Grading & Tests

"Class Content to be redeveloped for 2010"

Expected Duration:   4 – 12 weeks

All exercises on lead

Exercises added in Grade 2

• Footwork in turns, halts and stays
• Stand for examination - handler in front of dog up close
• Stand stay – handler at end of lead
• Group stays - handler at end of lead, dogs 1.5 m apart
• Recall on long 5 metre line

Things to do:

• Weaving
• Heeling with lead in pocket – no hands
• Tricks - retrieving
• Basic agility, tunnels, weaving around witches hats
• Heel in 2 lines facing each other, crossing over
• “come-fors” during heeling practice (see Grade 1)
• If possible practice recall with longer lead
• introduce stands and drops in slow pace
• introduce right about turn in fast pace
• introduce down from stand
• introduce “figure of eight”

Grade 2 Assessment

• Heel on lead
  • 2 each - sit, stand, drop
  • right/left turns, right/left about turns
  • change of pace, figure of eight
  • Dog should be sitting automatically & responding well to commands. Minimum handling, correction & voice.
• Stand Stay on lead
  • Handler at end of lead – return around back
  • Judge circles dog at 2 metres
  • No handling or voice correction
• Stand for Examination
  • Handler in front of dog.
  • Voice encouragement & correction allowed
• Recall on Lead
  • Long 5M line, no running back – return around back
  • voice encouragement allowed.
• Long Sit Stay on Lead – ½ minute
  • Handler at end of lead – return around back
  • No voice control, handling or correction allowed
• Long Down Stay on Lead – 1 minute
• Handler at end of lead – return around back
• No voice control, handling or correction allowed

Graded Activities and Assessment Criteria

Grade 1    Grade 2    Grade 3    Grade 4

"Class Content to be redeveloped for 2010"

Expected Duration:   up to 4 months

Preparation for Community Companion Dog title (CCD)

• Heel on lead
• Stand for examination on lead
• Recall off lead, 10 m – no finish
• 1 min Sit stay, 2 min Down stay at 6 m (dogs 1.5 m apart)
   

Things to do:

• Heel with lead in pocket
• Practice group stays with dogs in sit and down alternately in line
• Tricks
• Basic agility
• Introduce stands and downs in fast pace
• Weaving with dogs in down or stand
• Variations on stays
• Figure of eight
• Practice leaving starting peg
• Walking in straight lines
• Heelwork without dog, practice footwork, signals and walking in a straight line
• Heelwork with commands only/signals only
• Down from stand
• Retrieving
• Throwing the dumbbell
• Introduce finish separate from recall
   

Grade 3 Assessment – CCD Mock Trial

• Heel on lead
  • Orders from judge
  • Forward, halt, stand (your dog), down (your dog), right/left turn, right/left about turn, fast/slow/normal pace, (forward) into figure eight, lead out, exercise finished
  • Dog must work on a loose lead. Sit automatically on halt.
  • Only commands allowed are heel, stand, down/drop.
• Stand for Examination
  • Orders from judge –
  • Forward, stand (your dog), leave (your dog), return (to your dog), exercise finished
  • Handler in front of dog at end of loose lead. Dog must stand steady – minor deduction if feet move
• Recall off Lead – at 10 metres
  • Orders from judge –
  • Forward, halt, leave (your dog), about turn, halt, call (your dog), return (to your dog), exercise finished
  • Can use dog’s name once, then give command to come
• Sit Stay off Lead – 1 minute – at 6 metres Dogs 1.5 metres apart
  • Orders from judge –
  • Leave (your dog), about turn, halt, return (to your dog) exercise finished
• Down Stay off Lead – 2 minutes – at 6 metres  Dogs 1.5 metres apart
  • Orders from judge – as sit stay
     
  •  

Graded Activities and Assessment Criteria

Grade 1    Grade 2    Grade 3    Grade 4

"Class Content to be redeveloped for 2010"

Expected Duration:   No set time

Prepare for Novice

• Heel free
• Stand free for examination
• Change of position
• Retrieve
• Recall with finish
• 1 min sit stay, 3 min down stay at 12 m (dogs 1.5 m apart)
   

Things to do:

• Practice dumbbell throws
• Practice examining each other’s dogs and calling for heelwork
• Add distractions to stays and heelwork
• Critique each other
• Try short out of sight stays
• Heelwork without dogs, practice footwork and signals
• Things listed for Grade 3
• Open and Utility exercises

Grade 4 Assessment – Novice Mock Trial

• Heel Free
  • Orders from judge
  • Forward, halt, stand (your dog), down (your dog), right/left turn, right/left about turn, fast/slow/normal pace, (forward) into figure eight, lead out, exercise finished
  • Dog must work off lead. Sit automatically on halt.
  • Only commands allowed are heel, stand, down/drop.
• Stand Free for Examination at 2 metres
  • Orders from judge
  • Forward, stand (your dog), leave (your dog), return (to your dog), exercise finished
  • Handler in front of dog at approx 2 metres. Dog must stand steady – minor deduction if feet move
• Recall off Lead – at 12 metres
  • Orders from judge –
  • Forward, halt, leave (your dog), about turn, halt, call (your dog), finish, exercise finished
  • Can use dog’s name once, then give command to come
• Optional Retrieve on the Flat
• Or Optional Change of Position at 3 metres
• Sit Stay off Lead – 1 minute – at 12 metres Dogs 1.5 metres apart
  • Orders from judge –
  •  Leave (your dog), about turn, halt, return (to your dog) exercise finished
• Down Stay off Lead – 3 min – at 12 metres Dogs 1.5 metres apart
  • Orders from judge – same as for sit stay: Leave (your dog), about turn, halt, return (to your dog) exercise finished 

Graded Activities and Assessment Criteria

Grade 1    Grade 2    Grade 3    Grade 4