United States Police Canine Association Inc.

OBEDIENCE TEST

Handlers and dogs will be tested in the following maneuvers. (With the exception of heeling fast and heeling slow, all phases will be done at a normal pace.) The heeling phase will be no less than 75 ft. nor more than 100 ft for each leg.

A. The complete obedience phase will be done at the direction of a steward who will direct the maneuvers in a military manner.

B. Handlers will start and end each phase from a finish position.

C. The complete exercise will be done off leash.

D. The heeling phase will consist of normal, slow and fast paces, left, right and about turns.

E. Distance control will be done with the handler fifty feet (marked) in front of his or her dog and will include one .sit' and one 'down' by voice command and one 'sit' and one 'down' by hand command. (Order of commands shall be selected by the Association prior to the start of testing.) Handlers will be allowed one command for each of the above. If the dog fails the command, he will lose those points, but will not be assessed points for extra commands to achieve the desired position. The handler may return to the dog to position same, if necessary to complete the phase, and will not be penalized for doing so. In Distance Control the judging starts when the handler leaves the dog.

1. The Stewards shall position themselves so as not to be behind the dog at any time.

F. Recall will consist of calling the dog from a distance of fifty feet (marked) and stopping the dog at a distance of twenty-five feet (marked) with a sit, down or stand command. (Command and maneuver shall be selected by the Association prior to the start of testing .) The dog shall then be called to a finish position with a voice command.

G. Walking Control. Handlers will walk their dogs at a heel position. They will down, sit, and stand their dogs at a position determined by the steward . At another point determined by the steward the handler will return to and heel the dog without breaking stride or pass their dog making an about turn at the direction of the steward and pick their dog up without breaking stride. One of the three will be a pass by determined by the association. All commands for this exercise will be by voice command only.

H. This obedience exercise will not necessarily be done in the aforementioned order. The order will be selected by the association prior to the commencement of the exercise. Order of heeling phase will not be drawn but determined by the Chief Judge.

I. If a command is not specified by the steward or the association, it becomes the handler's choice.

J. Handlers may not praise or intentionally touch their dogs during the tests. They will be advised by the steward when to praise their K 9's. (i.e., Exercise finished.)

K. This entire exercise will be done without interruptions.

L. Each handler will have the same identical exercises to comply with.

M. Check sample score sheets for areas of penalties.

N. The three phases will not be intermixed.