Running Rules

1. Annual Stake

The International Cover Dog Futurity (ICDF) shall be run annually in natural grouse and woodcock cover in the northeast, over multiple courses. The ICDF will be run under the direction of the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors, and shall be sponsored by the Northern New Hampshire Bird Dog Club, Inc. Successive Futurities will be designated by consecutive numbering; thus First, Second, etc.

The ICDF shall be run at a time and place selected by the Executive Committee (see Article VI of the bylaws). The Chairman shall complete supervision of the stake, including not only the actual running, but all arrangements for local publicity, entertainment, accommodations, etc. The Chairman may appoint such assistants and/or local committees as he may consider necessary.

2. Eligible Dogs

All dogs of pointing breeds that are registered in the Field Dog Stud Book born on or after January 1 of the preceding year (if run in fall), or January 1 of 2 years preceding if run in spring; and whose Dam Nomination, Litter Nomination, Puppy Forfeit, and Entry Fee have been paid in accordance with the prescribed method set fourth by the ICDF; shall be eligible for competition in this stake. Determination of the eligibility of any dog shall rest with the Secretary of the ICDF, or in their absence, the Chairman.

3. Closing Date

Entries shall be closed 7 days in advance of the running to allow the Secretary to confirm eligibility of the dogs entered. Late entries, on payment of an additional fee set by the ICDF, shall be accepted if accompanied by proof of eligibility.

4. Winners

If there are less than 16 starters, there shall be 3 placements. If 16 or more starters there shall be 4 placements.

5. Judges

The Executive Committee shall select the judges and decide on their number. If a judge fails to keep his engagement, a substitute shall be named by the Chairman.

The judges shall have full charge of the running of the dogs and control of the handlers, subject only to the bylaws, running rules and judicial standards.

6. Length of Heats

The dogs will run 30 minutes in the first series, with any subsequent running at the discretion of the judges.

It shall be required that all winners have bird work. The Chairman shall, if such bird work has not been had at the conclusion of the first series, request the judges to continue the running until that objective has been obtained. As a last resort, if wild birds are too scarce to meet the objective, propagated game shall be released to meet this objective.

No dog shall, without consent of handler, be required to run twice in 1 day.

7. Shooting

All dogs placed in this stake must have been shot over with a blank gun of .32 caliber or greater under conditions that satisfy the judges that the dog is not gun shy.

8. Out of Judgement

The disqualification of a dog for refusing to handle, interference with bracemate or being out of judgement shall rest with the judges. In general, a 10 minute absence should be considered excessive, and interference with bracemate should not be allowed.

9. Backing

Failure to back shall not adversely affect a dogs standing in this stake. Failure to back that results in interference with bracemate should be considered in bracemates standing.

10. General Conditions

It shall be the responsibility of the Secretary to supply the judges with the copies of the bylaws, running rules, and judicial standards, well in advance of the running.

Please download and print our International Cover Dog Futurity nomination form below:

PDF format: nomination.pdf