1. Size of pit optional; to be square with sides 2 feet high,
scratch line 14 feet apart.
2. Referee to be chosen before the dogs are weighed in or
washed and referee to conduct the contest according to
these rules and his decision to be final.
3. Referee to see the dogs weighed at time agreed on and if
either dog is over top weight agreed he loses forfeit
money.
4. Parties to toss coin to see who shall wash first, each
party to furnish two clean towels and a blanket.
5. If requested to do so the referee shall search the person
named to wash the dog and then have him bare his arm
to the elbow and wash both dogs in the same warm
water and rinse them each in his half of the warm clean
water provided for that purpose.
6. As the dogs are washed clean and dried they shall be
turned over to their handlers and at once taken to their
corners of the pit as designated by the referee, and the
referee must search handlers for means of foul play
and see that he hares his arms to the elbow before he
receives his dog and must keep him arm bare in such a
manner during the contest.
7. The dogs’ owner or his representative shall be allowed at
all times to be near his dog and watch to see that no harm is
done him, and each owner shall be allowed to name a
man or himself to watch over his opponent’s dog and han-
dler at all times to see he is given no unfair advantage.
8. Either dogs owner, handler or watcher if he sees any-
thing wrong must at once appeal to the referee and
get his decision. And if any handler, watcher or
owner violates any of these rules and thereby favours
either dog the dog so favoured must at once be
declared the loser.
9. The interested parties shall choose a timekeeper at the
pit side.
10. The dogs are placed in their corners of the pit,
opposite corners, faces turned from each other, and
only the dogs and their handlers inside the pit. Then
the referee shall say “Face your dogs” each handler
must always show his dogs full head and shoulders
between his legs. The referee says “Let Go”, but the
handler must never push or shove their dogs, and
handlers shall not leave their corners until the dogs
are together.
11. Now when one of the dogs turns his head and shoulders away from his opponent after the fight is on it is a turn whether they are in holds are free, and the handler must claim the turn and the referee must the claim if he believes it is a turn or the referee must call the first fair turn he sees whether the handler claims it or not and when the referee calls a turn he shall say “Handle your dogs when they are free of holds” and each handler must pick up his dog as soon as he can without breaking a hold. Handlers carry their dogs to their respective corners immediately on picking them up, keeping the dogs face turned away from the center of the pit. The dog that turned first must scratch first. In five seconds more the referee shall say “Let Go”, then the dog that made the first turn must he turned loose by his handler and this dog must go across and mouthe the other dog. If when he is turned loose he refuses to start at once or if he stops on the way over, or if he fails to reach his opponent he has lost the fight and the referee must
declare his opponent the winner. A handler is allowed
to release his dog at any time he sees fit after the dog
whose turn it is to cross has started over. He must turn
loose when the dogs touch each other.
12. (a) If neither dog has made a turn and they cease to
fight after 60 seconds of no action, the down dog
is to scratch first, if he makes his scratch the fight
is one and they shall scratch in turns until the
contest is decided.
(b) If the down dog fails to scratch the other dog is to
scratch to win. If he fails to scratch to win. If he
fails to scratch the contest shall be declared a draw
by the referee.
(c) No handler is to handle his dog until ordered by
the referee if he does, it shall he declared a foul by
the referee, and he is to forfeit the contest to his
opponent.
(d) No flash pictures or hitting on pit side shall
be allowed unless agreed upon by the two
contestants.
13. After the dogs are together this time either handler
is to pick up his dog when they are not in holds, if
ordered by the referee. If he catches his dog up free
both handlers must handle their dogs at once, take
their dogs to their corners and proceed same as the
first turn, except this time the dog which went
across before is allowed to remain in his corner while
his opponent makes his scratch, or goes across, and
they alternate or take it in turn about this matter until
one of them is declared the winner under these rules.
The referee pays no attention to the turn after the first
scratch.
14. If one of the dogs fangs himself, that is if he gets his
teeth hung in his own lip, his handler is allowed to
unfang him. If the dog have to be separated for this
they are turned loose again both at the same time
within two feet of each other in the center of the pit.
15. No sponging shall be allowed, and no towels or
anything else taken into the pit by the handlers except
a bottle of drink for his dog and a fan to cool him
with. The handlers must taste their dogs drink before
the referee to show that it contains no poison.
16. If the handler of either dog is seen to take anything
from anyone on the outside of the pit he is to lose the
battle. Each party shall have the opportunity to put a
man near his opponents corner to watch the handler.
Should he see the handler put anything on his dog he
may appear to the referee, and if the referee finds
anything on the dog he is to lose the battle.
17. Should either handler leave the pit with his dog
before the referee renders his decision he is to lose
the battle.
18. The handlers shall be allowed to encourage their dogs
by voice or hand-clapping or snapping of their fingers,
but must not touch their dog or use foul, dirty methods
by saving their dogs from hard falls or keeping the
other handler away from his dog, or in any way act
unfairly. The referee must decide the battle against the
one who does so.
19. Should the police interfere the referee to name the next
meeting place.
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