Leash Rules — Full Map

UO/GW

Moment	Leash status
Formal reporting in to TJ (before first exercise)	ON LEASH, ~1 m, collar
Reporting In exercise (scored group exercise)	ON LEASH — all levels, explicit
Heeling Level V	ON LEASH
Heeling Level A/B	OFF LEASH
All other UO/GW exercises	OFF LEASH
Down approach	V on leash, remove in GS (2026); A/B off leash
Formal reporting out after last exercise	ON LEASH

Nosework — Reporting In to TJ

All disciplines: ON LEASH in GS before each search discipline.

Nosework — During Search and Between VPs

Discipline	During search	Between VPs
Area (FL)	Off leash	Off leash — explicitly: “goes back with his off-leashed D”
Rubble (T)	Off leash, no search vest/ordinary collar; bringsel and loose medicinal collar exceptions	Restart at find/periphery, then DH leaves rubble; follow judge’s instruction
Tracking (F)	DH’s choice: off-leash or 10 m leash (collar or harness)	Continuous — reports back ON LEASH after track, before the alert exercise in F V only
Avalanche (L)	Off leash	Off leash; work continues without pause
Mantrailing (MT)	ON LEASH, 5–10 m, search harness	Continuous trail; leash handling explicitly evaluated

Rubble Special Case — Pre-Search Perimeter Walk

During the DH’s due-diligence walk around the perimeter (before announcing tactic), D must remain at a designated spot “either freely or tied down” — DH’s choice. This time counts against the search clock.

Sources

FCI/IRO 2025, §2.2–2.3; 3.3–3.4; 4–8. Binding IRO guideline, approved 25 August 2026.