Nikesmom Obedience^© 

Welcome to Nikesmom Obedience. Dog training and competition have changed dramatically since I got my first dog (a Great Dane, Dinah) 25 years ago. There are so many fun things to do with your dog now that many of us find ourselves overextended and the more practical among us find it hard to choose between many favorites.  Why then would I bother trying to create yet one more thing to do with your dog?  Haven’t a clue! J Actually this is a result of the thought many of us have had at one time or another - “Well, I don’t like that rule/policy at all, if I was in charge I’d do…”  So, I decided to see what I would come up with, the result – Nikesmom Obedience.   

Over the last 10+ years I, like many others, have switched from traditional dog training methods to the positive reinforcement spectrum of Operant Conditioning.  The results I have seen have made me a “clicker training” evangelist. This new sport is designed to show off complicated behaviors while still giving the team freedom to communicate with each other. While Nikesmom Obedience is meant to be very lenient in allowing freedom of communication between dog and handler, performance standards are high.  We need to show-off just how well our dogs are trained and just how many different behaviors they can do.

Over the last several years there seems to be 3 items in traditional obedience that most vex owners and are said to be the reason people no longer “do obedience” - Stays (especially out of sight), Exam by stranger, and lack of natural communication and ability to reinforce/reward behavior in the ring.  I believe that all of these issues have been addressed in Nikesmom Obedience.  Freedom of communication I’ve addressed above and both the “Stay” and “Exam” are tested in Starters class – both exercises I believe test the dog for those important skills in a reasonable, safe, everyday life skill way. 

You will also notice that most of the exercises do not look “like your mother’s obedience”.  I have tried to pull from my experience in many different dog disciplines; Starters Class contains basic life skills that every dog should possess. In the other levels different skills are tested - Running Bases-Bases for example is a skill I was taught at a search and rescue training week long camp from a FEMA SAR dog instructor – the skill is to move a dog around a debris field that you cannot go on yourself. Dropped my keys Retrieve-Retrieve and Service Dog Grab Tag are from skills required by service dogs or performance (stage/film) dogs. Go Table Jump-Jump is straight out of agility distance control 101 and of course Canine Musical Freestyle and Rally Obedience also are represented.  Lastly Verbal Cue Recognition is just plain hard, most dogs really, truly do not understand verbal cues in the absence of some physical prompt.  However, when you tell people that, they look at you like you have lost your mind, this exercise is designed to teach both the dog and dog trainer. 

I also wanted to add exercises that I hope are a little more visually appealing and require a little more “energy” to add a little to the entertainment value. Lastly, these exercises require a dog that can work away from the handler - that can think and take direction - they require a working “team”. 

If you find yourself judging a Nikesmom event realize that the #1 priority are teams that seem to honestly enjoy each other’s company.  Sometimes that connection between dog and handler will be shown with an enthusiastic and flashy performance but sometimes it will be displayed as a quiet communication between dog and handler, both comfortable in the other’s presence.  Whether quiet or enthusiastic, teams that display that special something that we sometimes refer to as “bonding” are to be rewarded with “atta-boy” points.

 NOTE: Items below in green italics are my thoughts/reasons/explanations/opinions that I’ve added in these early stages for clarity. 

Holding a trial

If you have the equipment and you have the space and you have the time you are welcome to hold a trial – all I ask is that you let me know when, where and the results. Also use my entry form and get a signed release. (contact me at info@nikesmom.com for enrollment form) At this time I am not charging a fee but reserve that right if the paperwork becomes significant. Use common sense when setting up a trial, always keeping the safety of both dog and human in mind. It is suggested that when space permits that each ring have a separate entrance and exit.  This would allow the exiting competitor to play/praise their dog while leaving the ring without unduly stimulating the dog waiting to enter.

