What does StöPr stand for?
Stöberprüfung, German for "search trial"; in the FCI 2025 regulations it appears as FCI-Article Search 1-3. The dog searches off leash for hidden articles in a marked area.
FCI-IGP trial
Article Search (StöPr 1-3): the FCI area search trial
The Article Search (FCI-Article Search, Stöberprüfung) is the FCI-IGP trial in which the dog, off leash, searches for small hidden articles in a marked area, directed by hand signals from a handler who walks only along the centre line. Three levels, from 2 articles in 20 × 30 m to 5 articles in 30 × 50 m. It is the most "nose-driven" of the FCI-IGP trials without a track and an excellent exercise for any dog that works scent.
What is the article search?
It is an area search, not a tracking trial: the articles are placed or thrown by the judge or an appointed person into a natural area (tall grass, ploughed field, woodland) out of sight of the dog and handler. The area is criss-crossed beforehand by several people so that there is no single track to follow. The dog has to find all the articles within the time and indicate them convincingly.
The handler starts from the chosen side, sends the dog with a command and a hand signal and may walk the imaginary centre line of the area back and forth as often as wished, leaving it only to collect an indicated article. Tenacity, intensity, stamina, the handler's behaviour and, above all, finding the articles are scored.
Who can enter and from what age
- 15 months reached on the day of the trial, at all levels;
- a passed BH; level 2 requires level 1, level 3 requires level 2;
- females in heat work last; spectators stay at least 10 m away.
The levels
| Level | Area | Articles | Points per article | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 × 30 m | 2 of the handler's own (10 × 3 × 0.5 cm), one left, one right | 20 / 20 | 10 minutes |
| 2 | 20 × 40 m | 4 strangers' articles (10 × 3 × 0.5 cm), two on each side | 10 / 10 / 10 / 10 | 12 minutes |
| 3 | 30 × 50 m | 5 strangers' articles, smaller (5 × 3 × 0.5 cm), placed at the judge's discretion | 8 × 5 | 15 minutes |
Source: FCI-IGP 2025, "Trial levels for the FCI-Article search". Articles are wood, leather, artificial leather or textile, never glass or metal, in colours close to the terrain, at least 15 paces apart.
Scoring
| Criterion | Points |
|---|---|
| The dog's tenacity (following the handler's signals) | 20 |
| Intensity of work (determination and work ethic) | 20 |
| Stamina (never giving up until the article is found) | 10 |
| Behaviour of the handler (affecting the dog positively) | 10 |
| Finding the articles (convincing, confident, steady indication) | 40 |
| Total | 100 |
Pass from 70 points. Deductions: touching the article when indicating or dropping it on the retrieve 1-3 points, breaking the indication early 1-3, handler leaving the centre line 2-5, urinating, mouse-hunting or unfocused work 4-8; refusing to give up the article means disqualification. Commands to indicate or pick up are not allowed: the article counts as not found.
What the trial day looks like
- temperament evaluation and microchip check;
- reporting in to the judge with name, dog, level and the way the dog will indicate (lying, sitting, standing, picking up or retrieving);
- at level 1 the handler hands over the two own articles; at 2 and 3 the organiser provides them; the team stays out of sight while the articles are placed;
- the search itself, with a signal to the judge at every article found and a restart from the centre line;
- reporting out at the end, in the basic position, with the articles found.
How this relates to mantrailing
The article search trains exactly what we need on the trail too: the dog's independence in scent work, direction from a distance and clear indication without help. It is also the most accessible FCI scent trial: no track to lay, no helper, the dog works free. For the puppies and new dogs in our group, article search games are the first step, and StöPr 1 gives them an official form.
Official regulations
The figures on this page come from the documents below; on trial day the text of the regulations is what counts.
Related pages
Questions and answers
Frequently asked questions
Does the dog work on a leash?
No. The dog is unleashed at the start and works free; the handler moves only along the centre line of the area.
What if the dog does not find all articles in time?
The judge stops the search when the time is up; articles not found score no points, but the other criteria are scored normally. Passing requires at least 70 points.
Which articles are used?
Wood, leather, artificial leather or textile, 10 × 3 × 0.5 cm (5 × 3 × 0.5 cm at level 3), in colours close to the terrain; never glass or metal.
Start with the BH.
Every FCI-IGP trial starts from the companion dog test. We prepare teams for it and guide them onwards.