Western Rules

[STONEWALL]

With the exeption of rule #9 I agree with Evolution's thoughts on the rules. Since as long as I can remember people have modified this part of the Cajun rules and used the 10 count at the release on the scratches, and I've seen good game dogs counted out even though they were scratching. If a severly injured dogs is dragging or pushing itself across without hesitation how can we in good concious count it out?

[Officially Retired]

With the exeption of rule #9 I agree with Evolution's thoughts on the rules. Since as long as I can remember people have modified this part of the Cajun rules and used the 10 count at the release on the scratches, and I've seen good game dogs counted out even though they were scratching.

I think there is some confusion as to what the original Cajun Rules meant. Yes, exactly, an injured dog has 10 seconds to complete its scratch ... BUT if a dog hesitates, for even 1 second, it's over.

The same is true in boxing. If a man gets knocked down and if, once, he shakes his head "no" to the ref, the fight's over. But if he's trying to get up off the floor, and still wants to fight, then he's got 10 seconds to do so.

And so it is with the dogs. In other words, the GAME dog has 10 seconds to haul/drag/roll his ass over there ... but the SECOND a dog makes a cur hesitation, the fight's over.

If a severly injured dogs is dragging or pushing itself across without hesitation how can we in good concious count it out?

It's as easy to count out a game dog who couldn't get there in 10-seconds, as it is to count-out a game man who can't get up off the floor in 10-seconds.

In fact, that is the entire point of clarifying #9: the 10-count was originally for game dogs trying to get there; the one-count was for any sign of quitting.

Another way to look at it is, if a dog is injured so badly that he cannot travel a few feet to complete his game scratch, then how can we in good conscience let him continue? That would be as unconscionable as letting a man who's been beaten half to death in the boxing ring, and who's taking a 10-count on the floor, "still continue" because he staggered-up at the count of 15.

I mean, unless you want every game dog to die, and every beaten boxer to be pummeled to death, there has to be a "10-count" ... within which time a game fighter can still fight ... but after which time it's over ... precisely because any fighter who can't continue with those 10-seconds "has had enough" (physically, if not mentally).

Jack