Judges

If you can find someone that can read and understand the rules and you trust them to judge your dog then so do I.  Yes, I know some people will take advantage of this and use judges that are too lenient, in essence giving away titles.  I figure it this way, if they are that desperate for a piece of paper that has no meaning then give it to them.  They have to get up and look at themselves in the mirror, not me.  Besides this is not done in a vacuum their peers know what they are doing and frankly – they won’t respect you in the morning. On a slightly different note, remember it is HARD to be a judge and as people are learning how to be judges you really need to cut them some slack and encourage them to improve not to run for the hills and never do it again! Judges may show at the same trial they officiate.  Here’s how.  After the entire class is over, but before the ribbon ceremony any volunteer from the exhibitors or any one from the show giving committee may act as judge for the judge’s run.  The judge is not eligible for placement in the class but at this juncture I don’t imagine there will be a lot of trials so it would be very disappointing for most to watch everyone else get titles and they don’t get the opportunity themselves.  Since judges are volunteers the clubs trust, then it is not inappropriate to have a second volunteer to run the judge.  OR have 3 different judges for the 3 classes and the judges can each run their dog in the 2 classes they did not judge.

Earning a title

Qualify 3 times under 2 different judges and if you want a title certificate send me a certificate sized self address stamped envelope along with your name, your dogs name, the dates and locations you received your 3 qualifying legs and what division you qualified in and I’ll be happy to send you a very nice title certificate.  This is the honor system, if you tell me you deserve a title certificate then I will take you at your word. As long as it doesn’t set me back financially and people pay for their own postage I’ll do this for free.  If by some strange fluke this takes off like wildfire then I reserve the right to institute a fee for registration, paperwork and processing.

