Levels

TRAINING LEVELS

These training levels are designed to produce a dog that is three weeks short of a title in any dogsport, or three weeks from learning the basics of any job. A dog that thinks, that eagerly goes into new situations, that performs reliably, that is comfortable in public, a good traveller, capable of giving full attention to the handler and working at any reasonable distance.

This colour indicates behaviours that are mandatory.
This colour indicates behaviours that must be done without food, clicker or other training aid, in a ring or similar.
This colour indicates behaviours that are optional, dog/handler teams must pass a certain number of them but may choose which ones they want to work on depending on the paths they want to follow.

Mixed colours in one line indicate all that are applicable.

Organization courtesy of Kevin Lahiff

LEVEL ONE

This colour indicates behaviours that are mandatory.

1. COME - the dog must play the Come Game between the handler and a friend or stranger standing 20’ apart. An actual cue to come is desirable but not necessary.

5. DOWN - the dog must Down from a Sit or Stand with no more than two cues - hand and voice, voice and body language, two voice cues, etc. It is not necessary for the dog to stay in the Down position, simply to lie down.

12. HOMEWORK - Handler lists, in writing, five things s/he hopes to accomplish by working the Levels.

19. SIT - the dog must Sit from standing position on one cue only (may be a voice OR a hand cue, but not both, and no extra body language from the handler). The handler may use the dog’s name to get his attention before starting.

23. TARGET - the dog must deliberately Touch the handler’s hand with his nose on only one voice cue. The hand in position is, naturally, a second, allowable cue.

26. ZEN - the dog must stay away from a treat in the handler’s hand for 5 seconds. There can be only one voice cue which will be given before the hand is presented.

LEVEL TWO

This colour indicates behaviours that are mandatory.
This colour indicates behaviours that must be done without food, clicker or other training aid, in a ring or similar.

1. COME - the dog comes from 40’ away with no more than two cues (voice, body language, or hand signal). The dog may be left on a Stay or held by someone else. The dog must come close enough to catch without moving. A “Front” is not necessary.

3. CRATE - dog enters crate with no more than two cues (vocal, body language, or hand signals), remains in crate while handler closes/opens door, no vocalizing or pawing.

4. DISTANCE - the dog goes around a pole from a distance of 2’ with no more than two cues.

5. DOWN - the dog Downs from Sit on one cue only. The handler may use the dog’s name to get his attention before a voice cue.

6. DOWN STAY - dog Downs and stays while partner walks 20’ away and back. Partner may give extra cues while away. An official “return” is not required.

9. GO TO MAT - dog goes to, gets on a mat, dog bed, hammock, or pause table from 5’ away, 2 cues only - two voice cues, or a voice cue and body language, etc.

10. HANDLING - the dog allows the handler to handle his ears, tail, and feet. This may be done on a table or on the floor. There must be minimal struggling.

12. HOMEWORK - the handler describes, in writing, the four “legs” of operant conditioning, and the definition of “reinforcement” and “punishment”.

15. LEASH MANNERS - handler stands in one spot while the dog keeps the leash loose for one minute with one distraction. Handler may use cues but may NOT cue the dog to Watch or to Heel, or to Sit, Down, or Stand or Stay. The intent of the exercise is that the dog’s default behaviour for one minute is to keep the leash loose. The dog is NOT required to watch the handler.

19. SIT - the dog Sits from Stand on one cue only. The handler may use the dog’s name to get his attention before a voice cue.

20. SIT STAY - dog Sits and stays while partner walks 20’ away and back. Partner may give extra cues while away. An official “return” is not required.

21. STAND - dog Stands from a Sit or Down with no more than two cues - two voice cues, or a voice cue and body language, or body language and a hand signal, or voice cue and hand signal, etc.

22. STAND STAY - dog remains standing without moving his feet for 10 seconds. Partner may or may not leave the dog’s side. This may exercise may be done beside the dog or in front of the dog.

23. TARGET - dog touches the marked END of a touch stick with his nose with only one voice cue. Naturally, presentation of the stick is a second cue.

