Honour dog leaves the honour position to go sniff or return to the truck and shows no interest in the action in the field nor interferes with the working dog as it races out to pick up a mark. The judges have not released the honour dog yet either because the working dog has not reached a pre-agreed distance from the line or the judge wants to see at least one bird returned to hand by the working dog. The judges have given the handler of the working dog his/her number.
Question #1 Has the honour dog incurred an infraction by moving before being released? If so what penalty?
Question #2 Is the handler of the honour dog permitted to speak to his dog after the working dog has been given a release by the judges and in turn the handler has released his working dog to retrieve a mark in a field trial?
Question #3 Is there a penalty to the honour dog who lays down at the honour position?
For the many hunt test folks and field trial folkswhat does your rule book say?
Question #1 Has the honour dog incurred an infraction by moving before being released? If so what penalty?
Question #2 Is the handler of the honour dog permitted to speak to his dog after the working dog has been given a release by the judges and in turn the handler has released his working dog to retrieve a mark in a field trial?
Question #3 Is there a penalty to the honour dog who lays down at the honour position?
For the many hunt test folks and field trial folkswhat does your rule book say?