contact me at info@nikesmom.com for snail mail address 

Basic rules 

• ½ point and 1 point errors as in traditional obedience are scored
• Food reinforcement may be given after the judge says “exercise finished” and before moving to the next station.  Food dropped on floor is a 2 point penalty. (it’s really rude to have food smells on the mat for the next team.) Food must be carried in a pouch, pocket or apron and not carried in hand at any time. Food should not be carried in mouth. Food container does not need to be “hidden” from view. If you want to separate those that use food from those that don’t that is the trial giving club’s choice. Personally, I don’t think it is necessary but some handlers have a real problem with it and why not accommodate them. Most trained dogs should be able to work even in the presence of food.
• No clickers in the ring - the dog should be past needing to hear a click, of course if you want to mark a behavior you have your voice and are free to use it.
• Handlers may pet/praise their dogs at any time between exercises.
• A toy (or food in a sealed container) may be placed on the steward’s table for retrieval by the handler as reinforcement for the dog as the team leaves the ring.
• Multiple commands/cues may be given in any “cue set” however unless otherwise allowed, a 2 point penalty will be assessed for additional commands after the first set.  For example – a handler could say “down and give a hand signal simultaneously” that is the first “cue set”, if the dog did not begin to respond and the handler gave an additional cue there would be a 2 point penalty, if the dog still did not respond and the handler gave a third cue/or set of cues there would be an additional 2 point penalty.  If the dog responded after the 3^rd cue set the penalty would be 4 points plus any points for out of position type errors.
• Verbal encouragement and praise may be given to the dog at any time, as long as the dog is working it should not be considered an additional cue. (For example “Fido heel, good dog, good heel, that’s a boy, good dog, good heel” would be considered “praise and encouragement” provided the dog began forward motion on the first “heel” command even though the word “heel” was used multiple times.)
• Unless otherwise forbidden any hand signals may be used as long as they do not appear threatening to the dog. (And let’s not pretend to put food in our mouth, if your dog has to see food or the promise of food to perform then your training needs work.  Food needs to be used as reinforcement, not a bribe.)
• Physical corrections are not allowed and the judge should excuse any team who’s handler physically corrects the dog in the ring – end of discussion.  If the handler touches the dog as in touching the rear to make the dog “sit” that exercise will be marked as incomplete but the team will not be excused – that is just a physical cue.  Physical corrections include items like (but not limited to) pops with leash and collar, tugs on hair, ect.
• Choke chains and pinch collars or other corrective devises are not allowed on the grounds, the trial giving committee should excuse any handler giving physical corrections to the dog on show grounds in the guise of “warming up”.  Any handler excused from the trial shall not receive a qualifying score for that day even if they have already shown.
• It is expected that the dog and handler both want to be in the ring and work as a team. If a dog is unresponsive, continuously walks away, ignores the handler and/or does not appear to be working, the team should be excused.
• The handler may ask the judge to excuse the team at any time without explanation.
• No dog may qualify who eliminates in the ring or shows aggression to handler or judge or ring crew.
• To receive a qualifying score in a class the dog must receive the minimum qualifying number of possible points in each exercise.
• The dog must be wearing a plain buckle collar, a properly fitted “martingale” type collar or a non-restrictive, non-correcting harness. Leashes in Beginners Class must be long enough to show slack in the lead during the on-lead heeling and Settle Down exercises.
• Unnecessarily loud or shouted commands are to be penalized. (even on recalls)
• Excessive or non-stop barking is to be penalized
• Up to “3 atta boy” points may be awarded by the judge to the final score. “Atta boy” points may not be used to bring a non-qualifying score into the qualifying range.  While great attitudes are highly encouraged and should rightly be rewarded the dog needs to also be trained to the level that you are asking for title recognition for.
• Ties in Novice and Advanced class will be broken by repeating the Rally Heeling portion of the class.  The run-offs will be timed.  If there is still a tie after the run-off the tie will be broken by time.
• Ties in Excellent will be broken by the Freestyle score, if there is still a tie they will be broken by the Service Dog time. (If there is still a tie for goodness sake give them both a ribbon).
• All breeds or mixes of domestic dog may compete At this time there is no registration fee, I do reserve the right to institute a fee if the paperwork becomes “work”.
• All reasonable modifications should be made for handicapped dogs or handicapped owners to compete. Reasonable means that the team is still being tested on the skill required by the exercise.  The modification must be approved by the judge before the team is judged. Simple hand signals may be used for deaf dogs in the verbal cue recognition exercise.
• Because of the jumping requirements in the Advanced class dogs should be at least one-year old.  Dogs under one-year may compete in the Started Class and the Excellent Class
• A handler can compete in any class there is no requirement to have completed a title in one class in order to work in another class.  However, if you use this rule to go into the ring to “train” with no reasonable expectation of qualifying then it would show great consideration to your fellow competitors to request “exhibition only” and the club should schedule you at the end of the line-up.  Reason – “training in the ring” eats up time and it is frankly rude to take up other’s time like that at a competition where the expectations are that the dog is trained for the level they are competing in.

 There will be 3 classes offered:

Started (Title N-SD)

Advanced (Title N-AD)

Excellent (Title N-ED)

 Started Class (50+3 possible points – 28 to qualify)

Equipment needed: Rally Signs and stands, a sturdy table, 4 posts, cones or pylons and a chair.

 The started class will consist of the following (5) exercises:

On-lead Rally Heeling (20 possible points – 10 to qualify) – The judge will design a heeling pattern using any 8 (plus start and finish) of the following Rally Signs - the course need not be numbered but must be uncomplicated in it’s pattern – using an “L” shape. Only (1) of the about turn signs may be used on a course, the only sign that may be used twice is “Normal Pace”.  The same course will be used for all competitors. 

• HALT sit – walk around The handler should pause in heel position before moving forward
• HALT sit – down
• HALT sit – down - sit
• Right Turn
• Left Turn
• 270 Right
• 270 Left
• About Turn Right
• About “U” Turn
• Slow
• Fast
• Normal
• Halt 90 degree Pivot Right Halt

The dog should begin by sitting at heel at the start sign. After asking the team if they are ready the judge will command “forward”. No further commands will be given. At the finish sign the handler will stop and the dog will sit, at which point the judge will release the team with “exercise finished”. No exercise will be retried and any exercise that is not performed correctly will be a 3 point deduction.  At the HALT signs the dog should begin sitting immediately as handler halts. Of course judges are to allow the differences in breeds that take longer to collect themselves to sit, what you are looking for is the beginning of the response to the cue to sit, not the speed that the sit is executed. The handler is allowed to say “sit” and to give hand signals but may not touch the dog at anytime to elicit a performance. If a handler has to touch a dog to get them to perform a behavior then it must be assumed by the judge that the dog is not able to perform that behavior and score accordingly. 