24. TRICK - the dog performs a trick of the partner’s choice. It may be very simple.

25. WATCH - dog finds partner’s face and holds eye contact for 10 seconds with no more than two voice cues. No body language or touching other than looking at the dog.

26. ZEN - the dog stays off a treat in the handler’s hand for 5 seconds and off a treat on couch or chair for 10 seconds. No more than two cues for each behaviour, handler cannot guard the treat to keep it safe. Intent is to present the treat at nose level.

LEVEL THREE

1. COME - the dog must come from 40’ away on one cue only, through milling people. The dog may come from a stay or be held by someone else. A “Front” is not necessary, nor is a Sit.

2. CONTACTS - the dog walks a flat board with a click on or immediately after the down contact.

3. CRATE - the dog enters a crate on one cue only and remains quietly for one minute with the door closed.

4. DISTANCE - the dog goes around a pole 4’ away on one cue only.

5. DOWN - the dog Downs from a Sit on one cue only from 10’ away. The dog may drift very slightly off the position where he was sitting, but there must be a fairly immediate response to the cue.

6. DOWN STAY - the dog Downs and stays while the handler walks 20’ out, stays for one minute and comes back. One cue is allowed for the Down, and two cues for the Stay. There will be one mild distraction.

7. FINISH - the dog is able to follow eye contact while the handler pivots to the left.

8. FRONT - the dog must hit the centre line of a Front-Ray diagram three times in a row, with no more than five tries. Any number of cues are allowed, but the DOG must decide what is correct. A Sit is not necessary. Begin the behaviour with the dog about five feet away from the handler, in front of the handler.

9. GO TO MAT - dog goes to his mat, bed, etc from 5’ away, one cue only, lies down, 1 cue only, and remains Down without fussing with no additional cues for one minute.

10. HANDLING - dog eliminates on cue. Tester should allow no more than two minutes for elimination to begin after the first cue is given.

11. HEEL - dog and handler heel an about turn with eye contact.

12. HOMEWORK - the handler lists, in writing, ten reasons why a dog might not perform a required behaviour.

15. LEASH MANNERS - the dog maintains a loose leash while walking 40’ in a straight line, with no more than two cues, with one distraction. The cues may be given at any point during the behaviour.

16. ON THE ROAD - the dog must pass the Level One tests in a strange outdoor area of the tester’s choice.

17. RETRIEVE - the dog nose-targets four different objects including a dumbell, on one cue each.

18. SCENTING - the dog finds a treat hidden under a cup or piece of cloth. There should be a cue to Find It.

19. SIT - the dog Sits from a Stand on one cue only from 10’ away. The dog may drift off the position where he was standing, but there must be a fairly immediate response to the cue.

20. SIT STAY - the dog Sits and stays while the handler walks 20’ out, stays away for 30 seconds, and comes back. One cue is allowed for the Sit, and two cues for the Stay. There will be one mild distraction.

21. STAND - the dog Stands from a Sit on one cue only. Note that this behaviour is performed with the dog beside or in front of the handler.

22. STAND STAY - the dog Sit-Stays for examination - a touch of the head and withers by the tester.

23. TARGET - the dog targets a spot on the floor with his nose or his foot from 10’ away, with no more than two cues. A “Look” cue before sending is acceptable.

24. TRICK - the dog performs a shaped trick of the handler’s choice.

25. WATCH - the dog finds the handler’s face and holds eye contact for 30 seconds with as many voice cues as necessary. Glancing away is acceptable but any prolonged look is not.

26. ZEN - the dog stays off a treat in a stranger’s hand for 20 seconds, one cue only. The stranger will not entice the dog, but will not appear to protect the treat. Testers note it is not in anyone’s best interest to actually allow the dog to get the treat.

LEVEL FOUR

To pass Level Four, dog/handler teams must pass 4 of the 8 optional behaviours.

1. COME - the dog comes from 40’ away on one cue only through milling dogs. The dog may come from a Stay, or may be held by someone.

