Welcome to the first annual Ultimate Irondog Competition at Red Star. This page has been created to provide those interested in events attended by working dog enthusiasts with information about this two-day trial.

The Ultimate Irondog at Red Star 2002

Results

Day First. October 12, Saturday. Starting time: 3 pm

Personal Protection Surprise Scenario and Night Work Trial

Number of handler-dog teams entered – seven.

Breeds in attendance – GSD (3), Presa Canario (2), American Pit Bull (1), Cane Corso (1)

Number of Announced Exercises – four:

1.    Stand for Exam/Obedience Under Distraction

Dog is put on a table and approached by the judge who checks the dog's body over. Dog must be easily approachable, show good level of confidence and sociability.

After exam is over, dog must be heeled off-leash in a straight pattern past two suited decoys that are screaming and actively fighting each other. Dog must not charge the decoys who start "running away screaming in terror" as the team walks by.

Minnesota PD K-9 Zeus and Tony

2.    Canister Courage Test Handler/dog team enters the filed at a marked point, and are being threatened with an empty canister by a suited decoy. Judge orders the dog to be sent. The decoy blocks the dog with a canister in an attempt to prevent the dog from biting while using a canister as a weapon and a shield. Dog is judged on its hardness, determination, and its ability to overcome environmental stress.

Red Star Primo

3.    Man Stopper Dog is sent out across the field on an aggressive decoy that is charging full speed straight at the handler. Decoy tries to reach the handler as quickly as possible, and does so without any bite presentation. The objective is for the dog to either physically prevent the decoy from touching the handler or at least slow him down for as long as possible. The judge starts the stop watch from the moment handler sends the dog and stops the moment decoy touches the handler.

Left to right:(top) Zeigo, RS Primo, (bottom) RS Tianna, Ceasar

4.    Equipment Fixation Dog is sent out on a suited decoy who presents the dog with a sleeve while remaining in one spot. As soon as dog engages the sleeve the decoy works the sleeve for 5 or so seconds, then drops it and starts running full speed towards the handler. The judge starts the stop watch from the moment decoy drops the sleeve to the time the dogs releases the sleeve and engages the decoy.

RS Tianna and Cathy during the exercise

Number of Surprise Scenarios – four:

All team appearances were sequenced. We liked the element of surprise that each team had to deal with, because they had no prior knowledge of the scenario and couldn't observe performances by those who preceded them.)

1.    Road Rage/Car Jack

Handler and dog in a car drive onto the field and stop "head-to-head" with a car from which an aggressive decoy emerges. Handler is told to step out of the car by a yelling "angry driver" (suited decoy), while the dog stays in the vehicle. The aggressive decoy attacks the handler, and the dog must leave the car in order to protect the handler. While the dog is being dragged away from the handler by the first decoy, a second decoy attacks the handler aggressively, and the dog must redirect the bite onto the second decoy. In the meantime, a third aggressively yelling decoy attempts an assault on the handler and when it comes to the handler's defense, tries to block the dog with large stuffed garbage bag. Then a "police officer" arrives at the scene, and handler, after placing the dog back in a car is lead away to enter the "police car" to "file a report on the incident". In the meantime, one of the decoys re-emerges next to the handler's vehicle and attempts to get into it and "drive away."

Dogs were judged according to their ability to protect owner and property (car).

Mark getting ready to "steal" the police car	RS Tianna during car protection
Annabelle during car protection

2.    "In the Alley" Handler/dog team enters a corridor made up of haystacks and large cardboard boxes. As soon as they enter, an aggressive decoy appears n the other end of the corridor threatening the team. Dog must be sent so as to have to go over a tarp thrown over a wire fence part lying on the ground. Decoy catches the dog and presses it against another nearby solid wall. As soon as the dog runs out on the opposite of the corridor, over the tarp covering the fence, and engages the decoy, the fence piece is pulled up to separate the dog from the handler, who gets attacked from the back by another decoy. The dog must leave the first decoy and find its way back into the corridor to get to the second decoy and protect the owner. As soon as the dog engages the second decoy, the first runs up to the boxes and haystacks comprising the walls of the "corridor," and starts throwing them at the dog while it is engaged by the second decoy still trying to get through the dog to the handler. The dog was judged in its ability to overcome environmental stress, unfamiliar surface, hardness of pursuit, problem-solving ability, willingness to protect its owner at all times.

RS Tianna

Minnesota PD K-9 Zues and Tony

Annabelle and Kim

Axel and Paul

3.    Search /Startle Search Scenario is taking place after dark, there are multiple giant-size boxes, stacks of hay and two transport trailers set up in the area. One contains a bite suit and a radio placed so as to give an appearance of a hidden decoy receiving instruction via the radio. Another contains stacks of hay, which form a corridor with a turn, at the end of which a decoy hides. Handler and dog are instructed to find a decoy hidden away "somewhere on the course". As soon as the team finds the decoy, who jumps out in attempt to get to the handler, and the dog engages the decoy, an appearance of having completed the scenario is given by the judges and the crowd of on-lookers. The team is congratulated on finishing the exercise and is asked to follow the judge into a nearby building to wait for the next scenario to be set up on the scene they have just left. As the team approaches the building, the second decoy hiding behind the door is given instructions to attack the team as soon as they open the door while blowing a loud horn at the same time. Dog must engage and out after the second horn.

Minnesota PD K-9 and Tony

Annabelle and Kim

Axel and Paula

RS Primo and John

Dog was judged in ability to search effectively for a potential source of threat, apprehension skills, ability to operate under limited visibility conditions, and a fast clean out. Team was judged on ability to overcome stress of a surprise attack.

4.    Club Presa

Handler/dog team (dog is muzzled) approaches a canapé hung over a crowd dancing to a loud music. The scene is lit only by the flashing strobe lights. As soon as the team enters under the canapé, from the crowd an aggressive decoy (no equipment) emerges and attempts to attack the handler, dog must engage without hesitation. After 10 seconds or so the decoy runs away, muzzle is removed and a suited decoy attacks the handler from behind. The dog must turn away from the crowd and protect the handler.

Dog was judged on its ability to perform protection of owner, in muzzle demonstrating level of fighting drive as well as ability to regain composure and focus on handler protection while being startled and distracted by darkness, strobe lights, dancing crowd and loud music.

From the Judges to all Competitors Before Start:

First and foremost let's remember we are here to have fun and represent the working dog community in a positive light. Being that this is a surprise scenario trial, there are not a lot of rules we can explain to you without giving away too much, but this much we can tell you. Surprise Scenario means just that you are walking into a hostile neighborhood out there armed with only your PP dog and your brain, as soon as we tell you the competition has started, you must be prepared for anything and everything AT ALL TIMES. One more time to be perfectly clear, AT ALL TIMES!!! No excuses, no "I didn't understand", just like in real life your dog is supposed to be an asset - not a liability if a person threatens you or your property, he should act, if a person is non-threatening: no matter how distracting or annoying, he should remain under your control. It should be pretty clear out there who's the bad guy and who's not, but if you are confused, just think of real life and the thought of sending your dog on an innocent person. You are all brave people for being here today, you and your dog are going to be tested to the ultimate limits, and there are no losers, I'm sure every dog out there today will have trouble with one or two scenarios, don't get down if it's you just use it as a opportunity to learn and improve the relationship with your canine partner.

Good luck, we are now started - BE READY!!!

Personal Protection Surprise Scenario and Night Work Trial Top Three!!!