While there will be no walk-through of the heeling pattern the judge must post the signs being used and the order they are to be performed.

On lead Figure 8-8 (5 possible points - 3 to qualify) – (4) four posts/pylons/cones will be set in a square. The diameter of the square from cone to cone will be 8 feet.  On the judge’s command to “Forward” the handler may enter the cones at any point (although it is always polite to enter opposite the judge).  And will circle in a figure 8 pattern 2 opposing cones and come to a HALT in the center. The handler will then circle the other two opposing cones in a figure 8 pattern and come to a halt in the middle.  On the second halt the judge will release the team with “exercised finished”.  Please note illustration.  Solid line is one figure 8 pattern – dashed line is second figure 8 pattern.

The next 2 exercises are performed off-lead.

Stand Stay – Owner Exam (10 possible points – 5 to qualify) On a command from the judge to “forward” the handler will walk approximately 6 feet and perform a moving stand as in traditional obedience (2 points possible), leave the dog and walk forward approximately 6 feet turn and face the dog (2 points possible). On the judge’s command to “examine your dog” the handler will return to the dog and show the judge they can perform the following:

• Run both hands down the dog’s back from the head, down the neck to the withers ending at the rear of the dog. (2 points possible)
• Pick up a front foot and gently touch the bottom pads. (2 points possible)
• Look at their dog’s teeth, by lifting the lips enough that the canines on both sides can be seen (2 points possible).

 The judge should acknowledge that they have seen each part of the exam with a “thank you” at which point the handler may proceed with the next part. Once the handler has completed all 3 parts of the exam the judge will release the team with “exercise finished”. Any handler who because of the size of their dog, or their own physical condition, may elect to place the dog on a table after returning from the stand stay to perform the examination.  The trial giving club should have a sturdy table available (this may be anything from a grooming table to an agility table).

 Judging - The dog should stand and stay and allow the exam by the owner with no apparent resentment or resistance. During the owner examination, minimal movement by the dog as would be normal for adjusting position because of handling is allowed and should not be penalized.

Recall – Finish – Finish (10 possible points – 5 to qualify) The team will begin with the dog sitting in heel position. On command from the judge to “Leave your Dog” the handler will command and/or signal their dog to “stay” and walk across the ring, turn and face the dog. (3 possible points) On command from the judge to call the dog the handler will call the dog who should come briskly to a front position. (2 possible points) On command from the judge to “finish” the handler may send their dog to heel position either to the left or to the right. (2 points possible) When the dog is in heel position the judge will give the command to “step in front of your dog” at which point the handler may command and/or signal their dog to “stay” and then step in front of the dog. The judge will then command “finish” and the team must perform whichever finish they didn’t do the first time. (3 points possible)  i.e. If they completed the Left finish after the recall then they will perform a finish to the right for the second finish. Or vice versa.

The team may have ONE retry if the dog breaks the first stay when the owner leaves and goes across the ring. There is a 3 point penalty for a retry.  The team will not qualify if the dog fails the retry attempt. No retry is allowed if the dog does not stay when the handler steps in front – (this would result in a 3 point deduction).

Settle Down (5 possible points – 5 to qualify) This exercise is done ON lead. There will be a chair set up in an unused area of the ring facing the inside of the ring and working team.  The handler will sit in the chair and the dog should be standing or sitting, on order from the judge the handler will cue their dog into a down position near the chair No, this is real life, you can’t stand up to lay your dog down you must be sitting in the chair. (The dog can be on either side of the chair or in front of the chair – handler’s choice. The team will stay in that position while the next dog performs the heeling exercises. A dog who does not stay will not qualify. The owner may quietly talk to the dog during the stay but may not pet the dog or give treats until after the judge has released the team. An extra steward may be used to watch this team and report to the judge.

