Rubble Search (RH – T)

General Rules

• Search area boundaries are visibly defined or clearly marked.
• Hiding places prepared by organiser per TJ directive, meeting safety guidelines.
• VPs must be in position 10 min before D is dispatched, at least 10 m apart. Hides must support distinct alerts, ventilation and protection from poisonous gases; do not hermetically enclose a victim.
• Unused hides remain open. If a victim is not recovered, a repeat alert there is not a fault; collect and redeploy D from the border.
• For A/B, no visual/physical contact with hidden victims; inconspicuous cover. This applies to both levels, not only B.
• Deploy without search vest or ordinary collar (bringsel exception; loose medicinal collar permitted under §2.3).
• After a find, restart at the find or perimeter; DH then leaves the rubble.
• Prior to search and tactic announcement: DH may check the periphery of search area without D (brief overview / due diligence) — this time counts against the allotted search time. D must remain at designated spot during this time.
• DH may follow D into rubble as soon as TJ allows (the explicit V procedure says usually after D has definitively left DH).

Evaluation Criteria — Dog

• Mobility: rubble-specific mobility, type, dealing with difficulties, endurance (assess rubble-specific movement; the allocated mobility points remain 10 in both FL and T A/B).

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T V — Rubble Pre-test

Max: 100 points

Component	Points
Work mode in search	30 p
Alert at person	70 p

Parameter	Value
Search area	min 400–600 m², one level, various construction materials
Visibility	Area should be visible to DH
Victims	1 VP, hidden covered
Time	max 10 minutes

Evaluation:

• 1st false alert: −20 points
• VP not found → cannot pass

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T A — Rubble A

Max: 200 points

Component	Points
Alert exercise	20 p
Directability	10 p
Search Intensity	20 p
Mobility	10 p
Independence	10 p
Tactic & Teamwork	10 p
Alerts (2 persons × 60 p each)	120 p

Parameter	Value
Search area	min 800–1,000 m², one or more levels, various materials
Restrictions	No pure building searches; individual rooms may be included
Required features	Dark rooms/cavities and deep hides under approximately 1 m of cover/rubble
Victims	2 VP, hidden covered
Time	max 20 minutes

Site preparation: provide DH with a sketch; area should be visible. Cross with person(s) and a test dog at least 15 minutes before first search; several helpers without dogs cross immediately before and during work. Distractions (noise, machinery/fog etc.) are agreed with the judge.

Alert exercise:

• Alert place outside search area, clearly recognizable.
• Hide: pipe with lid, or crate; work starts 10 m from VP position.

Execution:

• After alert exercise, DH goes to start position; TJ announces tactical situation.
• At TJ instruction, work continues after alert.
• From DH’s location: may dispatch D once for continued search.

Evaluation:

• 1st false alert: −40 points
• VP not found → cannot pass; max achievable = 139 points

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T B — Rubble B

Max: 200 points

Component	Points
Alert exercise	20 p
Directability	10 p
Search Intensity	20 p
Mobility	10 p
Independence	10 p
Tactic & Teamwork	10 p
Alerts (3 persons × 40 p each)	120 p

Parameter	Value
Search area	min 1,200–1,500 m², one or more levels, various materials
Restrictions	No pure building searches; individual rooms may be included
Required features	Min 6 hides: min 2 dark rooms/cavities + min 2 deep hides (~2 m rubble) or elevated hides (max 2 m) ; at least 2 hide types overall, not two additional hides; coverage inconspicuous
Victims	3 VP, hidden covered
Time	max 30 minutes

Site preparation B: several people with a test dog cross up to 15 minutes before first search; people without dogs cross immediately before and during work. Include judge-approved distractions. Consider wind especially at elevated hides.

Shared A/B requirement:

• D may not have visible and/or physical contact with VP (Levels A and B).
• VP coverage must be inconspicuous.

Execution:

• At TJ instruction, work continues after alert.
• From DH’s location: may dispatch D once for continued search.

Evaluation:

• 1st false alert: −40 points
• VP not found → cannot pass; max achievable = 139 points

Sources

FCI/IRO 2025, §6–6.3. Binding IRO guideline, approved 25 August 2026.