Balkan Rules

1. Referee
Referee is chosen by contestants.
Referee is in possession of key points and details of the match (weight, time, place, money, ...) and to any eventual changes of the rules. Also, the referee is in possession of the forfeit money.

2. Fouls
There are warning fouls and expulsion/disqualification fouls.
Any foul that directly affects the outcome of the match is an expulsion foul.
Warning fouls exist to regulate smaller offences that don't directly affect the match outcome and this results in a punishment scratch to the dog who's handler was warned. This scratch doesn't change the scratch sequence. It is possible to have three warning fouls, the fourth is an automatic disqualification.

3. Coin toss
A coin toss decides choice of corner, who washes first, ... as well as all other small choices that give an advantage to one side or the other.

4. Scale
What scale will rule will be in the agreement

5. Weighing
Reading of the scale will be the responsibility of the referee.
Dog that is over agreed weight will lose forfeit.
If both dogs are over agreed weight, forfeit money is returned with obligation to continue match.
If both dogs are on weight, wagers are placed.

6. Washing of dogs
Dogs are washed with shampoo, baking soda, milk and water.
It's best that each handler wash their own dog under supervision of opposing side to prevent accidental over washing of ears and shampoo in the eyes.

7. Rinsing
Only baking soda may be added in the rinsing.
Towels should be exchanged, however it happens that an opponent will bring a bib only knowing the opponent won't use that, so it should be a key point specified in the agreement.

8. Testing after the washing
After the washing, each opponent may choose to lick the opponents dog.
Any potential foul play will result in an automatic disqualification.

9. Releasing the dogs
Each handler holds his dog in their corner and must release on the referees command.
Releasing early is not allowed; if it happens that the dog released early receives an advantage over opponent dog, he can be disqualified.

10. Clothing
Handlers may dress as they wish as long as it doesn't affect the opponent (example, black dog - black pants).

11. Turning
If one dog turns his head and chest from opponent when the fight is on, weather in holds or not, both handlers may claim a turn to the referee.
The referee calls the turn or not.
The dog that turned first must scratch first.
After this dogs are picked up when not in holds and take turns scratching alternately; if during this time there are no foul scratches.
Scratch to continue is not part of the alternate scratching and there is no refresh time in the corner.

12. Handling after turning
When dogs are separated each handler takes his dog to their respective corner.
Behind the scratch line each handler may hold his dog how he wishes.
Stop time should start when both dogs are in their corner which is when both handlers receive sponges.
After 25 seconds the referee shall call to face the dogs.
The dog whose turn it is to scratch must have all four legs on the ground.
On the count of 30 the scratching dog must be released.
Scratching dog has 10 seconds to make contact with his opponent.
Handler of the scratching dog must remain behind his scratch line until his dog makes contact.
The opposing handler must hold his dog to be fully visible to the scratching dog and may release his dog at the same moment the scratching dog is released, however he must release his dog when scratching dog makes contact.

13. Handling
Both handlers should behave in a sporting fashion at all times.
Either handler may call foul play and the referees has final decision to accept the foul or not.

14. Out of holds
If the dogs are out of holds the referee counts to three (three full seconds) and if they are still out of hold the referee calls to handle your dogs.
If the dogs take hold at this moment, break sticks are used to handle.
If out of holds the dog that turned must scratch first.
If there are no turns made, first dog to scratch is the dog who was out of holds first; it doesn't matter if said dog is bottom or top dog. If both dogs lose a hold at the same time, the first dog to scratch is the dog in a worse position (bottom dog).
Dogs make scratches alternately.
Referee counts to three each out of holds.
Referee should not count if the dogs are active and avoiding but rather when they are truly out of holds.
Dog that doesn't make his scratch in 10 seconds is the loser.
If a dog doesn't go on his first scratch and the opposing dog has not scratched once, then he must scratch to win.

15. Handling due to being fanged
Handlers report a fanged dog to the referee, if he gets his teeth hung on his own lip; the referee makes the call.
Referee should:
1. Try to un-fang
2. To allow the handlers to un-fang
3. To call handlers to separate the dogs so the handler can un-fang
If the dogs are separated because they are fanged, they are to be released at the center of the box 1.5 meters apart from one another.

16. Wall jumping
If a dog jumps the pit he is declared the loser.
However, if the referee feels a dog jumped the wall because of outside interference, he can have the dogs released at the center of the ring as in the case of fangging.

17. Size of ring
Ring size is 4 meters x 4 meters.
If both competitors agree and it's in their interest, ring size may be bigger.

18. Interference
If due to any reason the referee determines the match can't be continued, match is stopped and wagers are returned.
If one side is to blame, wagers automatically go to the other side.

19. Pay the referee