EQUIPMENT NEEDED FOR THE WAE

Two vans to be used as blinds for hidden clatterer and decoy.

Aluminum soda can, half-filled with pea gravel and taped shut.

A .22 caliber athletic starter pistol or revolver with black powder blank ammunition. Test fire well ahead of evaluation date. You will need three shots per entry. A back-up pistol is advised.

Black, spring-loaded, pop-open umbrella. A back-up is strongly advised as wind, product defects, and aggressive dogs take their toll.

Silicone spray, such as WD 40, to keep the umbrella opening smoothly.

Two folding lawn chairs with arms for hidden clatterer and umbrella holder.

A 4’ wide, 16’ long strip of heavy-duty polyethylene material, either black or dark green. Garden mulching plastic or large trash bags, taped with dark tape, work almost as well. Make sure your strip measures the full 4’ x 16’ as anything smaller is a disadvantage for the dog and handler.

Dark stones, weight, or short stakes to stabilize the polyethylene. Avoid scrounging at the site the morning of the evaluation.

Standard 8 panel exercise pen (2’ panels), 4’ high. When extended flat on the ground it will measure 4’ x 16’.

Several 3’ long switches or sticks for the use of the decoy. Thin tomato stakes, cut into 3’ sections, work well.

Agitation or protection sleeve to be worn by the decoy. Schutzhund clubs, protection and security training schools and police canine units may be willing to lend a sleeve.

Sloppy raincoat and wide-brimmed hat to be worn by the decoy.

Wide leather buckle collar and 1" wide 6’ lead suitable for protection work. The collar must be adjustable so that it will fit snugly around the neck so the dog cannot slip out. A second set is a definite advantage, especially with a large entry. Collar must be able to fit from a small bitch to a large male. You will also need a variety of choke chain sizes as the dog must wear both a leather buckle collar and a choke chain. The 6’ lead will be attached to both collars.

A 50’ tape measure for getting exact distances for each exercise.

15 or more tent stakes (or wooden stakes, 14" long and sharpened at one end) and a mallet or sledge hammer. These are used as markers and must be plainly visible when in the ground. Rocks and brick work if you are using a paved parking lot as does colored chalk.

A watch with a sweep second hand to be used by the evaluator for those exercises with time limits.

****When you contact your evaluator, ask if he/she will be bringing any of the above equipment with him/her. Many evaluators carry their own watches, tape measures and whistles.