Glossary

3

360 Left

Order from the instructor given during a heeling pattern for the handler and dog team to make a complete 360° circle by turning to the left (into the dog) and continue heeling forward in the same direction as before making the circle. This command is never given in a trial.

360 Right

Order from the instructor given during a heeling pattern for the handler and dog team to make a complete 360° circle by turning to the right (away from the dog) and continue heeling forward in the same direction as before making the circle. This command is never given in a trial.

A

AKC

American Kennel Club

About "U" Turn

Order from the instructor for the handler and dog team to reverse direction by turning left (into the dog). The handler should be continuing on the same line of travel after the about "U" turn as before. This command is sometimes referred to as a "Left About Turn" and is never given in a trial.

About Turn

Order from the instructor or judge for the handler and dog team to reverse direction by turning right (away from the dog). The handler should be continuing on the same line of travel after the about turn as before.

B

Back to Your Dog

Order from the instructor or judge given at the end of any of several exercises in which the handler leaves the dog in a "stay", moves away for a time, and then returns to the dog (rather than calling the dog to the handler). The handler approaches the dog from the front then proceeds to the right around behind the dog and stops in heel position.

Breed Standard

A written description of the ideal specimen for a particular breed of dog.

C

CD

See Companion Dog.

CDX

See Companion Dog Excellent.

Call Front

While the handler and dog are heeling forward, the handler takes several steps backwards while calling the dog to "come" or "front". The dog should turn to the right and come to the front position. The instruction call for this maneuver is "call your dog".

Circle Left

See 360 Left.

Circle Right

See 360 Right.

Circle Your Inside Post

Order from the instructor given during a figure eight exercise for the handler and dog team to make a complete 360° circle to the left around one of the posts and continue heeling forward in the figure-eight pattern. "Inside" refers to the dog being on the inside of the turn, or between the post and the handler. This command is never given in a trial.

Circle Your Outside Post

Order from the instructor given during a figure eight exercise for the handler and dog team to make a complete 360° circle to the right around one of the posts and continue heeling forward in the figure-eight pattern. "Outside" refers to the dog being on the outside of the turn, or with the handler between the dog and the post. This command is never given in a trial.

Command

Verbal order given by the handler to the dog. Only one command may be given in a trial. The dog's name may be used once immediately before any verbal command.

Companion Dog

The title earned from the the Novice level of competition obedience. It is abbreviated "CD" when placed after the dog's name and is often referred to by the abbreviation.

Companion Dog Excellent

The title earned from the the Open level of competition obedience. It is abbreviated "CDX" when placed after the dog's name and is often referred to by the abbreviation.

Competition Obedience

A dog sport where a handler and dog team work through a series of structured exercises under the direction and scrutiny of a judge. Dogs earn titles at the three levels of competition obedience - novice, open, utility - and through a combination of competing in both the Open and Utility levels.

Conformation

A dog sport where a dog is examined by a judge for how close it comes to matching the breed standard for that particular breed of dog.

Crowding

While heeling, the dog is out of heel position by being too close to (or touching) the handler's left leg.

D

DHP

Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza

DHPP

Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvo

E

Exercise

One of about six to seven tasks performed at each level of competition obedience.

Exercise Finished

Order from the instructor or judge signifying the completion of the current exercise. Only after this instruction from a judge may the dog be briefly praised.

F

Fast

Order from the instructor or judge given during a heeling pattern for the handler and dog team to noticeably increase their speed. The handler must increase his or her speed enough to be actually running or jogging, although the dog does not have to run but just maintain heel position. A rule of thumb is the fast pace should be about twice the speed of the normal pace. The handler should take several steps to smoothly transition into the fast and the dog must adjust its pace to the handler's.

Figure Eight

Exercise in which the handler and dog heel in a figure-eight pattern around two people (called "posts") standing about eight feet apart. The handler and dog team start centered between the posts but a few feet off to the side, facing the judge. While the handler may choose to go either direction first, it is generally better for the dog to do the left turn first, as this reduces the likelyhood of a lag. This exercise is performed on-leash in the Novice level and off-leash in the Open level.

Finish

Order from the instructor or judge for the handler to command or signal the dog to move from the front position to a sit in heel position. Also, the act of the dog moving from the Front Position to a sit in heel position. See Right Finish and Left Finish.

Forging

While heeling, the dog is out of heel position by being too far in front of the handler (the dog's shoulder is in front of the handler's left leg).

Forward

Order from the instructor or judge for the handler and dog team to begin moving forward in a heeling pattern.

