British inspired, Fun, competitive, timed, retrieving competitions, open to all breeds and mixed breeds, held in a relaxed, family-friendly environment!

British Hunting/Country Attire is Strongly Encouraged! (but not required)

A Scurry is a timed competition aimed at finding the dog that retrieves a bumper in the fastest time, within an enclosed field/space. Scurries are fun, and welcome those that simply wish to try it out! Anyone can enter. A dog does not have to be a gundog breed, nor does it have to be kennel club registered. There may be as many as four or more different types of Scurries at any one show.

An exmaple of an ABK Scurry is below:

An example of the "walk up" to the scurry line is below: 

An example of a puppy scurry below: 

TITLES & REQUIREMENTS

Each dog and handler takes turns competing in a line up. The dog must not be sent for the retrieve until the thrower releases the bumper. Some teams might not be happy with their time, knowing they can do better so they choose to enter again. That is okay! Each event will have a cut off time for entries, so ensure all runs will take place before dusk. 

Winners are announced either on the last day of the event or online after the event secretary has tallied the scores and it is always the fastest dog that successfully retrieved the bumper that wins. Clubs have the discretion of mailing out any placements or exhibitors may be required to pick up at the last day of the event.

Prizes range from a Rosette and sometimes trophy, to bags of dog food. (and in England even a car!) Prizes are determined by the host club.

All in all, Scurries are good fun for you and your dog and can be quite a neat way of testing out your dog's skills and get some training time in! 

ADDITIONAL RULES

1. Bird Scented Bumpers are used (freshly scented daily). Our official bumpers are always firehose bumpers.
2. People may not play with the bumpers or train near the scurry field. If people want to practice with their dog they must bring their own bumper and practice where they are out of sight from dogs waiting for and running the scurry field (in other words, on the opposite side of a building or other solid barrier where noise will not be heard by the scurry field)
3. Every level has specific requirements to complete a qualifying run. See the table below for more information.
4. The "Excellent" title is an "add-on" title that is added onto each regular title level. Each excellent title must be earned individually for each level. The excellent title is earned based on placement, versus qualifying run. Any dog who has already earned a title for that level and then in subsequent scurries earns a 1st through 10th place, and defeats at least 10 other dogs, will earn a leg toward their excellent title at that specific level. Example, a dog who already has a Novice Scurry title and runs the Novice scurry again and earns a 2nd place, while other dogs ran and earned, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th 9th 10th, 11th, 12th places, will earn a leg toward their Novice Excellent title. A dog must earn 10 legs to acquire the excellent title. For every subsquent 10 legs, the dog earns a muliplier. Example excellent2, excellent3, excellent4, etc.
5. Dogs may compete at any or all, or a combination of levels for the day, and earn qualifying runs toward their titles or legs toward their excellent add-ons. (except that any dog competing in the puppy scurry that is over 1 year of age, will not receive a title.)
6. Every scurry may start with a demo dog, to test the effectiveness of the scurry. This may be done the day prior or anytime after the scurry field has been set up and up until the time of the run of the first dog.  
7. Handlers can use whistle commands, verbal and/or hand commands at any time. 
8. Time does not stop until both the dog and bumper have crossed the start/finish line. (unless there is a DQ) 
9. Handlers must remain inside/behind the start/finish line area AT ALL TIMES and for the duration of the scurry
       EXCEPT If 1.) the time has run out and the handler is unable to recall the dog
                   OR 2.) the dog is starting to eliminate or has eliminated on the scurry field.
                   OR 3.) the dog is damaging the scurry course or the bumper.
       THEN the handler may enter the scurry run ONLY to get the dog and leave immediately. 
10. NO TRAINING in the scurry run or near the scurry run at any time. The handler is not allowed to enter the scurry run to encourage the dog, pick up the bumper, or perform any training in the scurry run. If the handler enters the scurry run and picks up a bumper or attempts to encourage their dog, they will be DQ'd for the duration of the event for that weekend. 
11. Dogs must run "naked" without any collars/leashes/harnesses or any other object on them, but you may hold your dog at the start line with a slip lead or other lead unless otherwise specified by the rules per level. 
12. If the dog crosses the start line with any part of its body before the thrower throws the bumper, the dog will receive an NQ. 
13. Time starts as soon as any part of the dog's body crosses the start line, after the thrower releases the bumper.
14. Time stops when the dog comes back and crosses the start line. On multiple retrieves, time remains stopped while the handler resets the dog and up until the dog crosses the start line again for the next retrieve.
15. If a dog leaves the course area, it is an NQ.
16. If the dog does not complete the run within time allotted it is an NQ. 
17. If the dog starts to go out for a retrieve but then crosses back over the start line without the bumper it is an NQ.
18. Handler can handle completely to marks and/or blinds or start and stop handling at any time. 
19. At all levels handler may repeatedly ask or encourage dog to pickup the bumper if they drop it, until the dog delivers it across the start line or time runs out.
20. British Hunting/Country attire is strongly encouraged but not required. 
21. No e-collars, flexi-leads, or head halters are allowed on the grounds. 
22. Loud, obnoxious, unsteady dogs must be crated away from the scurry event area. Any dog that is loud or obnoxiously barking while at the line waiting to be released will receive a 30 second add-on to their time, for the first warning, and a 60 second add-on to their time for a second warning. 
23. All Puppy Scurries are straight runs, without any obstacles to go over. All obstacles must be kept along the edges of the run, so there is a straight, clear shoot for the puppy to run through without going over any obstacles. 
24. All Puppy Scurries are thrown from the start line. If the puppy is unsucessful the judge will make it a training opportunity with the puppy to help overcome whatever was inhibiting it from performing.
25. Age limitations: Puppies 3-12 months must only enter the puppy scurry classes. 
26. For all regular scurries the dog must be 12 months or older. 
27. All bumpers must be scented with bird scent (stick or liquid are both acceptable).
28. If a dog does not release the bumper within an acceptable time (discretion up to the judge) or damages the bumper, the dog will receive an NQ.


DEFINITIONS

Obstacles: Stationary distractions dogs must run through or over. Examples of obstacles, non-moving decoys (birds/deer/other), straw bales, fencing, lake, pond, stone wall, pile of brush, large logs, bushes, big rocks, pigeon/partridge pen (a 10'x10' fenced off area with obstacles inside), hill, trees, river, bridge (under or over), blind with hole to run through (must be placed at the start line), duck boat, duck blind, etc. (virtually anything that could be found in a natural hunting environment in the US or UK).

Diversions: Moving distractions. Examples of moving distractions are throwing a bumper when dog is going out or coming in, Pulling a rabbit on a string across the path of a dog coming in, moving decoys (wings that move, predator decoy, etc.)

Marks: A thrown bumper that a dog sees. Can be thrown by hand or launched with a dummy launcher (at upper levels).

Blind: A planted bumper that a dog does not see get planted. Must be placed behind an obstacle as a marker for the judge and handler. 

Pigeon Pen: An enclosed area approximately 10'x10', enclosed by a low level fence (2'-3'), with brush piles inside. The dog will need to jump into the pen to pick up the bumper and jump back out to complete the retrieve to the finish line.