2. CONTACTS - the dog walks a flat board and stops on, in the middle of, or after, the down contact on his own. The dog’s contact behaviour must be determined before the testing.

3. CRATE - the dog enters the crate on one cue and remains quiet for 2 minutes with the door closed.

4. DISTANCE - the dog goes around a pole 10’ away on one cue only.

5. DOWN - the dog Downs from a Stand on one cue only.

6. DOWN STAY - the dog Downs and Stays for 3 minutes while the handler walks 40’ away, turns and faces the dog, and makes a formal Return. There will be two distractions.

7. FINISH - the dog demonstrates a swing finish into Heel position while the handler pivots to the left with voice cues only - that is, no other body language cues than the pivot, and no hand signals.

8. FRONT - the dog hits the bullseye of a Front-Circle three times in a row with no more than 4 tries.

9. GO TO MAT - the dog goes to his mat, bed, or pause table from 10’ away, lies down and remains Down with no fussing for 2 minutes. Appropriate cues.

10. HANDLING - the dog allows handling of muzzle and teeth by the handler. This may be done on a table or on the floor.

11. HEEL - the dog Heels an about turn and walks 10’ with eye contact, one cue only.

12. HOMEWORK - the handler describes, in writing, 10 slices in shaping the dog to go 10’ out to go around a pole.

13. JUMP, BROAD - the dog seeks out and jumps over one board on body language cues only, with the handler 3’ away from the jump.

14. JUMP, HIGH - the dog seeks out and takes a 2” jump over and back with body language cues only (being near the jump, the dog should commit and jump following the handler’s body language for direction).

15. LEASH MANNERS - the dog must maintain a loose leash while walking 80’ through milling dogs. Appropriate cues - that is, as many cues as necessary, but the dog must appear to be in control and willing to maintain the loose leash without excessive interference from the handler.

16. ON THE ROAD - the dog must pass Level Two in a strange outdoor area.

17. RETRIEVE - the dog takes and holds two objects in his mouth (one at a time), one of them metal.

18. SCENTING - the dog finds the correct article of two, three times, with hand scent only, on one cue each. The dog may Retrieve the correct article, or simply indicate the correct one. Whether the dog will Retrieve or indicate, and what indicator will be used, must be determined before the behaviour.

19. SIT - the dog Sits from Down with one cue only

20. SIT STAY - the dog Sits and stays for 2 minutes while the handler walks 40’ away, turns and faces the dog, and makes a formal Return. There will be two distractions.

21. STAND - the dog Stands from Sit on one cue only with the handler 10’ away.

22. STAND STAY - the dog Stands on appropriate cues and remains standing while the handler walks 10’ away and back. No formal “Return” is required.

23. TARGET - the dog follows and catches a touch stick, on the end only, with his nose, eager to touch the stick. There should be a voice cue, but the cue should be redundant in the presence of the stick. At some time the dog should demonstrate response to the cue.

24. TRICK - the dog and handler demonstrate “101 Things To Do With A Box” or chair.

25. WATCH - the dog finds the handler’s face and holds eye contact for 30 seconds from 10’ away with no more than two voice cues.

26. ZEN - dog must stay off treat on floor for 30 seconds, 2 cues only. Treat is shown to dog, cue (or cues) given, then treat is placed on floor, dog allowed to approach within a foot.

LEVEL FIVE

This colour indicates behaviours that are mandatory.
This colour indicates behaviours that must be done without food, clicker or other training aid, in a ring or similar.
This colour indicates behaviours that are optional, dog/handler teams must pass a certain number of them but may choose which ones they want to work on depending on the paths they want to follow.

To pass Level Five, dog/handler teams must pass 8 of the 11 optional behaviours.

1. COME - the dog does a full Novice Recall - Sit-Stay, 40’, one cue, Front, Finish, appropriate cues OR the dog must come when called away from several people petting it or feeding it. The petting and/or feeding will not stop.

