news - 22/06/2006 Dog sport: Russian Ring - Russia
by Tatiana Nikitina Every year while exterior rings of the international dog show “White Nights” are taking place inside the exhibition hall, on the open area outside the exhibition centre is a competition called the “Russian Ring”, which is a series of events in protection training.
Standing order of the trial is limited with basic rules. However these trials raise great interest from the public and each year are different. A key challenge is testing a dog`s reaction whilst apprehending up to three judge’s helpers. With barriers, unusual ground coverings, added noise effects, unexpected behavioural patterns by helpers, the dogs are tested very thoroughly. Competitors are informed about the barrier system just one month before the trial.
This year organizers of the competition decided to make a water covering for the bite trial. A helper was not only standing in water, but also tried to scare the dogs off by making a lot of commotion in the water, and needless to say, getting very wet dogs in the process. Previous years helpers used pasteboard boxes as coverage, used noise and smoke effects, were dressed in plastic bags and impressive helmets, once on one trial there were used even bikes. Needless to say, that a spectacle of working dogs in these conditions is incredibly effective.
As a test for checking a dog’s behaviour and moderation, it first had to go through an applauding rank of helpers. And then had to patiently wait for a group of 4 helpers approaching from behind to gradually close in like a Venus fly trap around the dog and its handler.
Main participants are of course so called protection dogs – German and East European Shepherds, Dobermans, Amstaffs, Riesenschnauzers, Boxers and American Bulldogs. However sport has no borders. Once in a protection show a Grand poodle participated in the ring. It brought an ironic sneer at first on the faces of the public – as it is generally conceived, that such dogs are usually better suited to sitting on a sofa and powdering their noses. But the poodle worked excellently, and drew tremendous applause from the public. Such dogs don’t usually participate in the “Russian Ring” because this trial for them is particularly difficult.
Whole teams arrived to compete in the “Russian Ring”, from far and wide all over Russia. On the whole all dogs were prepared and trained at a good level, majority showed excellent moderation and control, though for some participants the water covering became an unexpected and impassable obstacle.
