve away. As soon as the dog has a
grip on the sleeve, the helper continues to run in a straight line while pulling the sleeve, while in
motion, close to the body.
The judge determines how far the helper moves away for the escape. The helper stops the
escape upon receiving a signal from the judge. An adequately energetic performance of the
helper during the escape offers the judge an ideal opportunity for an evaluation. Any type of help
offered by the helper, for example excessive offering of the sleeve before the dog engages,
verbal agitation or hitting the soft stick against the pant leg of the protective suit before or during
the escape, holding the sleeve without the necessary tension after the dog engages, slowing
down as well as stopping the escape independently etc. is prohibited.
Stopping the exercise, see No. 8 (applies to all exercises)

4. “Defense of the dog during guarding phase” (examination level 1-3)
After the guarding phase, upon a signal from the judge, the helper makes an attack on the dog.
The soft stick is to be utilized by making threatening motions with it above the protective sleeve,
without hitting the dog. At the same time, the helper is attacking the dog frontally by driving the
dog forward with corresponding resistance, without additional movement of the sleeve. The
sleeve is to be held close to the body. Once the dog has a grip on the sleeve, the helper places
the dog, out of motion, to the side and the pressure phase begins in a straight direction. The
helper must drive all dogs in the same direction. Therefore, the judge must position
himself/herself in such a manner that it is possible to observe and evaluate how the dog acts
while attacking, during the pressure phase, evaluate the grip, the release and the guarding
phase. Driving the dog towards the handler is not permitted.
The hits with the soft stick are to be placed on the dog’s shoulders and in the area of the withers.
The intensity of the stick hits has to be the same for all dogs. The first hit is applied after 4-5
paces, the second hit after 4-5 more paces during the pressure phase. After the second stick hit
additional pressure, without stick hits, is to be demonstrated.
The judge determines the duration of the pressure phase. The helper stops the pressure phase,
on a signal from the judge. An adequately energetic performance of the helper during the attack
offers the judge an ideal opportunity for an evaluation. Any type of help offered by the helper, for
example offering of the sleeve before the dog engages, verbal agitation or hitting the soft stick
against the pant leg of the protective suit before the attack starts, holding the sleeve without the
necessary tension after the dog engages and during the pressure phase, inconsistent intensity
during the pressure phase and of the stick hits, stopping the attack independently if the dog
shows an insufficient ability to cope with pressure etc. is prohibited.
Stopping the exercise see No. 8 (applies to all exercises)

5. “Back-transport” (Examination Level 2+3)
The helper demonstrates a back-transport over a distance of about 30 paces, at a normal pace,
upon receiving an order from the handler. The judge determines the course of the transport. The
helper is not allowed to make any sudden moves during the back-transport. The soft stick and the
sleeve are to be carried in such a manner that they do not present an additional stimulation for
the dog. The soft stick in particular is to be carried out of the dog’s sight. The helper is to move at
the same pace for all dogs.

6. “Attack on the dog out of the back- transport” (examination level 2+3)
The attack out of the back-transport is performed out of motion, upon a signal from the judge. The
helper performs the attack by making a dynamic left or right turn and running energetically
towards the dog. The soft stick is utilized by making threatening motions above the sleeve. The
protective sleeve is to be carried in front of the helper, close to the body. Any additional
movement of the sleeve is to be avoided. Once the dog has a grip on the sleeve, the helper
places the dog, out of motion, to the side and the pressure phase begins in a straight direction.
The helper must drive all dogs in the same direction. Therefore, the judge must position
himself/herself in such a manner that it is possible to observe and evaluate how the dog acts
while attacking, during the pressure phase, evaluate the grip, the release and the guarding
phase. Driving the dog towards the handler is not permitted.
The judge determines the duration of the pressure phase. On a signal from the judge, the helper
stops the pressure phase. An adequately energetic performance of the helper during the attack
offers the judge an ideal opportunity for an evaluation. Any type of help offered by the helper, for
example the helper swerves extremely to one side before the dog engages, offering of the sleeve
before the dog engages, verbal agitation or hitting the soft stick against the pant leg of the
protective suit as the attack starts, holding the sleeve without the necessary tension after the dog
engages and during the pressure phase, inconsistent intensity during the pressure phase,
stopping the attack independently if the dog shows an insufficient ability to cope with pressure
etc. is prohibited.
Stopping of the exercise see No. 8 (applies to all exercises)

