Decoy is positioned at _____ yards away from start line in NPCA test?

• A. 30
• B. 60
• C. 15
• D. 45

Answer: (D)

In this NPCA test, the distance from the start line to the decoy is the level of challenge the dog must handle, balancing search drive, speed, and control. The decoy being placed 45 yards away creates a clear, standardized scenario: the dog must leave the handler, actively search for the decoy, and reach it with a controlled bite. This mid-range distance reliably differentiates dogs with strong drive and searching ability from those with less focused pursuit, while keeping the test safe and feasible to score consistently. Distances that are much closer can reduce the need for searching and distance control, while much farther distances can be overly demanding or unsafe, so 45 yards is chosen as the best middle ground.