OBEDIENCE
THE FOLLOWING EXERCISES ARE TO BE PERFORMED BY ALL DOGS WISHING TO OBTAIN A SD2 CERTIFICATION.
Dog and handler must come onto the trial field off lead, and remain off lead the entire time. At this point the team is to check into the judge at a designated spot. This will be the starting point. After checking into the judge the team will now begin the obedience portion of the trial.
Exercise 1: Heeling with Gunshots
From the starting point you must heel 20 paces then make a left turn, heel 20 more paces, make a right turn, heel 20 more paces. During these paces there will be gunfire approximately 5-10 paces before you make another right hand turn. Once you make this right hand turn, there will be gunfire again 5-10 paces before you make another right hand turn. When you make this right you must heel 10 paces normal, 10 paces fast, 10 paces slow, and another 10 paces normal. This should put you back at the starting line, where you will make a left turn and heel 5 paces then stop. At this point this exercise is complete.
Exercise 2: Heeling Through Crowd
You should now be facing the same direction where the group has formed. You must now heel straight ahead and make a left turn into the group. You must perform a figure eight pattern through the group. You must only pick one person to make the left turn around and one other person to make the right turn around. Once you have performed you figure eight, halt in the middle of the group. The group will then close in. Once the judge asks the group to step away, this exercise will be complete, and you must heel back to the starting line.
Exercise 3: Sit in Motion
You are now back at the starting line and ready to begin your sit in motion exercise. You must heel your dog 10-15 paces for a build up and give your dog the sit command. You should not have changed your pace or posture while giving this command. The dog should make a quick sit and remain there while you move forward 30 paces. You need to now turn and face your dog. You will wait for the judge to give you the command to return to your dog. When this happens, return to your dog with the dog in the basic position. The judge will then inform you to return to the start line; once you are there this exercise will be complete.
Exercise 4: Down in Motion with Recall
You must now look to the judge for instruction to continue on with the down in motion exercise. When you are giving that command you must once more heel your dog 10-15 paces for a build up and give your dog the down command. You should not have changed your pace or posture while giving this command. The dog should go the down position quickly and remain there while you move another 35 paces. You must then turn and face your dog. Once the judge gives you instruction, you must recall your dog. You have the option of calling your dog to a front and then finishing the dog to the basic position or you may recall straight back to a heel position. YOU MUST inform the judge if you intend on recalling our dog to the heel position. If you do not tell the judge anything he/she will assume that your dog will front and then finish, and points will be lost if your dog goes straight into a heel position. Once your dog is in the heel position you must heel back down the field to the start line. Once you get to the start line your exercise will be complete.
Exercise 5: Running Down in Motion
At this point you are now at the opposite end of the field of the start line. You are to jog with your dog at this point; it should be in the heel position. Approximately 12-15 paces you must tell your dog to down. You must do this without a change in pace or help from hand gestures or other queues. After the command, you will jog another 25-30 paces, stop, and turn to face your dog. When the judge instructs you, you are to return to your dog. Once with your dog call him back into the basic position, and heel to the start line, this exercise is now complete.
Exercise 6: Retrieve of Thrown Article
You must now get your retrieval object from the judge. The judge will then inform you where to set up. Once you are setup, you must throw your object over the jump. (This jump will be 48” wide and 39” tall.) Your dog is to stay by your side until you command it to retrieve your object. You may use one command to send your dog over the jump, and a second for your dog to bring you the object. With those commands your dog must go over the jump, pick up the object, come back over the jump with the object, bring it back to you, and sit in a front position. You will then look to the judge for the queue to tell your dog to release the object. Once the dog has released the object the judge will queue you to command your dog back into the basic heel position. Once in the basic position, the exercise is complete.
Exercise 7: The Long Down
From this position you will heel to a designated spot for a long down. Once you are at this spot put your dog into a down position and go to an appointed place out of sight of the dog. Once you are out of sight the one minute timer will begin. After one minute you must return to your dog, and put him back into a sitting position. The judge will then inform you to heel away, once you have heeled 5 steps this exercise will be complete.
PROTECTION
THE FOLLOWING EXERCISES ARE TO BE PERFORMED BY ALL DOGS WISHING TO OBTAIN A SD2 CERTIFICATION.
Exercise 1: The Blind Search
After you have checked into the judge he/she will instruct you to begin your first exercise, the blind search. You will have your dog in a designated spot, and you must send your dog to search the first three blinds. Once the dog rounds the first blind you may call the dog to you and command him to search the second blind. The dog must not stop in between blinds. This is to be repeated until your dog reaches the forth blind. The decoy will be waiting in the fourth blind. When the dog comes into the fourth blind it should guard the decoy with a clean bark and hold. If there is no barking or if your dog touches the decoy or sleeve there will be a point deduction. The dog should maintain this guard, this exercise is complete.
Exercise 2: The Call Out
While your dog is in a hold and bark the judge will instruct you to come to the back of the blind. The judge will then instruct you to call your dog out from the blind, and into the basic position. At this point you are to call your dog out of the blind. Once your dog is in the basic position, you will instruct the helper to step out of the blind. Once the helper is out of the blind and set up for an escape bite, you will heel your dog to a designated spot, put your dog into the down position and you will go into the blind. Then this exercise is complete.
Exercise 3: The Escape Bite
When you go into the blind the judge will instruct the helper to attempt an escape. Once the helper has started running it is up to your dog to automatically catch the helper. Once the dog is on the grip the helper will continue running for 5-10 more paces. At this point the helper will stop and freeze up for an out. You will wait for the judge to instruct you to out your dog. If your dog does not out on the first attempt you will again watch the judge. The judge will then allow you to go half the distance to your dog and attempt a second out. If your dog still does not out the judge will instruct you to go beside your dog and attempt a third out. You may NOT touch your dog; if you do you will automatically fail. Once your dog has outs it should go into a guard. This guard can be barking, quiet, sitting, or downing, all of these will be accepted. While your dog is guarding the helper will re-attack your dog. When the helper re-attacks he/she will immediately go into a drive. While driving your dog there will be two stick hits from a padded stick to the shoulder area of your dog. When the helper is through driving your dog he/she will then lock up for another out. All of the same rules from the first bites out will apply here as well. When your dog outs and guards, the exercise will be complete.
Exercise 4: The Courage Test
You must now go to your dog and heel to a designated spot on the field. The helper will be down the field. You are allowed to hold your dog by the collar with ONE finger here. Your dog should still be in control here. The helper will now come out from the side of the field and walk towards the center of the field. Once in the center of the field the helper will now turn and face your dog and start charging in a threatening manner. The judge will instruct you when to release your dog. Once you release your dog you are to stay where you are, DO NOT MOVE. Your dog and the helper will meet in the middle of the field. Once your dog is on the sleeve the helper will begin driving your dog, there will not be any stick hits here. When the helper stops driving your dog he/she will the lock up for the out. The rules for the out are the same se before. When your dog outs and is guarding the judge will then instruct you to go to your dog and heel him away. Once you heel the dog away this exercise is complete.
Exercise 5: The Attack out of the Blind
While you are heeling down the field, a decoy will make a surprise attack from blind number three. Once the decoy is out of the blind and is posing a threat your dog is allowed to attack with or without command. Once the dog is on the grip, the decoy will drive the dog until the judge instructs him to stop. Once the drive is complete the decoy will then freeze up for the out. The out rules are the same here as everywhere else. Once your dog outs, he must guard. While in the guard the judge will then tell you to pick up your dog. When he/she does you must go to your dog and heel it away. The judge will then let you know when you are able to leash your dog, at this point the trial is complete.