1. Wind

Wind, i.e. the sensitivity of the sense of smell to the wind of the game, is assessed on the basis of observation of the dog's work, e.g. when looking for game birds, smelling a hare in a valley or following its trail. When evaluating wind competition, breed-specific characteristics should be taken into account, e.g. Spaniels and Hunting Spitz tend to work upwind, while some German Flushes, Dachshunds and Hounds work downwind. 

​

Errors and assessment: criteria A mark of "4" can be given to a dog that clearly marks the presence of game from a distance of at least 5 meters in a favorable wind, does not avoid the animal without marking it, picks up the trail quickly and keeps it as long as possible. A dog that, with a favorable wind, misses the game several times without marking it, detects the game from a distance of less than 3 meters, loses the track on a distance shorter than 50 meters and does not find it on its own, cannot receive a score higher than "2" in this competition. 

​

2. Passion

Passion manifests itself in the desire to persistently seek or track game. It also manifests itself in the way of preaching the game or its trail. Here, too, the characteristic properties of a given breed should be taken into account, e.g. hunting Spitz do not announce the escaping, but only bark cornered game, terriers and dachshunds, in turn, bark passionately at the trail of unseen game.

​

3. Retrieving and marking game

Marking the presence of game is expressed by a dog with a significant slowdown in gait pace and lively action of the tail. 

​

4. Flushing

The area of flushing should be covered with thickets or trees with dense undergrowth (mid-field firehouses, copses or thickets). A dog launched against the wind into dry thickets should be prone to searching them and flushing game from them. During this time, the guide remains at the edge of the thicket. 

​

It should not be considered a fault if the dog, after a brief search of the undergrowth, comes to the edge of the undergrowth and, unprompted or encouraged, continues to search. Mistakes, however, are: leaving the bushes after a short stay in them and not wanting to start work again, and chasing the game, despite the handler's recalling the dog. 

​

5. Willingness to obey and cooperate with handler

Unconditional obedience is not required from a young dog, only a clear willingness to carry out received orders and to maintain contact with the handler while searching the area. If, on the judge's command, the handler fails to recall the dog within 10 minutes, the dog cannot receive a score higher than "0" in this competition. 

​

6.  Willingness to work in water

When working a dog in water, no coercion should be used. Instead, you can encourage him to go into the water by throwing pebbles into it so that the dog can see it. The more willingly and deeper the dog goes into the water after receiving an order without additional incentives (throwing pebbles), the higher the score it receives. The handler is allowed to throw pebbles three times, but each time the dog's grade is lowered by "1" grade. 

​

A "4" rating can be given to a dog that willingly enters the water and swims freely for a distance of at least 5 meters. A dog that does not enter the water within 10 minutes despite being encouraged receives a score of "0".