Front Position

The dog sits straight in front of and facing the handler, centered on the handler's midline. The dog must be close enough to be easily touched by the handler.

G

German About Turn

See Left About Turn.

Group Exercises

Exercises performed with several other dogs in the ring at one time. The group exercises are comprised of the Long Sit and the Long Down.

H

Halt

Order from the instructor or judge given during a heeling pattern or figure eight exercise for the handler and dog team to stop forward motion. The handler may take a couple of steps after the command has been given to smoothly decelerate into a stop. When the handler stops, the dog should automatically sit in heel position.

Heel Free

Exercise in which the handler and dog heel in a heeling pattern around the ring. As the name suggests, the heeling is done with the dog off leash. This exercise is performed in the Novice and Open levels.

Heel Position

The area between the dog's right shoulder and nose is aligned with the handler's left leg. The dog is parallel to the handler's direction of travel and is close to but not touching the handler. The dog may be sitting, standing, laying down, or moving in heel position.

Heel on Leash

Exercise in which the handler and dog heel in a heeling pattern around the ring. As the name suggests, the heeling is done with the dog on leash. This exercise is performed in the Novice level.

Heeling Pattern

Orders called by the instructor or judge for the dog and handler team to follow while performing a heeling exercise. The orders given during a heeling pattern include "forward", "halt", "left turn", "right turn", "about turn", "about "U" turn", "left about turn", "slow", "fast", "normal", "360 Left", and "360 Right", but even more may be added in a class situation. The orders can be in whatever order the instructor or judge chooses, but the handler will have an opportunity to see the pattern before having to execute it at a trial. The dog must adjust to the handler and must maintain heel position throughout the heeling pattern.

Heeling Wide

While heeling, the dog is out of heel position by being too far to the left of the handler's left leg.

I

Individual Exercises

Exercises perfomred with just one dog and handler team in the ring at a time. The individual exercises are comprised of the Heel on Leash and Figure Eight, Stand for Examination, Heel Free, and Recall in the Novice level.

L

Lagging

While heeling, the dog is out of heel position by being too far behind the handler (the dog's nose is behind the handler's left leg).

Left About Turn

Order from the instructor for the handler and dog team to reverse direction by having the handler turn left (into the dog) while the dog simultaneously turns to the right, moving around the handler 180° and ending up back in heel position. The handler should be continuing on the same line of travel after the about turn as before. This command is sometimes referred to as a "German about turn" or "Schutzhund about turn" and is never given in a trial.

Left Finish

The dog performs a finish by moving to the handler's left, turning clockwise (towards the handler), and sitting in heel position. Typical commands for this maneuver include "heel", "swing", and "side". The left finish is also commonly referred to as a "swing finish".

Left Turn

Order from the instructor or judge given during a heeling pattern for the handler and dog team to make a 90° turn to the left (into the dog) and then continue in a straight line.

Leg

A term often used to refer to one qualifying score.

Long Down

One of the group exercises in which the handlers leaves their dogs in a down-stay, cross or leave the ring, wait the specified amount of time, and return to their dogs. The handler and dog team start with the dog sitting in heel position. On the instructor or judge's order to "down your dog", all the handlers will command and/or signal their dogs to "down". On the instructor or judge's order to "leave your dog", all the handlers will command and/or signal their dogs to "stay" and walk across to the opposite side of the ring, then turn and face their dogs. At the Novice level, the handlers then stand in place and wait for three minutes. At the Open level, the handlers then leave the ring and go out of sight from the dogs for five minutes, after which they go back into the ring and line up across from their dogs as in the Novice level. On the instructor or judge's order to "back to your dogs", the handlers walk back across the ring to their dogs.

Long Sit

One of the group exercises in which the handlers leaves their dogs in a sit-stay, cross or leave the ring, wait the specified amount of time, and return to their dogs. The handler and dog team start with the dog sitting or standing in heel position. On the instructor or judge's order to "sit your dog", all the handlers will command and/or signal their dogs to "sit". On the instructor or judge's order to "leave your dog", all the handlers will command and/or signal their dogs to "stay" and walk across to the opposite side of the ring, then turn and face their dogs. At the Novice level, the handlers then stand in place and wait for one minute. At the Open level, the handlers then leave the ring and go out of sight from the dogs for three minutes, after which they go back into the ring and line up across from their dogs as in the Novice level. On the instructor or judge's order to "back to your dogs", the handlers walk back across the ring to their dogs.

M

MBDCA

Mixed Breed Dog Clubs of America

N

NQ

See Non-Qualifying Score.