Advanced Class (70+3 possible points – 37 to qualify)

Equipment needed for class – 2 agility style bar jumps, an adjustable agility style pause table – jumps and table should be adjustable to 4”, 8”, 12” and 16” heights.  Handlers choose their jump height (from the 4 available) irregardless of the dog’s size, it is the handler’s decision what height they want to jump their dog – it is suggested that dogs be shown in jump height order to minimize equipment changes. This class will need a steward to set jumps and the table.

 Class set-up – OK, it’s never been done before but let’s give it a try.  If it doesn’t work we’ll revamp and try something different. If the club has space for a large ring – say 50 x 80 where the Rally signs can be put at one end and the Jumps placed at the other then set up the class in one ring and run each dog through all the exercise.  However, if you have only a small (40 x 50 type ring) it would be most efficient to run this class in 2 parts.  First set up the Ring for the Rally Heeling and Double Figure 8.  Run all the dogs through in catalog order.  This should move quite quickly.  After all the dogs have been judged change your ring set-up for the other exercises.  Bring the dogs back in, in catalog order.  This should be no more inconvenient than waiting around for group stays in traditional obedience.

 The Advanced Class will consist of the following (4) exercises: 

Off Leash Rally Heeling (23 possible points – 10 to qualify) Same rules as Starters Class except done off lead.  In addition, judge may use 8-12 Rally signs (plus Start and Finish) and may also include any of these additional signs in the heeling pattern. Heeling pattern may be either an “L” or a “U” shape.

•  360 right

• 360 left

• 90 degree pivot left

• Fast Forward from a sit (must be followed by Normal Pace)

• Left About Turn

 Off Leash Figure 8-8 (5 possible points – 3 to qualify) Same rules as Starters Class except done off lead.

Go Table Jump-Jump (20 possible points – 12 to qualify)  A pause table will be placed at one side of the ring and the 2 agility jumps placed center ring to the far right and far left.  Dog and handler begin opposite pause table with dog in heel position. On command from the judge to “send your dog” the handler will send their dog across the ring to the table where the dog must either sit or down – handler’s choice.  When the dog is settled the judge will instruct the handler to “call your dog” the handler will call/send the dog over either the right or the left jump – handler’s choice.  The dog should go straight to the jump, over it and return to front position, (handler may pivot in place to face incoming dog) the judge will instruct the handler to “finish” - team may finish in either direction.  The judge will release the team with “exercise finished”. (reinforcement may be given if so desired).  The team will then return to original start position and perform the same sequence again EXCEPT if the dog “sat” on the table the first time then it must “down” on the table the second time (or vice versa).  If the dog was sent to the right side jump the first time then the dog must be sent to the left side jump the second time (or vice versa). Each “Go-Jump” sequence is worth a possible 10 points – 6 to qualify).

Judging – all commands may be repeated if necessary with a 2 point penalty for each instance.  If the dog is told to “sit” on the table and lies down instead there is a 2 point penalty assessed (same if the dog is told to “down” and sits first). There is a 3 point penalty for a dropped bar.  Handler must stay planted at their end of the ring, they may take no more than (1) one step when sending their dog to the table or (1) step to the side when sending their dog over the jump.  Excessive movement by the handler will result in a 3 point penalty.

