Scoring and Explanation

For those of you that are not familiar with the NSTRA scoring/judging guidelines, here is a very basic explanation. The best way to learn more is to visit (and participate in) a weekend trial. For a detailed explanation and all the rules, you can view the current NSTRA Rule Book Here.

What is a Brace?

A brace is a randomly selected pairing of dogs who will run together in a specified field. Each Brace is 30 minutes long. Each dog/handler pair is assigned their own judge (they switch after 15 minutes or half the brace). In some trials the "bracemates" are competing directly against each other, but in most formats, they are competing for birds in the field with their bracemate, but their scores are compared against the entire field.

Scoring Explained by category:

Find Score

Scoring Range for Finds is 0 - 100 (scoring begins when the dog makes game)

Plus Factors:

Exceptional Style

Remains steady regardless of interference

Extreme intensity

Hard, slam point

Remains high and intent during long, difficult flush attempt

Good game location

Works scent intelligently

Minus Factors:

Flagging (tail 'wagging' during point)

Lack of intensity

Creeping (taking slow steps toward game)

Low tail

Down in front (high head, high tail is preferable)

Laying down

Retrieve Score

Scoring Range for Retrieve is 0 - 100

Plus Factors:

Quick location of downed bird

Quick pick up

Blind retrieve (dog did not see the bird go down, but trusts handler's direction toward it)

Snappy return to handler

Easy release to handler

Exceptional retrieves such as water or an extra long retrieve

Minus Factors:

Trouble locating bird

Slow pick up

Hard mouth

Indirect return

Unwilling release

Obedience Score (O)

Scoring Range for Obedience is 0 - 75

Plus Factors:

Displays immediate response to handler's commands

Consistently responds to handler

Minus Factors:

Failure to respond to handler

Ground Coverage Score (G)

Scoring Range for Ground Coverage is 0 - 100

Plus Factors:

Quick and thorough search for birds such as quartering

Sharp, classy movements

Minus Factors:

Pottering with ground scent

Running and not actually hunting, such as head racing

Not covering the ground thoroughly

Spending time out of bounds

Lack of enthusiasm

Back Score (B)

Scoring Range for Back is 0 - 75 (scoring begins when backing dog has the opportunity to see pointing dog)

Backing is also referred to as Honoring and is when a dog sees another dog pointing game and recognizes it by 'pointing' even though it cannot scent the game.

If there is no score, the dog did not have an opportunity to see a pointing dog. If there is a zero, the dog saw a pointing dog and refused to back.

Plus Factors:

Backs immediately upon seeing pointing dog

Dog is intent with good style

Remains intent until handler reaches dog to control him while pointing dog completes his retrieve

Minus Factors:

Lacks intensity

Flags (wags or moves tail), lays down, has low tail or is low in front

Looks at handler rather than at pointing dog.

Miscellaneous Scoring Stuff:

'/' in Retrieve score: no retrieve score given for that find. The bird was not located by the dog for whatever reason.

0 in the Retrieve score: dog found the downed bird but refused to deliver it to handler

'A' in Retrieve score: an average of retrieves will be given. This is primarily used when a handler/gunner is unable to shoot at a bird for safety reasons.

'INT' in Retrieve score: interference. the pointing dog is given an average of his scoreable retrieves due to interference by it's bracemate.

How to Become a Champion

REQUIREMENTS FOR CHAMPION CERTIFICATION

REGISTRY:

A dog must be enrolled in a recognized breed or field dog registry, approved by the National Shoot-To-Retrieve Field Trial Association Inc, officers and Board of Directors to be awarded the certificate of champion. (NSTRA recognizes the UKC, AKC (no PAL/ILP registered dogs), FDSB and CKC (Canadian Kennel Club) registries. However, regardless of which registry is used, the dog must be eligible to be registered in the one of the above mentioned registries as a recognized pointing dog breed to be entered in any NSTRA trial.)

POINTS:

Champion points must be accumulated by dog placement in field trials recognized by the National Shoot-To-Retrieve Field Trial Association, Inc.

CHAMPION STATUS:

Champion status shall be attained when a dog has accumulated a total of eighteen (18) points as follows:

Recognized Field Trial Winners:

(Based on 24-32 dog trial)

Three (3) points for winner

Two (2) points for second place

One (1) point for third place

All points received in the finals of Regional Elimination

Trials and/or NSTRA Championship Trials may be counted as first place points.

FIRST PLACE WINS:

A dog must have a minimum of nine (9) first place points in his total point accumulation.