2. CONTACTS - the dog does an appropriate jump, then commits to and walks a board and performs an appropriate down contact. Appropriate cues. The Down Contact behaviour must be announced prior to testing.

3. CRATE - the dog enters the crate on one cue, remains quietly for 5 minutes with the door closed.

4. DISTANCE - the dog goes over a jump 10’ away from the handler in the same manner as going around a post. Appropriate cues.

5. DOWN - the dog Downs from Stand on a hand signal only.

6. DOWN STAY - the dog Downs and stays for one minute with the handler out of sight. Appropriate cues.

7. FINISH - the dog hits a half-point-off Finish three times in row with three tries, starting from the Front position.

8. FRONT - the dog hits a half-point-off front three times, three tries only, appropriate cues.

9. GO TO MAT - the dog goes to his mat, bed, or pause table from 20’ away and remains down for 5 minutes. Appropriate cues.

10. HANDLING - the dog stays on a pause table for 30 seconds with the handler 10’ away. Appropriate cues.

11. HEEL - the dog Heels an about turn, a 10’ straight line, and another about turn with eye contact and one distraction.

12. HOMEWORK - the handler lists, in writing, the three effective ways of getting behaviour, and list five behaviours that might be best suited for each.

13. JUMP, BROAD - the dog jumps 2 boards from 4’ back with handler 5’ away. Dogs under 18 months may jump 1 board from 5’ back with handler 5’ away.

14. JUMP, HIGH - the dog performs a 10’ Retrieve over a 2” jump. Appropriate cues.

15. LEASH MANNERS - the dog maintains a loose leash while walking from the car into a building with other people. No cues other than the leash.

16. ON THE ROAD - the dog must pass his Level Three behaviours in a strange outdoor area.

17. RETRIEVE - the dog performs a 20’ Retrieve of three objects including one metal. Appropriate cues.

18. SCENTING - the dog finds the correct dumbell of five, three times in a row.

19. SIT - the dog Sits from Down on a hand signal only.

20. SIT STAY - the dog Sits and stays for 30 seconds with the handler out of sight. Appropriate cues.

21. STAND - the dog Stands from Heeling on a hand signal only.

22. STAND STAY - the dog does a Stand-Stay for examination. The handler may remain by the dog’s side. Appropriate cues.

23. TARGET - the dog pawtouches a wall from 10’ away.

24. TRICK - the dog demonstrates a captured trick.

25. WATCH - the dog finds the handler’s face and holds contact for 30 seconds, the handler not watching the dog (could look in a mirror, or have the tester determine what is happening). Appropriate cues. Handler may talk intermittently to dog.

26. ZEN - the dog stays off a treat on the floor while gaiting or walking on a loose leash. Appropriate cues

LEVEL SIX

To pass Level Six, dog/handler teams must pass 8 of the 16 optional behaviours.

1. COME - the dog Downs from a Sit-Stay 10’ away on one cue, then comes to a Front with one cue only.

3. CRATE - the dog enters a crate on one cue only and remains quiet with the door closed for 15 minutes.

4. DISTANCE - the dog performs three jumps in line in a 20’ diameter circle, in both directions. One starting cue only in each direction, and body language cues.

5. DOWN - the dog Downs from Stand on signal from 10’ away.

6. DOWN STAY - the dog performs a full out of sight Down Stay for four minutes. Appropriate cues.

7. FINISH - the dog must hit two out of four perfect Finishes from Front on one cue only.

8. FRONT - the dog hits two out of four perfect fronts with one cue only, starting with the dog a minimum of five feet from handler.

9. GO TO MAT - the dog goes to his mat/bed/pause table from 20’ away and stays there for 15 minutes. Appropriate cues.

10. HANDLING - dog stays on a grooming table for 30 seconds, handler 10’ away. Appropriate cues.

11. HEEL - the dog Heels 80’ with one about turn, a fast, a slow, and two Halts. Appropriate cues.

12. HOMEWORK - the handler lists, in writing, the four worst behaviours of his/her own dog(s) and presents a written plan for eliminating or improving them.