Non-Qualifying Score

Any score which is not passing. It may be caused by losing too many points overall or on any given exercise, or it may be caused by an action that automatically causes the handler/dog team not to pass (such as the dog eliminating in the ring). See Qualifying Score.

Normal

Order from the instructor or judge given during a heeling pattern for the handler and dog team to resume their normal heeling speed after the "fast" or slow" order. The handler's normal heeling speed should be brisk. The handler should take several steps to smoothly transition back to normal speed and the dog must adjust its pace to the handler's.

Novice

The first level of competition obedience. The title earned from this level is "Companion Dog", or "CD".

O

Open

The second level of competition obedience. The title earned from this level is "Companion Dog Excellent", or "CDX".

P

Praise Them Up

Order from the class instructor for the handler to release or walk the dog out of the completed exercise while giving the dog praise, treats, and/or brief play time.

Q

Qualifying Score

A passing score earned at a trial. In competition obedience, it means the handler/dog team earned more than 50% of the points in each exercise and at least 170 points total (out of 200 points possible) at an obedience trial. In rally, it means the handler/dog team earned at least 70 points total (out of 100 points possible) and did not receive a non-qualifying score for any other reason in the regulations.

R

Rally

A dog sport where a handler and dog team heel through a course of stations at their own pace under the scruitiny of a judge. Unlike competition obedience, there is very little direction from the judge, and the handler may give multiple commands and signals throught the course as well as verbal praise for the dog.

Recall

Exercise in which the handler leaves the dog in a sit-stay, crosses the ring, and calls the dog to return to the handler. The handler and dog team start with the dog sitting in heel position. On the instructor or judge's order to "leave your dog", the handler will command and/or signal the dog to "stay" and walk across to the opposite side of the ring, then turn and face the dog. On the instructor or judge's order to "call your dog", the handler will command or signl the dog to "come" and the dog returns to the handler and sits in front position. The instructor or judge will then give the order to "finish", and the handler will command or signal the dog to finish. This exercise is performed in the Novice level.

Return to Your Dog

See Back to Your Dog.

Right Finish

The dog performs a finish by moving to the handler's right, passing behind the back of the handler, and sitting in heel position. Typical commands for this maneuver include "heel", "around", "behind", "back", "go around", and "get back".

Right Turn

Order from the instructor or judge given during a heeling pattern for the handler and dog team to make a 90° turn to the right (away from the dog) and then continue in a straight line.

S

Schutzhund About Turn

See Left About Turn.

Signal

A single, inaudible gesture with one arm and hand only. After a signal is given, the signalling arm and hand must immediately return to a natural position. The dog must not be touched by the handler when given a signal, but the handler may bend the body and knees to bring the hand level with the dog's eyes while giving a signal to a dog in heel position.

Sits and Downs

See Group Exercises.

Slow

Order from the instructor or judge given during a heeling pattern for the handler and dog team to noticeably decrease their speed. A rule of thumb is the slow pace should be about half the speed of the normal pace. The handler should take several steps to smoothly transition into the slow and the dog must adjust its pace to the handler's.

Stand for Examination

Exercise in which the handler stands and leaves the dog and then the instructor or judge lightly goes over the dog. The handler and dog team start with the dog sitting in heel position. On the instructor or judge's order to "stand your dog and leave when ready", the handler will command and/or signal the dog to "stand". The handler may touch the dog to pose it in the stand as in the conformation show ring. Once the dog is standing and steady, the handler then commands and/or signals the dog to "stay" and walks forward about six feet, then turns and faces the dog. The instructor or judge will touch the dog's head, back, and rump while the dog continues to stand without moving its feet. When the instructor or judge is finished, the order "back to your dog" is given and the handler returns to the dog. This exercise is performed in the Novice level.

Station

One of 10 to 20 signs on a rally course. Each sign includes pictographic arrows and a brief description for how to perform the exercise.

Swing Finish

See Left Finish.

T

Title

Award earned by receiving a qualifying scores three times at a given level of competition, usually under three different judges depending on the venue. The title is often abbreviated to the acronym that may be added after the dog's name (e.g., "CD" for "Companion Dog" or "CDX" for "Companion Dog Excellent").

Trial

An event put on by a local dog club where exhibitors (handers and dogs) may enter to earn legs towards their titles.

U

UD

See Utility Dog.

Utility

The third level of competition obedience. The title earned from this level is "Utility Dog", or "UD".

Utility Dog

The title earned from the the Utility level of competition obedience. It is abbreviated "UD" when placed after the dog's name and is often referred to by the abbreviation.