#1 Sit: While heeling the team halts and the handler asks the dog to sit in heel position. Handler may turn and face the dog or remain by the dog’s side while giving the “sit” command. The dog must hold the “sit” position for a count of 5, then the exercise is finished. After a brief hesitation the team then moves forward to the next exercise with dog in heel position.
#2 Down: While heeling the team halts and the handler ask the dog to sit in heel position. The handler then commands the dog to "down", handler may turn and face the dog or remain by the dogs side while giving the command. The dog must hold the “down” position for a count of 5, then the exercise is finished. After a brief hesitation the team then moves forward to the next exercise with dog in heel position.
#3Wait-Recall: While heeling the handler stops and gives the dog a command to either sit, down or stand. The handler then tells the dog to "wait" and the handler leaves the dog and goes 2-6 feet in front of the dog. Facing the dog the handler then gives a "recall" command. The dog must return directly to the handler, without wandering, the dog does not have to sit in front of the handler or go to heel position, the handler may reward the dog as soon as the dog comes to the handler. After a brief moment the team continues forward in a heel position to the next exercise.
#4 Stay: While heeling the handler stops and gives the dog a command to either sit, down or stand. The handler then tells the dog to "stay" and the handler leaves the dog and goes 2-6 feet in front of the dog. Facing the dog the handler counts to ten and then the handler returns to the dog, the exercise is finished. After a brief moment the team continues forward in a heel position to the next exercise.
#5 Loose Leash Walking: The dog must walk beside the handler in a heel position on a loose leash for a distance of 5-10 ft. The leash must not be tight and the dog should maintain a proper distance to the handler. The dog should not be pulling forward or lagging behind. After walking the required distance the exercise is finished. The team will then move forward to the next obstacle in heel position.
#6 Figure 8: Team must begin the figure 8 pattern walking in a heel position between the cones or obstacles and continue walking the pattern for one complete figure 8. After completing the pattern the team may halt briefly, the exercise is finished. The team will then move forward to the next obstacle in heel position.
#7 Moving side steps: While the team is walking in heel position then handler takes two steps to the right and then continues forward. The dog is to adjust his position to the handler as the handler steps right and then continues forward. The exercise is finished. The team will then move forward to the next obstacle in heel position.
#8 Left Turn: While team is moving forward in heel position the team makes a 90 degree turn to the left and continues forward to the next exercise.
#9 Right Turn: While team is moving forward in heel position the team makes a 90 degree turn to the right and continues forward to the next exercise.
#10 Slow Pace: While heeling forward the team must noticeably slow the pace down for several steps and then return to a normal forward pace to the next exercise.
#11 Stand or sit politely: Handler commands the dog to stand or sit while a person walks by within 6 ft of the team. Dog must hold the stand or sit while the person walks by. Exercise is finished when the outside person moves away from the team. The team will then move forward to the next obstacle in heel position.
Note for Level One:
The dog must begin each exercise in a sitting or standing position on the left side of the handler.
When the dog is sitting or standing still the team can proceed with the exercise.
Novice Level Signs
On Lead- Treats Optional
#12 Fast Pace: While heeling forward the team must noticeably quicken the pace for several steps and then return to a normal forward pace to the next exercise
#13 About Turn Right: While heeling the team makes a 180 degree about turn to the handlers right, moving away from the dog.
#14 About U Turn Left: While heeling the team makes a 180 degree about turn to the handlers left, moving into the dog.
#15 Leave It: While heeling the team passes an object on the floor that is non food and non toy. The dog is expected to ignore the object and not hesitate while heeling past the object.
#16 Sit Down Wait with Recall: While heeling the handler stops and gives the dog a command to sit, and then down. The handler then tells the dog to "wait" and the handler leaves the dog and goes 2-6 feet in front of the dog. Facing the dog the handler then gives a "recall" command. The dog must return directly to the handler, without wandering, the dog must sit in front of the handler, the handler may reward the dog as soon as the dog sits in front of the handler. After a brief moment the team continues forward in a heel position to the next exercise.
#17 Sit Down Stay: While heeling the handler stops and gives the dog a command to sit, and then down . The handler commands the dog to "stay" and the handler leaves the dog and goes 2-6 feet in front of the dog. After a count of 3 the handler walks back to the dogs left side and remains in an upright position for a count of three. The handler may then reward the dog. The team then continues forward in a heel position to the next exercise.
#18 Doorway with Wait and Recall: While heeling the handler stops and gives the dog a command to sit or down. The handler then tells the dog to "wait" and the handler leaves the dog and walks between two obstacles. Facing the dog the handler then gives a "recall" command. The dog must return directly to the handler, without wandering, the dog must sit in front of the handler, the handler may reward the dog as soon as the dog sits in front of the handler. After a brief moment the team continues forward in a heel position to the next exercise.
#19 Stand at heel: While team is moving forward in heel position the handler stops and ask the dog to sit, the handler asks the dog to stand. After a brief moment the team continues forward in a heel position to the next exercise.