Dropped my Keys Retrieve-Retrieve (22 possible points – 11 to qualify) Each handler will bring 3 metal keys on a key ring (the key ring may be handler’s choice yes it can be something soft-  it is distracting enough for the dog to carry the moving, dangling, clanging keys, picking up metal is not what is being tested) and either a women’s purse with a handle or a wallet (toy dog owners can be creative in finding or making a purse or wallet small enough for their dogs and yes they can use little keys. Bigger dog owners – if you come into the ring with 3 tiny luggage keys all the other competitors will mock you and ridicule your lack of training ability) The competition team will set up at one end of the ring with their back facing the judge (no peeking).  The judge will place both the key ring and the purse/wallet at the other end of the ring several feet apart and when ready will instruct the team that “they may look now”.  After the team has pivoted in place (right or left – handler’s choice) the judge will ask the team which item they will retrieve first.  The handler tells the judge either purse/wallet or keys at which point the judge will ask the team if they are ready and command “send your dog”.  The dog needs to retrieve the item specified by the handler – the handler may give much verbal encouragement (including repeating the name of the item to be retrieved) but at no time should appear to “yell” at the dog – any harsh commands should be assessed a 2 point penalty.  If the dog attempts to pick up the item not asked for by the handler the judge will assess a 2 point penalty for each touch (no penalty for looking) of the wrong object, but not assess the handler for repeating the name of the object desired. The dog should return to a front close enough for the handler to take the object and then the judge will command “finish” and the team may finish in either direction.  The judge will then release the team with “exercise finished and reinforcement may be given at that time if so desired.  The team will then set themselves back in position to retrieve the 2^nd item. The dog does not need to pick up the keys by the keys themselves and may retrieve the keys by picking up the key ring. The purse/wallet may also be carried in any manner by the dog as long as the dog is not stopping to play with the items and they are returned to their owner in working condition. The handler may take no more than 1 step in sending the dog to retrieve, and must stay in their area while dog is working (they need not look like stone statues and may move slightly side to side while directing their dog to the correct object – but hopping up and down, rolling on the floor, waving arms wildly, and other excessive begging should be laughed at – judges need not  worry about penalizing the handler, if they are doing all that stuff the dog is probably not working and they should be taking points for that).

The initial pivot is worth 2 points – 1 to qualify, and each retrieve/front/finish is worth 10 points - 5 points to qualify. 

 Excellent Class (93+3 possible points – 58 to qualify)

Equipment needed for class- stop watch, 4 large hula hoops, outdoor lawn paint or chalk or tape for indoors, a chair, a container with 4 marked objects (see running bases-bases) a tile topped 1 foot x1 foot by 1 inch  wooden square target ( see Service Dog)

 Ring Set-up – in the center of one side of the ring “home plate” will be designated by marking with tape, chalk or outdoor paint a square approximately 4 x 4 feet.  Although “pitcher’s mound is mentioned in the Service Dog and Verbal Cue Recognition exercises it is only to give you an idea of placement inside the ring, do not set up the hula hoops until the Running Bases exercise as they would be a tripping hazard for humans.

 The Excellent Class will consist of the following (4) exercises: 

 Service Dog Grab Tag (30 possible points – 15 to qualify) As the handler is coming into the ring the steward will place the target approximately 6 feet to the right or left (wherever the judge indicates) of home plate. The handler will come to the ring with 5 objects in a container which s/he will hand to the steward.  The five objects are handler’s choice and need not be the same but they do need to consist mostly of the following materials (one of each) wood, plastic, metal, paper, leather.  The container is anything the handler chooses to use that will hold the objects.  This is a timed exercise.  The dog and handler will place themselves in heel position inside home plate and the judge (or steward) will place the 5 objects approximately 10 feet from the team going towards “pitchers mound” (with about 1 foot of space between each object – they do not need to be placed in a line – think scent articles) and bring the container back to the handler who will place it on the ground inside home plate.  (The container may not be moved again by the handler until after the exercise is complete.) 

