1. In the National Retriever Championship Stake, the Guidelines For Ethical Training at Nationals has been adopted. As much training may be done as required BEFORE entering the trial grounds or AFTER running a test. NO TRAINING may be done after observing a test until you have run. After a series has been officially set up by the judges, during the running of the stake, no competing dog shall, while on the grounds, be exercised, trained or worked with the exception of a bumper thrown by the handler and this only in an especially approved area and only for the purpose of exercising the dog.
2. Any dog not entered in the stake and interfering with the running of the stake may be required to be removed.
3. Exercise areas to be clearly defined.
4. Rules on the failure to appear on line when called to be strictly enforced. It is a practise of some competitors to be late when they are No. 1 or 2.
5. No dog to be allowed to watch any test having just run the test or not, thus eliminating confusion as to who has run and who has not and reducing the chance of dog fights.
6. Rotation number will be 1/5 (20%) of the number of dogs that will run the next test. (If the calculation does not result in a whole number round up to the nearest whole number ie. if the calculation results in 10.2 round up to 11.)

• Use the rotation number to count the number of running dogs after the previous starting dog to identify the next starting dog. (In the example below the next starting dog would be the 11th running dog after the previous starting dog.)
• There shall be a minimum rotation of 3 dogs
• No dog should be the starting dog more than once. (If the rotation identifies a dog that has already started once select the next running dog that has not yet started.)
• Example:

If 51 dogs are called back to the next test, the rotation number will be 51 X 0.2 = 10.2 which is rounded up to 11.
The starting dog of the previous test was #33. Dog numbers 25, 27, 33, 34, 42, 44, 45 and 51 were not called back.
All other dogs between 25 and 55 were called back, therefore, dogs 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 43, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 52, 53, 54 and 55 will run the next test along with 28 others. #48 will be the starting dog for the next test as it is the 11th running dog after #33 the previous starter.

7. The first scheduled test of the National will be announced. Each next scheduled test will be posted with callbacks. The procedure will help create fairness for all by eliminating possible competitive advantage for those involved in putting on the trial. Judges have no obligation to go ahead with a scheduled test as conditions may change.
8. White clothing is not allowed in the gallery or behind the line.
9. Please note that in order to qualify to run the National, the host club where you received your placing must be a paid up member of the NRCC in good standing