II. BSpurlaut Test

§ 14General

  1. The Spurlaut test is a strict test of innate ability. Because of the significance of Spurlaut for hunting, it is considered a critical test.
  1. All Teckel can be entered, regardless of age. They must, however, have passed the gun shyness test prior to taking this test.
  1. The number of dogs entered depends on the availability of hares, but will be limited to 15 dogs per group of judges regardless.
  1. The testing criteria are Nose, Spurlaut (tongue), Spurwille (eagerness) and Spursicherheit (steadfastness) on a hare scent in an open area. The dog undergoing the test is not allowed to see the hare. In spring, this test is only allowed to be performed until 30 April. Vegetation permitting, it should be completed by 31 March. All local and seasonal laws apply.

§ 15 Implementation of the test

  1. The judges and helpers walk in a driver line across the search area. The handlers and dogs to be tested follow some distance behind.
  1. After a hare has been bumped a handler, upon a judge’s direction, will go near the hare line and let his dog search off the leash. The judge shall proctor the handler and indicate the hare’s flight direction. The judge is permitted to assist the dog and handler in acquiring the scent. Once the dog has acquired the scent the handler is not allowed to follow the dog any further.
  1. Every dog is granted one attempt to prove its Spurlaut ability. The judges, to better evaluate the work of the dog, may permit a second attempt. Those dogs that still have not demonstrated Spurlaut even after the second hare may only be granted a third attempt at the judges’ discretion. The number of attempts to be awarded, however, depends on the total number of hares in the testing area.

§ 16 Performance Evaluation

  1. If a dog is permitted multiple attempts the highest evaluation counts. However, first prize may not be awarded to any dog that demonstrates Spurlaut on only the third attempt.
  1. The conditions of the grounds, weather and vegetation will be considered when evaluating the work.
  1. The evaluation is done in accordance with the following list of Fachwert- (weighting mulitpliers) and Leistungsziffern (point scores):

Nose Fachwertziffer -10

Spurlaut Fachwertziffer - 9

Spurwillen Fachwertziffer - 3

Spursicherheit Fachwertziffer - 3

The performances are to be evaluated as follows:

Ungenügend (unsatisfactory) Leistungsziffer - 0

Mangelhaft (insufficient) Leistungsziffer - 1

Genügend (satisfactory) Leistungsziffer - 2

Gut (good) Leistungsziffer - 3

Sehr gut (very good) Leistungsziffer - 4

§ 17 Requirements for the award of the Leistungsziffer (Lz) 4 - Sehr gut

  1. The Lz of 4 for Nose is only given if the dog works the scent fast and well for approximately 400m under normal conditions. This part of the test has special value since dogs that keep losing the scent, even in good wind conditions, are said to have a „short“ nose.
  1. The Lz of 4 for Spurlaut is only given if the dog is continuously vocal on the scent. Pauses in giving tongue because the dog has overshot the line and has to look for it again are not faults for the Spurlaut, since the dog is only supposed to be vocal when actively working the scent. In addition, it has to be noted that in this part only the presence of Spurlaut is taken under consideration, not the tone of the bark. Dogs that open up when they are also off the scent will not be awarded Lz 4. If the judges suspect that the dog is Waidlaut, i.e. opening up from excitement when no game is present, they have to test that dog in an area without any game. If their suspicion proves to be correct, the test is failed.
  1. The score of Lz 4 for willingness to track, Spurwillen, is only given if the dog keeps trying over and over again to work the scent it started. The dog has to demonstrate, by working in circles/spirals, that it wants to find the scent again and work it. Dogs that overshoot the scent and keep searching straight ahead will get a lower score in Spurwillen.
  1. The Lz of 4 for Spursicherheit is only given if the dog confidently works the scent without interruptions.
  1. The other scores are given according to the quality of the performed work.

§ 18 Awarding of Prizes

  1. First prize is awarded for the following minimum scores:

Leistungsziffer
(Score) / Fachwertziffer
(Multiplier) / Punktzahl
(Points)
Nose / 4 / 10 / 40
Spurlaut / 4 / 9 / 36
Spurwillen / 3 / 3 / 9
Spursicherheit / 3 / 3 / 9
Total Points: / 94
  1. Second prize is awarded for the following minimum scores:

Leistungsziffer
(Score) / Fachwertziffer
(Multiplier) / Punktzahl
(Points)
Nose / 3 / 10 / 30
Spurlaut / 3 / 9 / 27
Spurwillen / 2 / 3 / 6
Spursicherheit / 2 / 3 / 6
Total Points: / 69
  1. Third prize is awarded for the following minimum scores:

Leistungsziffer
(Score) / Fachwertziffer
(Multiplier) / Punktzahl
(Points)
Nose / 2 / 10 / 20
Spurlaut / 2 / 9 / 18
Spurwillen / 2 / 3 / 6
Spursicherheit / 1 / 3 / 3
Total Points: / 47