When the team is ready the judge will give the signal to “go” and start the watch.  The team will have 3 minutes for the dog to retrieve all 5 items and place them in the container then run to the target - “hit it” with any paw and return to home plate.  The handler is not allowed to touch any of the retrieve items, the dog must place all items in the container by him/her self. (At this point 3 minutes is a guess – I’ll need feedback to see if this is too much or too little time for the average dog.) The dog must have all 4 paws inside home plate (though not in any specific place or position) before the 3 minutes are up.  The judge will give a 10 second warning with the phrase “10 seconds” if the team has not yet finished all behaviors.  Even if the team has not completed all the behaviors they need to get back to home plate in order for any of their points earned to count. The team may not earn their “target” points until all items are in the container at home plate. Each item and the target are worth 5 points each.  There are no deductions for heeling errors in this exercise.  The handler is allowed freedom of movement inside of home base but will be assessed a 1 point penalty for each step taken outside of home plate.  There is no penalty for dogs that bring back more than one object at a time. Harsh commands will be penalized 2 points, there are no penalties for repeated commands. (Hysterical, desperate gesturing by the handler at home plate will be ignored by the judge and a source of entertainment for the gallery.) 

Verbal Cue Recognition (18 possible points – 12 to qualify)  A chair will be set at the pitchers mound location (but no more than 20 feet away) facing home plate and a mark of some type to indicate the halfway point between home base and pitchers mound will be in place.  The competition team will set-up in heel position at home plate facing the chair.  When the team is ready the judge will command “forward” and the team will walk toward the chair.  At the half-way point the owner gives the command/signal for a stand stay and walks away from the dog to the chair where s/he turns and sits in chair facing the dog.  The judge will give either one of the following set of commands.

     Set 1                                                    Set 2

Sit your dog                                          Down your dog

Down your dog                                    Sit your dog

Call dog to heel                                    Call dog to heel

Down your dog                                    Down your dog

The judge must use Set 1 for half of the competitors and Set 2 for the other half, the judge may do this anyway that is easy for him/her to keep track of. (The purpose of this exercise is to test the dog’s training to understand verbal cues. To avoid a dog that is actually “pattern trained” the order of the first 2 commands will be unknown by the handler.) 

Commands that need to be repeated are to be assessed a 2 point penalty. Points should be assessed for a dog that progressively moves forward on the first two commands ½ to 1 point depending on the amount of forward motion (judges should not penalize dogs that move forward as part of the laying down process, only dogs that “walk” forward before BEGINNING a behavior.) Minor heeling errors at the chair are to be overlooked. If the dog is close enough to be touched by the handler then a heeling error should not be assessed for “Call dog to heel” and “Down your dog”. 

The handler may NOT USE ANY HAND SIGNALS – HAND GESTURES – OR HAND MOTIONS after they have sat in the chair. Use of hands is a 4 point penalty. Verbals only!!!!  (ladies and gents sit on those hands or grab the side of the chair!  Judges, neck stretching is gonna happen – cause humans are humans, I would only worry about assessing a penalty if the rear-end comes out of the chair or the head goes forward past the knees. – Besides this has the potential of also being entertaining for the gallery J)  

Running Bases-Bases (15 possible points – 11 to qualify)  The steward will lay 4 large hula hoops in the following locations 1^st base, 2^nd base, 3^rd base and pitchers mound.  The dog and handler begin in home base.  The judge will have a container that has 4 small identical objects inside. Maybe ping-pong balls in a cloth sack? These objects will be marked 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, P.  The handler without looking will reach into the container and draw (1) object and hand it to the judge who will announce it publicly, then the handler will draw out at second object and hand it to the judge who will announce it publicly.  That is the order that the handler will send his dog.  For example if the handler picked 2^nd on his first draw and 1^st on his second draw, the handler would be required to send his dog from home base to 2^nd base and sit, then to 1^st base and sit and then call the dog home and sit.  If a handler drew 2^nd and then “P” the handler would be required to send their dog out in a straight line past Pitchers mound to 2^nd base and sit, then call their dog back to Pitchers mound and sit then back to home and sit.  Heeling is not judged in this exercise, neither a front nor a finish is not required.  Each base is worth 5 points.  A dog that steps into the wrong base is assessed a 2 point penalty (except a dog may cross pitchers mound to go in a straight line from one base to the next – however, if the dog “sits” in pitchers mound and it is not the correct base there will be a 2 point penalty. The dog will be assessed one point for every paw that is not “inside” the hula hoop when he sits.  If all 4 paws are outside of the hoop when the dog sits some part of his body – some speck of fur must at least be touching the hoop for the team to earn (1) point or the base is considered missed and assessed a 5 point penalty.  The team cannot attempt the second base drawn before attempting the first base in his sequence. The handler is allowed freedom of movement inside home base but will be assessed a 1 point penalty for each step taken outside of home plate.  Repeated commands after the dog has left home base will not be penalized (a repeated command to send the dog from home base may be assessed a 2 point penalty. Harsh commands at any time will be penalized 2 points. (As in the Service Dog Exercise - Hysterical, desperate gesturing by the handler at home plate will be ignored by the judge and a source of entertainment for the gallery.) There is a 3 minute time limit to complete all bases.  The judge need not give any time warnings. The purpose of the time is only to keep the show moving. If you haven’t completed the behaviors in 3 minutes it’s not gonna happen that day. 

