The dog is held by the collar. A "hare", a white piece if a rag, fastned to a line is pulled from a hide. The line that is pulled with a wheel hidden behind the dog and the handler, through a system of pulleys, is arranged in such a way that the hare runs away from the dog in a zig-zag pattern some 20 meters into a wooded area. When the hare has dissapeared into the cover the dog is released. If the dog earlyer has been steadyed to running game it is given permission with a suitable command, like " go and play". When the dog has investigated the hare the whole procedure is repated.
A dog with some moderate prey drive usually starts at the first attempt and investigates the hare, maybe shake it and may even pull it back to the handler despite the resistance from the line. The situation is repeated because some dogs might be very cautious due to different reasons. They may not start at the first attempt and unless the situation is repeated we may missinterpret the dogs behavior. On the second attempt many shy dogs will chase the hare and give us answers to questions we make. If the dog engages in the hare with great enthusiasm from the beginning and maybe even pulls the hare back, everything is well so far. But in order to get support to this situation we test the dog again with a big prey, "the moose".
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