Clean Run Magazine - June 2010 - 20

Wildcard Strategy:

Decisions, Decisions
By Jeff Boyer one 1-point obstacle and two 2-point obstacles. Any other combination of wildcards results in a non-qualifying score. (Note: the point values are strictly for recording the obstacles taken and have no other value.) It is possible for a team to receive a non-qualifying score with zero faults because they did not have the correct number and type of wildcards. the margin for error is small. The dog’s preference for certain obstacles, the handler’s ability to direct the dog clearly and accurately, and to think quickly are all factors to be considered. In designing the course, the 1-point obstacles must be chosen from bar jumps, tire, tunnel, chute, broad jump, and double jump. The 2-point obstacles may be any contact obstacle, a double or triple jump, tunnel, chute, or a set of six weave poles. The handler might begin planning by selecting an obstacle at each wildcard that is one the dog performs well and eagerly. While this may not always be
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Wildcard is played on a short Standardtype course with three “wildcards,” areas where the handler (or the dog) must choose one of two obstacles to perform. There are two obstacles at each wildcard, one is assigned 1 point and the other is assigned 2 points. The objective is to successfully navigate the course and accumulate the number of wildcards of each value without exceeding allowable fault limits. Wildcard is a titling game in CPE, and is paired with Colors as part of the “Handling” titles. It may be used as a titling game in the TDAA Games class.

Strategy
Since it is a handling game, the strategy centers on the ability of the team to deal with obstacle discrimination. With two obstacles only 5' apart on a short course,
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Rules
This article is based on the rules and course design requirements for CPE. The course consists of 10 to 12 obstacles, three of which are wildcard choices. The wildcard obstacles are placed parallel to each other at a distance of 5' apart. The Wildcard course is designed so that one of the obstacles in each wildcard will be the “regular” or logical obstacle in flow; typically, this is the 1-point obstacle. A wildcard course for CPE Levels 1 and 2 is shown in Figure 1 and for Levels 3 through C (Championship) in Figure 2. Standard course times are determined in the same manner as for CPE Standard courses. Faults are called as they would be for Standard courses. To qualify, the team must not exceed the fault limits for their respective competition level and they must accumulate the correct number and type of wildcards. In CPE, Levels 1 and 2 must accumulate two 1-point obstacles and one 2-point obstacle; in all other levels, the team must accumulate
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11b 4 11a 9a 9b 4

11b

11a 9a

2a 5

12 2b F 8 F 5

12 F 8 F

S 6 S 1 7 S

S 1 7

CPE Wildcard Levels 1 & 2 Pawsitively Awesome January 16, 2010 Judge: Jeff Boyer

CPE Wildcard Levels 3, 4, 5, & C Pawsitively Awesome January 16, 2010 Judge: Jeff Boyer

Figures 1 and 2: On the course maps, the wildcard obstacles are indicated by numbers in squares, with A for the 1-point obstacle and B for the 2-point obstacle. The two courses shown differ in the choice of the 2-point obstacle at #9 and #11, and in some slight rotations of jumps #1 and #7 and the opening to tunnel #10.
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Clean Run Magazine - June 2010

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