Rocky Mountain Ringers

Introduction to French Ring Sport

French Ring Sport is the one of the most exciting dog sports to reach North America, a dog sport involving Obedience, Agility and Protection exercises. It originated in France and has been developed to its present form since the turn of the century. Ring Sport exercises test the dogs working ability. A dog must be very sound both mentally and physically to compete in the advanced levels as it is highly demanding of both the dog and handler. Breeds authorized to compete in Ring Sport are:

Airedale - American Staffordshire Terrier - Beauceron - Belgian Sheepdogs - Bernese Mountain Dogs - Bouvier des Flaannnndrres - Boxer - Briard - Collie - Doberman Pinscher - Dutch Shepherd Dogss --- German Shepherd Dogs - Hovawart - Picard - Puli- Pyreneen - Rottweiler - SSSSchhnauzers Giant and Standard

There is also a "blue dog" class for beginning Ring sport enthusiasts. A "blue dog" may be any dog, even spayed or neutered.

There are four levels to be completed, Brevet, Ring I, Ring II and Ring III.

Here are the exercises required for each level: -

If you want to purchase a CRA Rule Book, please contact
the CRA's Commissioner of French Ring - Vince Nelles

Brevet

This is a Certification Test which when passed authorizes the dog to participate in French Ring Sport.
To pass the Brevet the dog MUST obtain a minimum of 80 points and receive at least 80% of the available points in each protection exercise.

Heel on leash, 4 points
Refusal of Food (1 piece), 10 points
Heel off leash with muzzle, 8 points
Down/stay, (1 minute, handler out of sight), 10 points
Defense of handler with gunfire, 30 points
Face (frontal) Attack, (30 Meters/15 seconds), 30 points
General Outlook (attitude of dog/handler etc.), 8 points

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Total 100 points

The Defense of Handler is an interesting exercise. The exercise starts with the handler and decoy approaching each other at a normal walk. The dog is heeling off leash, the handler and decoy stop, shake hands and chat, at the stop the dog should sit. The handler and decoy then continue to walk past each other. As the decoy passes the handler the dog may turn and walk backwards staying beside the handler, the dog is not allowed to attack the decoy until he had come back and actually made physical contact with the handler.

Ring One

The entrant must receive two scores of 160 points out of 200 under two different judges to proceed to Ring II .

1.0 meter hurdle, 12 points (fewer points for lower height)
Heel on leash, 4 points
Heel off leash with muzzle, 8 points
Down/stay, (1 min., handler out of sight), 10 points
Thrown retrieve, 4 points
Food refusal, (4 pieces), 10 points
Change of positions (6 changes, sit, down, stand at random, handler 18 meters), 20 points
Face attack, (30-50 meters, 15 sec. bite, out & recall), 30 points
Defense of handler, 30 points
Attack with gunfire, (3 gunshots as dog is going to bite, out & guard), 30 points
Fleeing attack, (50-70 meters, out/recall) , 30 points
General outlook,12 points

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Total 200 points

In the Change of Positions exercise the dog is left behind a line pre-marked on the ground. The handler gives the commands from a distance and as the dog changes positions he should not edge over the line or points will be lost.

Ring Two

The entrant must receive two scores of 240 points out of 300 under two different judges to proceed to Ring III.

1.1 meter hurdle, 16 points (fewer points for lower height)
Long jump 3.5 meter, 12 points (fewer points for shorter distance)
Palisade (climbing wall, 1.8 meters), 10 points (fewer points for lower height)
Heel on leash, 4 points
Heel off leash with muzzle, 8 points
Down or Sit stay, (1 min., handler out of sight), 10 points
Thrown retrieve, 4 points
Seen retrieve, (article dropped by handler, seen by dog), 8 points
Food refusal, (4 pieces thrown & several pieces scattered on field), 20 points
Change of positions (6 changes, sit, down, stand at random, handler 18 meters), 20 points
Face attack, (30-50 meters, 15 sec. bite, out & recall), 30 points
Defense of handler, 30 points
Attack with gunfire, (3 gunshots as dog is going to bite, out & guard), 30 points
Search, Bark, Hold, and Escort, 40 points
Fleeing attack, 30 points
General outlook, 28 points

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Total 300 points

The Food Refusal in Brevet and Ring I requires the dog to be in a down position, the handler leaves and the food is then thrown to the dog. Bricks of cheese and even raw meat may be used, and the dog must not touch the food. In Ring II and III it is a tougher exercise as food is also placed on the ground on the course. The dog may encounter a piece of food at any time while doing the exercises and should not avoid the food but just ignore it.

Ring Three

To remain in Ring III, the entrant must continually score 240 points out of 400.
If the entrant scores two scores within a trial year under 240, then they must go back to Ring II and re-qualify. Ring III's are rated as: Good 240-280, Very Good 280-320, Excellent 320-400.

1.2 meter hurdle, 20 points (fewer points for lower height)
Long jump 4.5 meter, 20 points (fewer points for shorter distance)
Palisade (climbing wall), 2.3 meters, 20 points (fewer points for lower height)
Heel on leash, 4 points
Heel off leash with muzzle, 8 points
Long Down or Sit, ( handler out of sight), 10 points
Thrown retrieve, 4 points
Seen retrieve, (article dropped by handler, seen by dog), 8 points
Unseen retrieve (article drop not seen by dog), 8 points
Food refusal, (4 pieces thrown & several pieces scattered on field.), 20 points
Change of positions (6 changes, sit, down, stand at random, handler 18 meters), 20 points
Send away (30 meters) , 12 points
Face attack, (30-50 meters, 15 sec. bite, out & recall), 30 points
Defense of handler, 30 points
Attack with gunfire, (3 gunshots as dog is going to bite, out & guard), 30 points
Search, Bark, Hold, and Escort , 40 points
Fleeing attack, 30 points
Stopped attack (same as Face, but call off must be at 2 meters or less for full points), 20 points
Guard of Object ( three attempts by Decoy to steal object), 30 points
General outlook, 36 points

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Total 400 points

The Guard of Object is a demanding exercise. The object must be a wicker basket, with a handle. The dog must not leave the object or let the decoy touch it. A 3 second touch is considered a stolen object, even if the decoy is just touching the object with a toe. When the decoy tries to take it the dog must attack and as the decoy leaves the object the dog must break the attack and return to guard the object.

All the exercises in Brevet are included in Ring I, all Ring I exercises are included in Ring II, and all Ring II exercises are included in Ring III. Each exercise gets progressively more challenging for the dog as it is moved up to the Ring III level.

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Last edited January 23, 2003
If there are corrections to be made on the information presented please E-mail Brenda with the correct information. It would be greatly appreciated!