October 2015
General Information: 
  1. Dogs are not allowed to trial in bandages or braces.
  2. Dog must present in a healthy , good physical condition.
  3. During the dumbbell toss it is not faulty if the handler's outside foot moves to help throw the dumbbell if it does not affect the dog in basic position.
  4. Dogs should be calm going to critique spot. Dogs should be at a sit or down only during critique. The handler should not be playing with or overly praising the dog during the critique. Handlers need to remain on the field until both competitor critiques are completed.
  5. Only AWMA members my post a scorebook bond for entry into an AWMA trial.
  6. All dogs entered into a AWMA trial must be able to be identified by tattoo or microchip.
  7. Regarding motivational objects: No motivation objects can be in the handler's possession at any time on any trial field (i.e. trial field or tracking field). During tracking the area where motivational objects are allowed is the designated parking area.

Tracking:
  1. It is not faulty at the start of the track for the dog to be slightly ahead of the handler as they approach the track (no more than the body length of the dog) as long as the dog is calm. No holding the collar as team approaches start of track.
  2. The handler may approach the dog from either side to pick up the article, BUT they must then restart the dog from the SAME side they showed the article.
  3. Praise is only allowed before or after picking up the article, not both.
  4. The dog must release / give the article with 3 or fewer commands or it will be DQ.
  5. The dog may be downed by the handler with the judge’s permission during the track for wild game or with judge's permission to untangle line in the legs. The restart is done with the handler at the END of the line if downed for game. If downed to untangle, the handler goes to the dog, untangles the line then returns to the end of the line to restart from there.

Obedience:
  1. Normal walking is required during all obedience heeling. Normal walking is a natural walk with both arms moving.
  2. Normal basic position for the handler is when both hands are at their sides, in a natural position. If they are outside of the dog or between the dog and handler’s body is not important as long as the position is not influencing the dog.
  3. A vocal (whining/barking) dog during an obedience exercise must be faulted. Deduction should be taken off of each exercise that is faulty. This behavior in tracking or protection is also faulty.
  4. The "voraus" point deduction is minus 1.5 for slow response to first command, and an additional minus 2.5 for second command and an additional minus 3.5 for the third command and all points are lost for the dog that goes to end of field or returns to the handler.
  5. Handler may not bend down when sending dog on voraus. Hand has to stay above dog, no overly stimulating motion, change of pace etc.
  6. If the handler cannot throw the dumbbell over the jump and wall after three attempts dumbbell exercise is scored with "0" points “M”.
  7. No points are awarded in the hurdle or scaling wall unless the dog retrieves and goes at least 1 direction over the hurdle or wall. The dog must do 2 of the 3 parts of the exercise and 1 of the parts MUST be the retrieve.
  8. Obedience field must be marked. Markings are, start position and 5 pace min marks for jump and wall (handler may be further back than 5 paces) and long down.


Protection:
  1. The protection field must be marked for the call out, escape down position, helper position.
  2. A very wide blind search that takes the dog off the field in its wide sweeping turns is out of control and is a DQ.
  3. If a dog enters the blind for the hold and bark and continues to grip the helper the handler will be called to the call out position and allowed one command “hier-foos” to call the dog out . The dog must release and come to the handler , if “out” is used or the dog does not come out to the handler it is DQ.
  4. In the escape if the dog is over the line when downed then the handler will be asked to call the dog back to basic position behind the line and downed correctly to be pointed accordingly. If the downing dog is not behind the escape line, but has contact with the line the dog is allowed to continue but the rating will be lowered 1 category.
  5. If the dog leaves the handler during the back transport to go to helper, the helper and handler must stop and the handler has only ONE command to recall the dog. If the dog does not return to the handler it is a DQ. If the dog breaks to the helper in the back transport and grips the helper it is a DQ.
  6. In both side transports if the dog falls out of position from between the handler and helper the team and helper must stop and the handler is allowed 3 commands to reposition the dog between the handler and helper and the transport continues. If the dog will not return to position the protection is DQ.
  7. In the “watching position” for the dog in the “Attack on Dog Out of Motion” the dog should sit calmly. The handler may hold the dog’s collar but giving additions commands to the dog prior to the release is faulty. More than 3 commands is DQ.
  8. If the dog is released or breaks free in the “Attack on Dog Out of Motion” before the helper has made the turn towards the team it is DQ, If the dog is released or breaks free after the helper makes the turn but before the judge has signaled the exercise is faulty.
  9. At the end of protection the dog must heel at least 5 paces away from the judge and helper, and the dog should be at the sitting position to be put back on line.
  10. During the critique the dog is to sit or down calmly beside handler. Handler should stand calmly.
  11. If the dog breaks away from the handler and makes contact with the helper or cannot be recalled under control until after the critique the protection is DQ.
  12. Explanation of the Transition Phase ( from fighting to out) - It starts when the helper stops the pressure and starts to slow into a lock up and ends when the helper is completely locked up (this is then the start of the out phase). It is important to see the same grip quality through the transition phase.