PART THREE: CRITERIA FOR JUDGING

Article 12. First Criteria: Hunting Instinct/ Handling. The Judge will evaluate the enthusiasm and the desire of the dog while in search of birds, without attaching too much importance as to the manner or style, making sure that the dog is well utilizing its nose in search of the game. The handler may use verbal, hand and/or whistle commands to handle the dog during the test. Excessive verbal, hand and/or whistle commands will result in a failure of the TAN. The Judge has sole discretion over what is considered excessive.

A dog that runs out of control of the handler and which cannot be brought immediately under control shall be deemed to exhibit a lack of hunting instinct, shall not receive a passing score and shall be deferred for TAN certification.

Training aids such as, but not limited to, check cords, shock collars, dummy collars, choke/pinch collars, whips, prods, canes, and crops may not be worn by the dog or used by the handler on the grounds during the day of the test. Exceptions are that dogs not kenneled must be leashed, held on a check cord, or staked out before and after the test. It is the Judge's decision if dogs will be allowed to wear a non-training type collar while testing, local and state laws permitting.

Article 13. Second Criteria: Demonstration of Pointing Instinct. The dog must establish a point on at least one designated game bird during the TAN hunt. However, other mistakes will not cause elimination or deferment of certification. The handler may not command the dog to point. A dog that fails to establish a point shall not receive a passing score and shall be deferred for TAN certification. The point should be for a minimum of three seconds and may be measured by being counted as "One thousand one, one thousand two, one thousand three".

Article 14. Conduct After Point Established. After the point is established, a lack of experience, restraint or discipline (dog which flushes, which seizes the game, or which chases it) will be considered a demonstration of great passion and the dog will not be penalized.

Article 15. Third Criteria: Reaction to Gun Fire. The Judge must determine that the dog is not gun shy. At the flushing of the game bird pointed by the dog, a starter pistol or shotgun with blanks will be fired by the Judge or at the Judge's direction. Acknowledgment of the shot will not be penalized, but the demonstration of gun shyness will not be allowed. A gun shy dog shall not receive a passing score and shall be deferred for TAN certification.