Small Pack Section

Roll Call -— After the posted deadline and before packs are announced, roll call is to be taken. Roll call should be taken by calling out each dogs entry number. Names of hounds and names of handlers are not to be used.

Colored Collars -— In each pack sent to the field, all dogs must wear colored collars to be more easily identified by the judges. Dogs should be collared in the order in which they were drawn to their pack. The suggested collar order is red, white, blue, green, yellow, orange, black, pink and silver. Since it is permissible to wear Shocking and/or Tracking Collars in all U.K.C. events, when necessary collar order may be deviated from to match collar colors.

Drawing of Packs -— After all dogs are measured then numbered, dogs must be drawn to their assigned packs in a public random drawing. A bingo ball type drawing device is recommended, however any device that insures a random draw is acceptable. This drawing must be completed for each series leading up to the Winners Pack. The hounds must be run in packs as drawn regardless of ownership. All packs must be run in the order in which they were drawn.

Pack size is not to exceed 7 dogs, with the exception of the Winners Pack which can be up to 9 dogs. Dogs must be drawn into the least amount of packs as possible. In the case where a class has less than 5 entries, the class must be combined with the opposite sex class. If the classes are combined for low entries, any entrant has the right to request a refund. The largest packs should always be ran before the smallest packs. For example, 7 dog packs should always be ran before any 6 dog packs. Packs should be broke down as shown on page 28 of the Official UKC Hunting Beagle Rulebook.


Authority and Responsibilities of a Small Pack Judge

1. A Judge may disqualify any dog for unsportsmanlike actions by the owner or handler.

2. Judges shall, at any given time select all, any or none of the hounds from a given pack for further consideration. Judges may at any time order up any faulty hound that is interfering with the smooth running of the pack. Judges may at any time pick up a dog that is not positively contributing to the pack.

3. Judges have the right to withhold placement and/or Championship points if, in their opinion, there is not a dog entered that is worthy of placement.

4. Judges are responsible for their own conduct and appearance which should always be becoming to a Judge.

5. It is the responsibility of the licensed Judge to keep up to date on any changes to the rules and procedures.

6. A Judge shall not ask: 1) who owns a dog, 2) who a dog was purchased from, or 3) how a dog is bred, while judging a trial.

7. A Judge is not to be influenced by any person or that person’s actions.

8. Judges must accurately report their decisions to the recording secretary at the conclusion of each series to let the handlers know which dogs will be evaluated in the next series or final placement in the trial.

9. Judges must come to an agreement between themselves prior to casting the hounds on the system they will use to evaluate hounds.

10. Judges must come to an agreement between themselves on the placement of the class and the advancement of hounds to subsequent series.

11. The Judges decision with respect to any part of the judging of a class is final.

12. Judges shall make sure that each pack is evaluated in a timely manner. All hounds should be evaluated as long as the Judges feel it is necessary to accumulate enough score on the pack. There is no limit to how many dogs can be picked up at any one time from a given pack. The number of dogs eliminated from consideration at one time is left up to the Judges. Classes may be held over when unforeseen circumstances prevent a final and accurate judging of a class.

13. Judges have the right to instruct handlers to handle their dogs in order to keep the pack together, find new game or ground, deal with cases of interference, etc.

14. Judges shall work together with the host club to insure that qualified Marshalls assist them with hounds and the control of spectators and handlers. A Judges Marshall should not, when possible be a Marshall for a pack in which he has a hound entered. It is acceptable for a Gallery/Roving Marshall to have a dog in a pack which he is a Marshall.

15. Judges shall give 15 minutes before disqualifying a hound that is late for his pack.

16. When hounds appear to be running game, the Judge must allow it the opportunity to prove whether or not it is true. Judges shall not penalize or fault any hound without ample proof. If doubt exists, hounds shall be given the benefit of the doubt.

17. In the judging of any particular Series, Judges shall disregard all score from previous Series.

18. Judges shall insure that all hounds are free casted to search for game.

19. Judges shall insure that a marshal or club appointed individual shall fire a starter pistol in the close proximity of the hounds to test for gun shyness. It is suggested that hounds be fired over previous to the winners pack when possible. The starter pistol should not be fired unless all of the hounds on the ground are pursuing and opening on a rabbit track. Any hounds found to be gun shy, must be eliminated from consideration.