Freestyle (30 possible points – 20 to qualify)  When the handler checks in with the ring steward they will turn in a piece of paper with 6 moves they intend to perform during this exercise, numbered in the order they intend to perform them.  These moves may be anything that does not endanger the dog, handler or spectator and that can be performed within the confines of the ring.  The handler may use (1) prop that is small enough for them to carry (not dragged) with (1) hand and that doesn’t leave pieces of itself all over the floor while being moved. The list must be neatly hand-printed or typed. Please make the descriptions short but complete.  For example a list might include:

1)      leg weaves - 4 times

2)      spin right while in front of handler - 2 times

3)      circle a cane held by handler  - 3 times

4)      back up side by side with handler 3 feet

5)      bow from a front position

6)      leap through handlers arms

The performance will be judged on the following criteria:

Difficulty – 12 points possible

Execution – 12 points possible

Entertainment – 6 points possible

Difficulty means – how difficult are these moves to teach the “average” dog?

Execution means – how well did the team perform these moves? (as in Canine Musical Freestyle heel position is not strictly judged and is in fact only a general place near the handler)

Entertainment – was it fun to watch?

 Let me give you 2 examples of extremes.  Let’s look at the 6 example behaviors, generally those behaviors would be somewhat difficult for the average dog and handler so I would give a high mark in difficulty (2 points each for 1,2,3,4 & 6 and 1 point for 5).  It is easy to understand Execution – if the dog did the behaviors well give high scores and if not so well give lower scores. On Entertainment value – was it fun to watch? Was there a nice flow from one move to the other or did the person stop and restart for each move – which would be boring for an audience to watch. The above 6 moves have the potential to receive a high score assuming the execution and transitions from move to move were done well.

 Let’s look at a second example.

     1)      sit

2)      down

3)      roll-over

4)      sit-up, beg

5)      high fives

6)      spin

 This set has very little difficulty and would receive low marks in that category, probably only 6 (1 point for each behavior – maybe only 5 - ½ point for the sit and down each). Now let’s imagine that our team performed flawlessly, you could award 12 points, but the entertainment value I imagine was yawn time 1-3 points.  So this exhibitor would receive from 21 (a generous judge) to 18 ½ points (a more critical judge). Both judgments I could live with even though one would qualify and one wouldn’t.  I imagine that if the dog had done excellent in the first 3 exercises the judge would lean towards the 21 points and if they just barely squeaked by or didn’t qualify in the first 3 then would award the 18 ½ point non-qualifying score. 

YES!  This is open to very subjective judgment calls, there is no way around it.  Choose a judge that your group believes understands what is expected, who has seen and understands Canine Musical Freestyle and then let the chips fall where they may. It is only a dog sport. 

I have not suggested the use of music as playing music in a public event requires a license.  If your group chooses, those licenses can be purchased per event and then specify in your premium that the Freestyle portion of the Excellent Class will be “to music” allowing competitors to bring their music selection.  Otherwise, skip the music and just judge the behaviors.

Copyright 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 by Pam Sheehan — No portion of this web site may be reproduced without written permission.