Obedience Test 2 (OT2)

The Federation of Working Dogs

Requirements of the Obedience Test 2.

HEELING ON LEASH

The dog begins the pattern sitting at heel position. With the command "heel", handler and dog team move ahead roughly forty paces and then turn around and come back. The dog should maintain the heel position the entire time (the dogs shoulder should be at the handlers knee). The dog will be penalized for forging, crowding, lagging or going wide. The judge will direct the exercise. The heel pattern must contain movement at a normal, slow, and rapid pace. The handler may command the dog to "Heel" at each change of pace. The heeling pattern must contain a right and left turn, an about-turn and also a halt. The about turn is made to the left, moving directly into the dog. When the handler halts, the dog should automatically sit straight and square with its front legs even with the handler's knees. After the structured heeling pattern has been completed, the team moves through a group of about 4 people talking. This pattern must contain one right and one left turn through the group. The team halts once while in the group, and dog should sit automatically. The dog should be aware of the people around it, but should remain undisturbed and attentive to its handler.

As the handler moves with his dog out of the crowd, he/she removes the leash and places it around their shoulders or in pocket. He walks back into a group of cones and repeats the heeling exercise. At the judge's command, the team heels away from the group. When the dog and handler have gone approximately fifteen paces, a gun is fired once and then again a few seconds later. The dog should not react strongly to the shots. If the dog shies from its handler's side, showing fear or stress, ti will be dismissed from the trial. The animal will lose some points if it shows aggression of seems gun-sensitive. If the judge is not sure of the dogs's reaction, he may have additional shots fired. The rest of the heeling pattern is the same as the heel on leash.

SIT IN MOTION WITH RECALL

Beginning from a sit at heel, the dog moves forward briskly on leash with it's handler. After the team has moved roughly ten paces, the handler commands the dog to "Sit!" The dog should stop and sit immediately. With outlooking back or hesitating, the handler continues at a normal pace for an additional thirty paces and then turns and faces the dog. After two (1) minutes, the the jude will signal the handler to recall the dog. The dog should come rapidly and sit straight and close in front of it's handler or finish in a heel position. The handler must inform the judge before hand which one their dog will perform.

The dog should hold position and not be restless. Minor shifting of position is allowed in place; however sniffing, creeping, and returning to down, or any other movement will result in deductions.

DOWN IN MOTION & PICK UP

Beginning form a sit at heel, the team moves ahead on leash. After they have gone at least ten paces, the handler commands the dog to "Down!" The dog should stop and lie down immediately on command. The Handler continues moving thirty additional paces and then turns and faces the dog. After four (1) minutes, the judge will signal the handler to return to the dog and walk around it to its right side. At the judges command the handler will command the dog to sit. Then the judge will tell the handler to grab the leash to end the test.

The dog should hold position and not be restless. Minor shifting of position is allowed in place; however sniffing, creeping, sitting up or any other movement will result in deductions.

The judge shall tell the handler to "leave your dog", at which time the handler shall give the dog the command to stay (sit, down or stand), and proceed forward a minimum of 30 paces. The judge will tell handler to turn and face the dog. There will be two markers to clearly outline the designated down area. The judge will tell the handler to "call your dog" once the dog crosses the first marker the handler will give the down command. The dog must down before the second marker. Once the dog has down the judge will tell the handler to "call your dog" again. The dog must come either to the front position or directly to the heel position. The handler will grab the dogs leash and the exercise will end.

Not downing in the designated area will be a fail for this exercise. The dog will be judge on his/her speed and precision. The further the dog downs from the first marker the more deductions it will incur.

The Federation of Working Dogs * P.0. BOX 421 * Tar Heel, NC 28392 * USA *