#20 Catch Up: Wait and return to heel. While team is moving forward in heel position the handler ask the dog to wait and the handler continues walking forward for 2-3 feet, and then asks the dog to return to heel position without facing the dog. The handler may pat their leg, or look over their shoulder while calling the dog to heel.
#21 Weaving Cones: While heeling forward the team begins on the left side of the first cone or obstacle and continues in a serpentine weaving one time around the cones until the team comes back to the finish. The dog is to sit at the finish in heel position. After a brief moment the team continues forward in a heel position to the next exercise. Four cones or obstacles should be used for this exercise.
#22 Moving Call To Front: While team is moving forward in heel position the handler quickly walks backwards several feet while calling the dog to front. The dog must return directly to the handler, without wandering, the dog must sit in front of the handler, the handler may reward the dog as soon as the dog sits in front of the handler. After a brief moment the team continues forward in a heel position to the next exercise
#23 Sit Politely: Handler commands the dog to sit while a person while a person walks up to the handler and shakes hands. Dog must hold sit while they shake hands.Exercise is finished when the outside person moves away from the team. The handler may reward the dog. The team will then move forward to the next obstacle in heel position.
Open Level Signs On lead - No Treats
#24 Wait-Recall: While heeling the handler stops and gives the dog a command to either sit, down or stand. The handler then tells the dog to"wait" and the handler leaves the dog and goes 10-20 feet in front oft he dog. Facing the dog the handler then gives a "recall"command. The dog must return to the handler, the exercise is finished. After a brief moment the team continues forward in a heel position to the next exercise.
#25 Wait-Recall with Jump: While heeling the handler stops and gives the dog a command to either sit or stand. The handler then tells the dog to "wait" and the handler leaves the dog and goes to a position 2-6 feet in front of the jump. The dog and handler should be positioned in the center of the jump. Facing the dog the handler then gives a"recall" command. The dog must return to the handler by jumping over the jump, and coming to a sit position in front of the handler. The exercise is finished. After a brief moment the team continues forward in a heel position to the next exercise.
#26 to be added at a later date:
#27 270 Right Turn: while heeling the team makes a 270 degree turn to the handlers right. The turn is performed in a tight circle and not around the sign.
#28 270 Left Turn: while heeling the team makes a 270 degree turn to the handlers left.The turn is performed in a tight circle and not around the sign.
#29 360 Right Turn: while heeling the team makes a 360 degree turn to the handlers right. The turn is performed in a tight circle and not around the sign. This isa complete circle to the right.
#30 360 Left Turn: while heeling the team makes a 360 degree turn to the handlers left. The turn is performed in a tight circle and not around the sign. This is a complete circle to the left.
#31 to be added at a later date
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# 32 Sit-Pivot left-Sit: While heeling the team stops and the dog sits, the handler then pivots their position a quarter to a half turn to the left and the dog is to immediately reposition itself to the handlers left, finishing is in a sit position.
#33 Sit-Pivot right-Sit: While heeling the team stops and the dog sits, the handler then pivots their position a quarter to a half turn to the right and the dog is to immediately reposition itself to the handlers right, finishing in a sit position.
#34 Cloverleaf Weaving: Barrel race pattern
The team starts to the left of the first cone and circles around the cone and proceeds to the next cone and goes around it, the team proceeds to the last cone, goes around it and continues in heel position to the finish. The dog begins and ends the exercise in the sit position.
#35 Leave It: While heeling the team passes a toy or food item on the floor. The dog is expected to ignore the item and not hesitate while heeling past the item. The item must be food or a toy.
# 36 Back Up: The team halts and the handler faces the dog and walks into him asking for the “back up”. The dog should back up a minimum of three steps. The handler then positions themselves beside the dog and prepares to proceed. The dog may start the back up from a sit or stand position.
#37 to be added at a later date
#38 Catch Up: Sit, wait and return to heel. While team is moving forward in heel position the handler ask the dog to sit and wait and the handler continues walking forward for 2-3 feet, and then asks the dog to return to heel position without facing the dog.The handler may pat their leg, or look over their shoulder while calling the dog to heel. Exercise should be done in a smooth and flowing manner.
#39 Stand Wait with Recall: While heeling the handler stops and gives the dog a command to stand. The handler then tells the dog to "wait" and the handler leaves the dog and goes 3-6 feet in front of the dog. Facing the dog the handler then gives a "recall" command. The dog must return directly to the handler, without wandering, the dog must sit in front of the handler, the handler may reward the dog as soon as the dog sits in front of the handler. After a brief moment the team continues forward in a heel position to the next exercise.
#40 Stand Stay: While heeling the handler stops and gives the dog a command to stand. The handler commands the dog to "stay" and the handler leaves the dog and goes 3-6 feet in front of the dog. After a count of 3 the handler walks back to the dogs left side and remains in an upright position for a count of three. The handler may then reward the dog. The team then continues forward in a heel position to the next exercise.
