yes...this a proper assumption. Scratching started (under cajun rules) after one of the dogs was called for a turn (literally turning away from the other dog as opposed to taking a hold with his mouth) The dog that was called for a turn then had to scratch to continue the match. He had a time limit in which he had to move to the other side and take hold of the other dog...if he didn't wish to continue the match was over. If the owner was to touch, push, etc. the dog would then be disqualified and lose either way. A courtesy scratch was used to test gameness after a match was decided. After the match was decided a handler would ask for a courtesty screatch (as described above) just to see if his dog still had the will to continue...that's what happened in the situation that I posted in the other thread with Wallace's Toney. He was picked up from the fight by his owner, but made the courtesy scratch....