What is French Ring? - continued
Face Attack: Dog is commanded to attack a decoy that is confronting the dog & handler from a distance. When commanded again, the dog must immediately stop biting and return to its handler.
Flee Attack: Dog is commanded to attack a decoy that is fleeing (or running away). When commanded again, the dog must immediately stop and return to its handler.
Defense of Handler: The dog attacks the decoy, without a command, when the decoy physically attacks the handler. Upon command, the dog releases the decoy but immediately guards the decoy until he is recalled back to the handler.
Attack with Revolver: The dog is commanded to attack a decoy that is confronting the dog & handler from a distance with a gun. Upon the signal from the judge, the handler commands to the dog to stop biting and guard the decoy. The decoy then tries to escape, and the dog must stop him without a command. This is repeated. Then the handler walks up to disarm the decoy and heels the dog away.
Search, Hold, and Bark: The dog leaves the field while the decoy hides in one of six “blinds”. The dog returns to the field and upon command, searches the field for the decoy. Upon finding the decoy, the dog must bark, but not bite. When the decoy tries to escape, the dog must stop him by biting. Once the handler disarms the decoy, the dog must “escort” the decoy around the field, not biting unless the decoy tries to escape. After three escape attempts in the escort, the dog guards the decoy while the handler puts the gun away and returns to collect the dog.
Stopped Attack: The exercise is identical to the face attack, except when the dog is within 1 to 4 meters of the decoy, the handler calls the dog back to him. The dog must not bite the decoy and immediately return to the handler.
Guard of Object: The handler places a basket within a marked circle and commands the dog to guard, then goes out of site. The decoy comes along and tries three times to steal the basket away from the dog. The dog must stop the decoy each time. As the decoy moves away from the basket, the dog must let go and return to guarding the basket without any commands.
Levels of Competition
There are 3 levels of competition, and an entry level temperament test in the sport of French Ring. Each dog must successfully complete the BREVET temperament test with at least 80% of the possible points, and at least 80% in each protection exercise. Once the dog has successfully completed their Brevet, then they are eligible to start competing in the levels of French Ring. The levels of French Ring are called Ring I, Ring II, and Ring III, with Ring III being the highest level. To obtain the title of each level, a dog must successfully pass 2 tests under 2 separate judges with at least 80% of the possible points. Once they have done that, they may move up to the next level, or they may choose to remain at that same level and continue to compete. The exercises and points for each category are as follows:
Brevet - need 80 out of 100 points
Heel on leash 4 points
Food Refusal (1 piece) 10 points
Heel with Muzzle 8 points
Long Stay (down) 10 points
Defense of Handler 30 points
Face Attack 30 points
General Outlook 8 points
Ring I - need 160 out of 200 points
Choice of one jump 12 points
Heel on Leash 4 points
Heel with Muzzle 8 points
Food Refusal (4 pieces thrown) 10 points
Long Stay (down) 10 points
Positions 20 points
Thrown Retrieve 4 points
Face Attack 30 points
Flee Attack 30 points
Defense of Handler 30 points
Attack with Revolver 30 points
General Outlook 12 points