13. JUMP, BROAD - the dog performs a full broad jump exercise over a half width jump. Appropriate cues.

14. JUMP, HIGH - the dog does a 20’ official Retrieve over a half height jump. Dogs under 18 months may do this over an appropriate jump, but it must be 30’ long.

15. LEASH MANNERS - dog and handler are in a car. The handler opens the door and gets out of the car. The dog remains in the car WITH NO CUE FROM THE HANDLER before or after the car door opens. The handler cues the dog to get out of the car. Dog and handler walk in the door of a building and into class on a loose lead. Appropriate cues.

16. ON THE ROAD - the dog must pass his Level Four behaviours in a strange outdoor area.

17. RETRIEVE - the dog performs three 40’ Retrieves - one metal object, one official dumbell, one article of the handler’s choice. Appropriate cues.

18. SCENTING - the dog finds the correct article of twelve, three times. Appropriate cues.

19. SIT - the dog Sits from Down on a hand signal only at 10’.

20. SIT STAY - the dog performs a full out of sight Sit Stay for two minutes. Appropriate cues.

21. STAND - the dog Stands from Heeling, the handler does not stop. Two cues are allowed.

22. STAND STAY - the dog performs a full Group Examination for one minute with the handler 20’ away. Appropriate cues.

23. TARGET - the dog pawtouches a wall 20’ away with two cues only.

24. TRICK - the dog performs a lured trick.

25. WATCH - the dog holds contact for 30 seconds, one cue only.

26. ZEN - the dog stays off five treats on the floor during a Recall. Appropriate cues.

LEVEL SEVEN

To pass Level Seven, dog/handler teams must pass 10 of the 16 optional behaviours.

1. COME - the dog does a complete formal 20’ Drop On Recall.

3. CRATE - the dog enters a crate on one cue only and remains quietly with the door closed for 30 minutes.

4. DISTANCE - the dog performs two directed jumps 10’ apart and 10’ away from the handler.

5. DOWN - the dog Downs from Stand on signal in line (Stand, Down, Sit, Come). No distance is required.

6. DOWN STAY - the dog performs a full out of sight Down Stay for five minutes. Appropriate cues.

7. FINISH - the dog must hit three out of four perfect Finishes from Front on one cue only.

8. FRONT - the dog must hit three out of four perfect fronts on one cue each.

9. GO TO MAT - the dog goes to his mat/bed/pause table from 20’ away on one cue and remains there with no fuss for 30 minutes.

10. HANDLING - the dog lies down on its side on a grooming table while the handler puts a nail clipper over one of the dog’s toenails. Appropriate cues and minimal fuss allowed.

11. HEEL - the dog performs a full formal Heel Free exercise, complete with Figure 8, maintaining contact throughout.

12. HOMEWORK - the handler defines, in writing, default behaviour and describes how to achieve it, with examples.

13. JUMP, BROAD - dog performs the full Broad Jump exercise.

14. JUMP, HIGH - dog performs the full Retrieve Over the High Jump exercise.

16. ON THE ROAD - the dog must pass his Level Five behaviours in a strange outdoor area.

17. RETRIEVE - the dog performs an 80’ Retrieve of any object. Appropriate cues.

18. SCENTING - the dog finds a hidden article in the ring. Appropriate cues.

19. SIT - the dog Sits from Down on signal in line.

20. SIT STAY - the dog performs a full out of sight Sit Stay for three minutes. Appropriate cues.

21. STAND - the dog Stands from Sit with handler 10’ away, two cues only allowed.

22. STAND STAY - the dog performs a full Group Examination for three minutes with the handler 20’ away. Appropriate cues.

23. TARGET - the dog does a straight go-back to paw-touch a wall 40’ away with two cues maximum.

24. TRICK - the dog performs a tableau of a minimum of three tricks, one trick following another to tell a story (for instance, a “broken leg”, followed by bad temperament, followed by “shooting” the dog, followed by the dog “dying”).

25. WATCH - the dog holds contact for 15 seconds, one cue only, handler does not watch the dog.