7. “Attack on the dog out of motion” (examination level 1 - 3)
On a signal from the judge, the helper leaves the assigned blind and moves to the centerline at a
normal walking pace (examination level 1) at a running pace (examination level 2+3). The handler
orders the helper verbally to stop.
The helper ignores the instruction – and
* from a walking pace goes directly over to a running pace and performs a frontal attack on
the handler and the dog while yelling and making threatening motions with the soft stick
(examination level 1).
* without interrupting the running pace, the helper performs a frontal attack on the handler
and the dog while yelling and making threatening motions with the soft stick (examination
level 2&3).
The dog must be caught with an elastic sleeve position, without the helper coming to halt.
When catching the dog, the handler must make a turn with his/her body – if necessary -- to
compensate for the dog’s momentum. Under no circumstances may the helper run around the
dog. Once the dog has a grip on the sleeve, the helper places the dog, out of motion, to the side
and the pressure phase begins in a straight direction. It must be prevented under any
circumstances to overrun the dog. The helper must drive all dogs in the same direction.
Therefore, the judge must position himself/herself in such a manner that it is possible to observe
and evaluate how the dog acts while attacking, during the pressure phase, evaluate the grip, the
release and the guarding phase. Driving the dog towards the handler is not permitted.
The judge determines the duration of the pressure phase. On a signal from the judge, the helper
stops the pressure phase. An adequately energetic performance of the helper during the attack
offers the judge an ideal opportunity for an evaluation. Any type of help offered by the helper, for
example slowing down while attacking, catching the dog while standing still, the helper swerves
extremely to one side before the dog engages, running around the dog, offering of the sleeve
before the dog engages, holding the sleeve without the necessary tension after the dog engages
and during the pressure phase, inconsistent intensity during the pressure phase, stopping the
attack independently if the dog shows an insufficient ability to cope with pressure etc. is
prohibited.
Stopping of the exercise see No. 8 (applies to all exercises)

8. “Stopping the exercise” (applies to all exercises)
The stopping of all defense exercises must be conducted in such a manner that the judge can
observe the grip, the out and the guarding phase of the dog (do not stop the exercise with the
back turned towards the judge, maintain eye contact with the judge). Upon stopping the defense
exercise, the helper must reduce the resistance against the dog. The helper is to stop the
stimulation through movement without noticeably relaxing the arm with the sleeve. The protective
sleeve is not to be carried high but remains in the same position it was in during the previous
exercise.
The soft stick is to be held on the side of the body pointing downward, invisible for the dog. The
helper is not allowed to provide any help for the dog to release. After the dog releases, the helper
maintains eye contact with the dog. Additional stimulation as well as help of any kind is not
permitted.
If the dog circles the helper during the holding phase, in order to keep an eye on the dog, the
helper is allowed to turn with the dog, slowly and without any sudden movements.

9. “Insecurities and failure of the dog”
The helper has to continue to pressure a dog that does not engage or comes off the sleeve
during a pressure phase, until the judge terminates the exercise.
The helper is under no circumstances allowed to provide any kind of help or stop the exercise
independently. Dogs that do not release, may not be influenced by the helper through body
posture or movement of the soft stick to release. The helper is not allowed to make dogs, that
have a tendency to leave the helper during the holding phase, stay with the helper by stimulating
the dog. In all the exercises or parts of the exercises, the helper must present himself/herself
active or neutral in accordance with the trial regulations. If a dog bumps or grips the helper during
the holding phase, the helper must avoid making defensive motions.